The Palestinian people, together with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), now face a complex internal situation. In the West Bank, there is an authority that is supposed to be run by Fatah, and in Gaza, there is a de facto government run by Hamas. With both under Israeli occupation, they should look for external help to stop the clashes and bridge the gap.
Today, the PLO looks more morbid than ever before, with the centre of political gravity having moved towards the Palestinian National Authority government in Ramallah that has already encroached upon all PLO institutions, including its Executive Committee.
This is mainly because the PNA has a monopoly over Arab and international financial support, which gives it the means to directly assume control of the PLO institutions. This situation has prompted some observers to warn that a collapse of the PNA for whatever reasons is likely to lead to a collapse of the PLO.
In this context, one can agree with the demands of Fatah and other Palestinian organisations that the hegemony of PNA be ended. This, through restructuring its government. A temporary government, with the objective of realising national unity, should include efficient and honourable ministers recruited from the various Palestinian organisations, as well as from amongst independents.
The present government must not be left in the hands of a prime-minister, highly qualified though he may be, who tends to monopolise authority.
Highest leadership
It is imperative to demand realistic reforms within the PLO, namely that of its Executive Committee, which is supposed to be the highest PLO leadership.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's (PFLP) memorandum, presented to President Mahmoud Abbas by Abdurrahim Mallooh, member of the Executive Committee, on the actual situation of this Committee, is quite realistic. In my opinion, the memorandum echoes the viewpoints of many members of the Committee, and I am glad to confirm that Abbas gave it due consideration by calling for a special meeting of the Committee to hold discussions.
The Committee, as Mallooh has noted, has not held any discussions about the PLO's various departments (ministries) and their duties.
The memorandum also tackled the vague nature of the relationship that exists between the PLO and the PNA. It is imperative to define the nature of this relationship, both politically and practically.
Although it is the highest executive leadership, the Executive Committee, according to the memorandum, does not question the PNA's performance. The memorandum also raised a very important point regarding those members of the Committee who have no work except attending its meetings.
Mallooh also expressed the opinion that "we do not feel that we are real partners in the political decisions and their applications". He also emphasised the necessity of putting down a strategy for defining the alternatives for the Palestinian people.
The memorandum also discussed "our people's conditions in the Diaspora and the importance of soliciting their efforts in realising our national goals and objectives".
In light of my personal experience, I can confirm that what Mallooh had written is completely true and in line with the opinions of most members of the Executive Committee. Abbas is well aware of this fact, to the extent that he spoke about the need for the Executive Committee to hold intensive meetings with the objective of scrutinising the situation and changing it, even if he himself is unable to attend these meetings.
Here I hasten to add that there is an urgent need for dialogue among all PLO organisations, together with the Islamic organisations that are not members of the PLO. Officially, PLO forms an umbrella for all Palestinians, even though it suffers from a structural defect - whether it actually represents the people, or does it just constitute a few political, perhaps obsolete, movements?
However, the most important issue at hand for the Palestinians is to find a solution to the present Fatah-Hamas rift.
Professor As'ad Abdul Rahman is the Chairman of the Palestinian Encyclopedia
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