Disputes over Palestinian Central Council’s Decisions Weaken their Impact
Wednesday, 17 January, 2018 - 06:15 Asharq Al-Awsat

Ramallah - Kifah Ziboun
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1146056/disputes-over-palestinian-central-council%E2%80%99s-decisions-weaken-their-impact

Disputes over the interpretation of the Palestinian Central Council’s
decisions on Monday on suspending the Oslo Accords and recognizing Israel
have weakened their impact and stirred criticism among various Palestinian
faction.

The Palestinian Central Council is the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s
(PLO) second highest decision-making body.

Officials from the Hamas Movement and the Islamic Jihad lashed out on
Tuesday at the Central Council’s decisions and said they fell short of
expectations because they were kept at the level of political operations.

The Popular Front, the second biggest PLO faction expressed its reservations
on the decisions for adopting a “vague” policy.

A dispute over the terminology and explanations of the council’s decisions
had emerged on Tuesday regarding whether to end the Oslo Accord or to
consider the transitional phase as expired.

Another dispute emerged on whether to withdraw or suspend the recognition of
Israel and other issues related to the image of the resistance and
boycotting relations with the US.

However, Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee,
described the Council’s decisions as “advanced.”

He said those decisions were binding and will come into effect under the
supervision of PLO Executive Committee, adding that some decisions need to
be gradually implemented.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abu Youssef said: “There are decisions that do
not even need discussions. However, some issues should be subject to a
phased implementation, such as the decision to suspend recognition of Israel
and another that stipulates ending all cooperation with it, including
economic agreements.”

The Central Council had decided on Monday to renew a previous decision to
end security cooperation with Israel “in all its forms.”

A high-ranking source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the council’s decisions
“will surely not be taken at one go. Annulling the economic agreements need
a clear and studied plan.”

“We do not want any risks. We will start by putting plans before
implementing those decisions little by little.”