Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas has not yet acted on a recommendation to suspend security coordination with Israel. Such a move would likely harm Palestinians more than Israelis.  

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Central Council (PCC) held its 27th annual conference in Ramallah last week under the banner of “Steadfastness and Popular Resistance.”

In a statement issued at the conclusion of the conference, the PCC announced the suspension of security coordination with Israel, MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) reports.

“Security coordination in all its forms with the authority of the Israeli occupation will be stopped in light of its non-compliance with the agreements signed by the two sides,” said PLO member Ahmad Abdelrahman on behalf of the 110-member PCC.

Peace will be achieved only if an independent Palestinian state is established on the 1967 borders and the right of return for “Palestinian refugees” is realized, the statement read.

The PLO leadership also congratulated the Arabs of Jerusalem for the intifada, or violent uprising, sparked last summer and called to rally around the “popular resistance.”

“The Central Council congratulates our people who take part in the heroic intifada [in Jerusalem] against the barbarism and brutality of the settlers and the occupation forces…. To strengthen the steadfastness of Jerusalem and its heroic intifada, the Central Council calls upon all the political and national authorities in the city to allocate the funds necessary to reinforce the steadfastness of our people and defend the holy places and the city’s Arab identity.”

This statement, in effect, calls for the continued support of terrorism against Israelis. Just last week a Palestinian terrorist rammed his car into a group of Israelis in Jerusalem, wounding five innocent people.

The PCC also called for a continued boycott of Israeli products and further activity against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

PA Shooting Itself in the Foot?

MEMRI notes that the Council’s resolutions require the approval of Palestinian Authority (PA) head Mahmoud Abbas. Since this approval has not yet been granted, the security coordination thus far remains intact.

The PA, an interim governing body, was formed in 1994, pursuant to the Oslo Accords between the PLO and Israel.

PCC member Bassam Al-Salhe told Reuters that the council’s decision would be put into effect, but a senior official in Abbas’ bureau told Israel Hayom on Saturday that international pressure on Abbas would probably keep him from implementing the PLO’s recommendation, even if the council ratified it. According to the official, security coordination with Israel was an “important national strategic interest” for the Palestinians and halting security coordination with Israel would hurt the Palestinians more than Israel.

The Palestinians have taken an increasing number of unilateral steps in an attempt both to gain statehood and to undermine Israel.

By: Aryeh Savir
Staff Writer, United with Israel

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