RAMALLAH, West Bank — Bilateral relations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel seem to be currently at their best, as coordination and cooperation on official levels are ongoing between the two sides. However, the Palestinians disagree as they want the nature of the relationship with Israel to be defined.

In this context, Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee, participated in the 16th Herzliya Conference on Israeli security that was held on June 14-16. Majdalani’s participation raised the ire of the Palestinians, as Palestinian factions and boycott committees demanded to hold him accountable for participating.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine noted in a June 16 statement that Majdalani’s participation is “a stab in our people’s back. We need to take a serious stance and hold him accountable.” The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement on the same day noting that Majdalani’s participation was “offensive to the struggles of our people and the sacrifices they have made. It challenges the boycott of the Israeli occupation — economically, militarily and culturally — which requires taking the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such practices.”

A Hamas statement issued June 18 described Majdalani’s participation as “a national failure that legalizes the occupation’s crimes and disregards the Palestinian people’s struggle.”