Roundup: Internal disputes result in postponement of PNC meeting

Internal Palestinian differences were the main reason behind the postponement of Palestinian National Council (PNC) conference, which was originally scheduled for two days from Sept. 14 in Ramallah.

Salim Za'noon, who chaired on Wednesday a meeting of a Palestinian committee to prepare for holding the PNC meeting, told a news conference here that it was decided to postpone the meeting of the PNC, the parliament of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in exile.

"The decision was to postpone holding the PNC meeting for three months," said Za'noon, adding that the decision was made due to the demand of members in the PLO Executive Committee, who signed on a letter addressed to President Mahmoud Abbas.

The signed letter called on President Abbas to allow all the Palestinian political powers and factions to participate in the PNC meeting, stressing that the PLO is the sole and legitimate representative of all the Palestinian people.

Za'noon also said that he received dozens of letters from factions and independent figures, urging him to postpone the meeting. "We finally responded to their request following deep discussion and debate in the PLO Executive Committee," he said.

The PNC meeting was scheduled to start on Sept. 14 in Ramallah for two days to elect new chairman and new members for the PLO Executive Committee to replace PLO Chairman Abbas and nine other members who officially resigned two weeks ago.

Following the decision of the PLO Executive Committee to call for a PNC meeting on September, Za'noon sent official invitations to around 750 members of the PLO parliament who live in the Palestinian territories and in exile to attend the meeting in Ramallah on Monday.

Opponents to Abbas said that the decision to hold the PNC meeting as early as possible without consultations with other powers, parties and factions meant that Abbas wants to get rid of his rivals in the PLO.

However, due to the increasing voices of calling for postponing it, mainly left-wing parties in the PLO and two Islamic groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which are not PLO members, it's getting more difficulty to push the PNC meeting as it's scheduled.

Groups like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they will boycott the PNC meeting in Ramallah if it is held on Sept 14.

Moreover, around 1,000 academic, popular and political figures called on Abbas to postpone the PNC session. They expressed concerns that this would deepen internal split.

Ahmed Majdalani, PLO executive committee member, told Xinhua that postponing the PNC meeting "was important to give more space and more time for a good preparation that guarantees full attendance of all members, factions, leaders and powers of the council."

He said a preparation committee will soon start contact with all powers, factions and independent figures to discuss the date and place for holding the PNC session.

Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday welcomed the official decision to postpone the PNC meeting.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that the decision "was the response to the demands of senior officials and figures."

He said that it is time for the PLO to study all files including the formation of the PLO establishments. "It is also important to implement all understandings and agreements of the internal reconciliations, mainly the files of the consensus government and holding the general elections," said Abu Zuhri.

Meanwhile, Khaled al-Batsh, senior leader in the Islamic Jihad, said in an emailed press statement that his movement welcomes the decision, adding that this demonstrates that the Palestinians are trying to find a solution to the internal split.

Hani el-Masri, Ramallah-based political analyst, told Xinhua that postponing the PNC meeting "was made following the overwhelming objection these days," adding that "the postponement was a positive sign that may lead to ending the internal split."

"Holding the PNC meeting with full participation of Palestinian people would pave the road for achieving a real reconciliation among the Palestinian rivals," said el-Masri, adding that "I hope they agree afterwards on a joint political program which help end the current crisis." Endit