Weekly Political Report, Monday 22 April 2019

General Situation

*President Abbas demands political support and financial safety net from the Arab Counties. PA officials said that the Arab Foreign ministers’ statement came in line with the Palestinian demands (see main highlights under public statements).  However, the officials said the PA must work diligently with all able Arab countries to fulfil those commitments and pledges.  The Palestinian leadership has already prepared letters which will be carried by envoys to a number of Arab, European and other leaders worldwide.

PLO Central Council meeting 15 May: President Abbas stated yesterday that the PLO Central Council will meet on 15 May.  PLO officials said that the speaker of the PLO National Council Salim Al Zannoun met with President Abbas yesterday in Amman and both agreed to hold the PCC meeting on 15 May.  PLO officials said that the exact date to set up the meeting had been dependent on several factors but mainly the formation of the Israeli government, and the possible release of the century deal by the US. The officials said that invitations to members of the Central Council will be issued today. The meeting date coincides with the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba of 1948.

*PA demands arbitration/ third party mediation on Paris protocol and tax revenues deductions: Senior PA officials said that the PA Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara will depart at the end of this week to Brussels to attend the AHLC meeting. The PA officials said that the main message that the PA will deliver to donors is that she accepts arbitration and / or effective third party mediation on the withheld tax revenues with Israel. The officials said that should Israel accept arbitration, the PA will receive the tax revenues and leave the deducted sum of NIS 42 million until the arbitration/ effective mediation takes its course. The officials said that this would be a way out of the current crisis. However, the officials said that Israel may resist the concept of arbitration or third party mediation. The PA officials said that the minister of finance will meet with French officials and lawyers to discuss the PA arbitration proposal following the AHLC meeting.

* The PA will pay up to 60% of public sector salaries in the month of May (coinciding with the fasting month of Ramadan).

Political dynamics

Fatah / PA envoys to Egypt and Qatar: senior PA officials said that President Abbas had sent two senior envoys to Egypt and Qatar last week. The officials said that the two envoys warned against the continued support to Hamas, and the danger of splitting the Gaza strip from the West Bank entirely in the context of the so called century deal.  The officials said that the Egyptians proposed to renew reconciliation efforts to end the Palestine division. Senior officials told Horizon Center that the Egyptian proposal calls to form a national unity government, and to prepare for holding general elections. The official said that the proposal also entails holding a meeting of the defunct Palestinian interim leadership structure which is clomped of all factions including Hamas and PIJ and met only once in 2012. The official said such a meeting will not take place before Hamas official and unequivocally recognizes the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. On the trip to Qatar, the envoy said that the PA warned Qatar against the involvement of Hamas in the century deal, and noted that Israel and the US mean to deepen the internal Palestinian division.

Political statements

Highlights of Abbas speech to the Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo. In his remarks, President Abbas told the Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo yesterday that PM Netanyahu does not believe in peace. He stressed that Israel violated all signed agreements and has not implemented a single international resolution since 1947. He also said Israel is violating the Paris Protocol by deducting Palestinian tax revenues. He went on to say the Trump Administration has not fulfilled what they had promised us, and have taken decisions in violation of international law. He said that “we only have security contacts with the US to fight terrorism.  He added “we reject the Israeli annexation of Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the Shaba’a Lebanese farms”. He also said “We insist on reconciliation despite Hamas’s rejection and their search for “calm arrangements here and there.” He said Netanyahu provides/ facilitates flow of funds to Hamas stressing that the PA continues to transfer USD 100 million a month to Gaza. He also said that we had requested to hold an American/ Israeli / Palestinian meeting to discuss the payments to prisoners and martyrs but our request was denied and they moved ahead with deducting the tax revenues. He said “I will listen to your views and will convey them to the meeting of the PLO Central Council which will be held mid next month to take appropriate decisions”. He also said “we need your political support and we need you to provide us with a financial safety network”. He said we will not accept the current status quo. As regards the so called century deal, President Abbas exclaimed what has remained (to be discussed) after the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the relocation of the US embassy, stopping assistance programs and shutting down the PLO mission in Washington. Abbas had stressed that the Palestinian situation is very difficult, unbearable, and unsustainable, adding that Palestinians need Arab political and financial support to face future challenges. He said that the PLO central council will convene mid May to take the appropriate decisions regarding the relationship with Israel and the US.

Arabs will not support any peace deal that falls short of Palestinian rights: The Arab Foreign Ministers statement was released following their meeting in Cairo yesterday. The statement indicated that any peace deal will not success in achieving lasting peace unless it confirms the alienable rights of the Palestinian people including the right to self-determination, the creation of an independent state on 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital in addition to the refugees’ right to repatriation and compensation in accordance with UN resolution # 194 and the Arab Peace Initiative in addition to releasing prisoners. The statement also reaffirmed a previous Arab Summit resolution taken in Tunisia to activate the Arab safety net of USD 100 million a month.  The statement urged the international community to implement the UNSC resolution # 2334. The statement also urged Fatah and Hamas to take practical and immediate steps to reconcile while reaffirming the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people under the chairmanship of President Abbas.

No meetings between Fatah and Hamas: Senior Fatah and PLO official Azam al Ahmad said in public statements that there will be no meeting between Fatah and Hamas before the latter unequivocally recognizes the PLO as the sole legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people. Al Ahmad said that President Abbas will start a tour to a number of countries the coming period to confront the century deal. He said that should Israel annex the West Bank settlements, the Palestinian leadership will implement all the PNC / PCC resolutions. He said that the PLO will initiate contacts to warn against the US and Israeli practices including possible annexation of the West Bank settlements. He added that all forms and contacts with Israel will be served should the latter move with that step.  He said this will include security coordination, which could lead to tensions and the eventual collapse of the PA. He noted that under this scenarios, Israel will have to full retake all of the Palestinian towns. Al Ahmad said that President Abbas instructed the PA government to pay 60-70% of the public sector salaries during the month of Ramadan. He said that the leadership hopes that the Arab countries will activate the financial safety network to support the PA. PIJ issued a statement harshly criticizing al Ahmad statement specifically on the question of the PLO being the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Other developments/ Security incidents

Israeli soldiers opened fire and injured a Palestinian Saturday at an army checkpoint in the northern West Bank after he allegedly attempted to carry out a stabbing attack. PA security officials said that the Israeli soldiers shot the Palestinian, at Za’atara checkpoint south of Nablus. None of the soldiers were hurt in the alleged attack. The Palestinian was later identified believed to be 20 years old from a nearby village.