The Palestinian National Council‘s 23rd meeting at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. (Thaer Ghanaim/WAFA images) 

By: Malak Hasan

RAMALLAH, April 30, 2018 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Monday called on the Palestinian National Council to adopt the initiative he made at the United Nations Security Council in February.

He said during a televised speech at the National council’s 23^rd session held at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah that “we may be up to difficult steps in our relationship with our neighbors (Israel) and the US, but I am not going to say what they are.”

Abbas described the meeting, which took place 22 years after the last regular PNC session in 1996 as a guard of the Palestinian dream. He said, “If this session did not convene, the national dream would have been in danger.”

He hinted that there was no desire by unnamed parties for this session to convene in an attempt to end the Palestinian dream.

“We live conspiracies of the past, because there are those who do not want this council to meet, which means an end to the PLO and then it will be the end of the Palestinian dream.”

He shared with the attendees who include high ranking Palestinian officials, Arabs and international guests that “Some wanted to hold the session in Gaza, and others in Chicago, but we have a homeland and we can hold the session here. We have the freedom to speak in our land more than in any other place.”

Speaking about the reconciliation, Abbas said that he remains committed to ending the division with Hamas, despite the recent events which saw the Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah being the target of a failed assassination attempt.

He explained that despite that the Palestinian Authority rose above what happened and insisted on achieving the reconciliation.

However, he affirmed that there will never be two authorities governing Palestine. “No country that respects itself will accept two authorities. If they [Hamas] want reconciliation, we either we be in charge and assume full responsibility or they be in charge and they assume full responsibility. It is either a full reconciliation or none.”

Concerning the highly controversial and upcoming US deal, Abbas affirmed that Palestinians “will not accept the US as the mediator by itself and will not accept anything it offers.”

“They talked about a deal. We said fine. Then we were surprised to find out that the deal was a slap - an end to the peace process,” he explained.

He argued that a peace deal that overlooks the question of Jerusalem, refugees and settlements will not be accepted by the Palestinians. “If the US wants to offer a deal, then it should be a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as its capital. We will not accept anything else,” he reiterated.

He stressed that people should pay attention to the wording when it comes to the issue of the Palestinian capital. “The capital of Palestine will not be in East Jerusalem, but East Jerusalem.

Abbas emphasized that the Palestinian Authority believes in a two-state solution and a minor swap of land that is equal in quantity and value and will not accept Jerusalem as a capital for two states.  

Reaffirming the values of the Palestinian leadership, Abbas said “we believe that all can be solved through negotiation, non-violent popular resistance, fighting terrorism in all forms, and remaining detached from the internal affairs of other countries and we expect the same courtesy.”

Regarding nonviolent resistance, Abbas called on Palestinians to resist peacefully but keep in mind the safety of children who are the future generation. “Resistance is effective but I say here: keep the children away from the fence. We shouldn’t let children get near the fence so that they won’t get shot.”

He then read out the names of Palestinian children who were targeted by the Israeli occupation, such as Ahed Tamimi, Mohammad Durra, Mohammad Abu Khudeir, the Dawabshe family, and Musab tamimi to name a few.

Abbas then called on the attendees to remember that “Between the year 2000 and 2017, 2027 children were killed by the Israeli occupation and more will fall, but we will not give up.”

After narrating history about calls by states such as Britain or Germany or Russia to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, he concluded that “Israel is a colonial project intended to plant an odd body in this region. But I am not saying here that Israel should be removed. Israel exists and all I want is a state so that we can live together in peace.”

Furthermore, he reiterated that the Palestinian Authority will continue to protect the peace culture in the world, promote nonviolent popular resistance and face the Israeli occupation by supporting the steadfastness of Palestinians in area C and Jerusalem.

Abbas affirmed the values of the Palestinian Authority which are in line with the principles of the National Council held in 1988, which since then were fully upheld. “I challenge anyone who claims that we gave up one principle of the ones set then. We give up nothing.”  

Abbas summarized what he described as the achievements of the Palestinian authority in various fields including sports, medicine, law and gender equality. He said, “We established a constitutional court, have 240 judges, 42 of whom are female judges and our general prosecutor is a woman. We established a Juvenile court and a corruption court.”

He also insisted that the leadership pays special attention to the future generation and its growth and said that an institution for creativity and excellence was established to support Palestinians minds around the world.

Abbas boosted about Palestinians’ accomplishments in sports and affirmed that sports should not and will not be political and affirmed his commitment to women issues, which was manifested in the signing of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).    

He also spoke about starting a fund for Palestinians in Lebanon six years ago to support their education, and took pride in the establishment of industrial cities; the country’s oversees assets, the establishment of a cancer hospital, government institutions, international awards and the passing of new laws to govern the country, such as the cyber Crime Law.     

Lastly, he affirmed that the Palestinian leadership shall continue to seek full membership and international protection.

 M.H./M.K.