Palestinian Leadership to Draw up New Strategy in Response to Trump’s Decision

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) holds a news conference after a meeting with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels, Belgium, March 27, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman

President Mahmoud Abbas has called on specialized committees within the Palestinian leadership to submit recommendations on a possible strategy for the coming phase, in response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
 
Well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Abbas has asked for drafting scenarios on how to deal with the US decision and its repercussions on the Palestinian situation at the political and financial level.
 
Among the most important proposals put forward by the President's office, which the Palestinian leadership was supposed to discuss, was the declaration of a Palestinian State as an existing State, namely the transformation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, into a government for all the Palestinians, while the Palestinian Central Council becomes the parliament, turning the Palestinian Authority into a state department.
 
In his speech last week during an emergency summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, Abbas hinted that the Authority could continue with its current function.
 
He said that due to Israel’s continued violations and colonial practices, especially in Jerusalem, “we cannot remain a power without an authority and under the occupation without cost.”
 
“This [condition] necessitates a reassessment of the situation through our Palestinian frameworks and consultations with brothers and friends in order to deal with the government of the State of Palestine, which will serve as an alternative to the Palestinian National Authority,” he stated.
 
The sources added that the proposal would include putting the name of Palestine on all official documents, regardless of how Israel would react to such a measure.
 
The Palestinian leadership is expected to discuss its future options on Monday, the first meeting Abbas will chair since the US declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
 
It has called on Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to attend the Central Council meeting, but Hamas has not yet responded to the invitation.