WASHINGTON, May 17, 2011 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) General Assembly in Washington Tuesday intensified its efforts at the US Congress, shortly before the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the US at the end of this week.

The PLO General Assembly distributed a statement to all 535 members of the Congress in which it explained the importance and details of the reconciliation agreement signed between the two Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, in Cairo earlier this month.

The statement refuted the Israeli claims and calls made by some members of Congress to boycott the Palestinian Authority as a result of the reconciliation agreement.

Ambassador Maen Areikat, Chief Representative of the PLO Delegation to the United States, participated in a meeting of more than 60 Congressional aides in Washington regarding the Palestinian reconciliation, in which he explained the Palestinian viewpoint.

He explained the positive effect of the agreement on Palestinians and that it is an opportunity that should be exploited to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, warning against threats of financial pressure against Palestinians which will have a negative impact reflecting on the US and the entire region.

The PLO General Assembly also issued a statement on the 63th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, stressing the right of return of Palestinian people to their land according to UN Resolution 194.

The statement called for measures to compel Israel to respect international law and to stop its violations of Palestinian human rights.

T.R./F.J.