Chief Palestinian negotiator resigns

Official sources in Palestine have reported that the Chief Negotiator for the Palestinian Authority has resigned from his post. According to Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary of the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting of the committee in Ramallah.

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The reason for the resignation, claims the Maan News Agency, are the leaks of what are now called “The Palestine Papers” published by Al Jazeera satellite television and Britain’s Guardian newspaper. Although an internal PA investigation cleared Dr. Erekat of any involvement in the leaks, he believes that the documents were leaked from his office and so he must take ultimate responsibility. In Gaza, a Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said that Erekat’s resignation proves his involvement in “giving up the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”.

The resignation letter is on Mahmoud Abbas’s desk pending acceptance or rejection.

Source: IMEMC & Agencies