PLO agrees to conditional resumption of talks with Israel

The Palestinian Central Council (PCC) yesterday decided on the conditional resumption of peace talks with the Israeli occupation, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) withdrew and condemned the measure.

In a statement, the PCC said that it would work together with the international parties interested in the peace process in order to revive it on the bases of the UN resolutions.

To implement the UN resolution related to the peace process and stop Israel ignoring the international community, the PCC said it would organise its efforts with the UN Security Council.

The PCC blamed Israel for the stalemate of the peace process and undermining international efforts to reach a political solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

According to the statement, the pre-conditions, which were laid out for the renewal of peace talks, are that Israel commits to the 1967 borders, UN resolutions, a complete freeze on settlement in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and carrying out previous agreements.

The PFLP rejected the conditional resumption of peace talks, PFLP representative in the PCC Khalida Jarrar told a press conference after withdrawing from the meeting.

Jarrar said that insistence on the strategy of negotiations and preparing for conditional resumption means “continuation of the direct and absurd method of talks brokered by the American Administration.

“Based on our call for a complete halt of the negotiations and security cooperation, we announce our withdrawal from this meeting in order not to save a political cover-up for the renewal of talks,” Jarrar said.

Meanwhile, the PCC denounced the Israeli threats and the “rage campaign” launched by the Israeli government against the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas.

The PCC statement said that this reflects the Israeli desire to “abort” the efforts for the liberation of Palestine and building the Palestinian state through the international division.

In addition, they noted their surprised at the American position which opposed the reconciliation. The PCC called for reactivating the Arabic financial and political network to enable the Palestinian Authority to face the Israeli sanctions and support the reconciliation.