Skip to main content

Palestinian Central Council to decide on peace talks

The Palestinian Central Council, the PLO's second-highest executive body, is expected to make a decision on the extension of the peace talks within the next 10 days.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat (L) helps Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as he signs international conventions during a meeting with Palestinian leadership in the West Bank City of Ramallah April 1, 2014. Abbas signed more than a dozen international conventions on Tuesday citing anger at Israel's delay of a prisoner release, in a move jeopardised U.S. efforts to salvage fragile peace talks. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3JIOF

Some of the most important decisions that the Palestinians need to take are expected to come out of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC), due to meet on April 26.

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) second-highest legislative body will meet in Ramallah to decide on the peace process and on presidential and parliamentary elections, according to Hanna Amireh, PLO executive committee member.

A last-minute effort is being made by the Ramallah-based PLO leadership to encourage Gaza-based pro-Hamas legislators to attend this important meeting, even though the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has not yet officially joined the PLO. A high-level delegation from the West Bank will visit Gaza on April 21.

The PCC meeting will take place three days before the end of the nine-month US-led peace talks. This timing is aimed at giving Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas maximum negotiating leverage. Direct talks have continued despite the Israeli failure to release the remaining prisoners and the signing on by the state of Palestine to 15 international treaties and conventions. The talks have focused on the extension of the peace talks for another year or at least until the end of 2014.

The PCC is usually called to approve a major change in strategy. If Palestinians intend not to extend the peace talks past the end of April, Abbas needs the widest public support possible. He will be under immense economic and political pressure in the event that he walks away from the talks, and therefore it is expected that the council will support Abbas and share the decision.

The Palestinian public is already beginning to encourage the PLO leadership to suspend the talks. In an open letter to Abbas, Palestinian intellectuals and activists from inside and outside the occupied territories called for a suspension of the peace talks, which the signatories argue have been fruitless. The letter initially signed by 108 leading Palestinians concludes: "We therefore believe that the time has come, once and for all, to declare a final break from the pattern of endless negotiations established more than two decades ago at Oslo, which has only provided time for Israel to annex and colonize more territory and impose crippling restrictions on Palestinian life."

The letter and the anticipated meeting of the PCC will also need to address another crucial point that has been hurting Palestinians. The division between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and between the PLO and Hamas will also be raised, according to PLO officials. While it is unlikely that Hamas will attend this meeting, it is understood that a decision regarding holding presidential and parliamentary elections is crucially needed. The PLO has resisted holding any elections until the reconciliation process is implemented, but sources have told Al-Monitor that elections will need to be held even if they are limited to the West Bank.

The four-year term of Abbas, who does not plan to run, expired in 2009. At that time, the same PCC held a meeting to extend Abbas’ term due to the split with Gaza until elections can be held in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The term of the current nonoperational Palestinian Legislative Council lapsed in 2010.

Abbas has little to worry about in regard to the PCC. His own Fatah movement and other PLO and independent allies hold a clear majority, thus allowing Abbas to use the council in any way he chooses. If he calls on the council to approve his decision not to renew the talks, he will have little trouble getting near unanimous approval. However, if a deal is struck to further extend the talks by Abbas using his weight in the PCC, the president will have some serious convincing to do of the public.

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Palestine Briefing Palestine Briefing

Palestine Briefing

Top Palestine stories in your inbox each week

Trend Reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (4th R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2019. (Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

From roads to routers: The future of China-Middle East connectivity

A general view shows the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018. - On March 27, Saudi announced a deal with Japan's SoftBank to build the world's biggest solar plant. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

Regulations on Middle East renewable energy industry starting to take shape

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial