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Palestinian Authority Sends Letter to Biden Asserting Factions' Commitment to 67’ Border

Palestinian officials meet during the National Dialogue meetings in Cairo, Egypt, on February 9, 2021. (EPA)
Palestinian officials meet during the National Dialogue meetings in Cairo, Egypt, on February 9, 2021. (EPA)
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Palestinian Authority Sends Letter to Biden Asserting Factions' Commitment to 67’ Border

Palestinian officials meet during the National Dialogue meetings in Cairo, Egypt, on February 9, 2021. (EPA)
Palestinian officials meet during the National Dialogue meetings in Cairo, Egypt, on February 9, 2021. (EPA)

The Palestinian Authority (PA) sent its first political letter to the new US administration, outlining the agreements reached between all factions, including Hamas, on general elections in the Palestinian territories.

The letter affirmed that all factions are committed to establishing a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The letter was delivered by the head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh to US President Joe Biden's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr.

The Authority addressed the upcoming elections, asserting that all factions of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and others are committed to the polls to be held under the modified Basic Law.

The message, carried by the Amad news site, presented the recent commitments agreed upon by all political factions, including Hamas, at the meeting of the secretaries-general on September 3, 2020.

They agreed to commit to all standards of International law, asserting that the PLO is the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

All factions agreed to establish an independent Palestinian state in all territories Israel illegally occupied in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They confirmed there will be a peaceful transfer of power after the elections and ongoing nonviolent popular resistance against the Israeli occupation.

The modified elections law issued through a decree by President Mahmoud Abbas clearly states elections are based on the Basic Law of the PLO, which is the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, according to Amad news.

The message also explains the conditions for candidacy, indicating that any legible Palestinian who wishes to run for office must fill and sign an application in which they agree to the Basic Palestinian Law and its amendments, and accepting the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.

The message came in response to a request for clarification from the US administration regarding the partnership with Hamas in the elections.

Israeli Channel 12 confirmed last week that Washington insists that any upcoming Palestinian government must recognize Israel, renounce violence and maintain agreements.

The US administration and the Authority did not immediately comment on the report, but an informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat that there are no fears or concerns that a dispute or clash may erupt over this issue.

The elections will be held under the umbrella of the PLO, and the organization is committed to all agreements and any government will be formed accordingly.

Palestinians will take part in parliamentary and presidential elections on May 22 and July 31 respectively, barring any disagreement between Fatah and Hamas.

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Lebanese Police Try to Evict Hundreds of Displaced from Abandoned Building in Beirut

Lebanese civilians argue with army soldiers as they attempt to evict internally displaced people from an old hotel's premises, at Hamra Street in Beirut, Lebanon, 21 October 2024. (EPA)
Lebanese civilians argue with army soldiers as they attempt to evict internally displaced people from an old hotel's premises, at Hamra Street in Beirut, Lebanon, 21 October 2024. (EPA)
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Lebanese Police Try to Evict Hundreds of Displaced from Abandoned Building in Beirut

Lebanese civilians argue with army soldiers as they attempt to evict internally displaced people from an old hotel's premises, at Hamra Street in Beirut, Lebanon, 21 October 2024. (EPA)
Lebanese civilians argue with army soldiers as they attempt to evict internally displaced people from an old hotel's premises, at Hamra Street in Beirut, Lebanon, 21 October 2024. (EPA)

Lebanese police stormed an abandoned building in Beirut’s commercial district, Hamra, to evict hundreds of displaced by Israel’s war on Hezbollah, who have been squatting there for weeks.

Lebanese authorities have prepared hundreds of shelters to accommodate the displaced. But as their numbers climbed to nearly 20% of the population, or an estimated 1.2 million people, official shelters have not been able to cope.

Tens of thousands had fled their homes since last year. An Israeli escalation last month has driven out an additional hundreds of thousands of people from the south, Bekaa and the southern suburbs of Beirut, many of them often fleeing with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing.

Most of the formal shelters prepared by the government are at full capacity, housing nearly 200,000 people.

Most of the displaced have sought accommodation with relatives and friends around Lebanon. But many have taken to beaches and open spaces, where they set up shelters. With winter approaching, they are seeking a roof over their head.

Scuffles broke out Monday between police and many of the displaced who refused to leave. An ambulance arrived to remove a person who passed out. A woman threatened to jump off the balcony if she was forced to leave, yelling she refused to go to overcrowded government shelters, where there is no space and where she feared diseases.

It was not clear what prompted the sudden eviction. Lebanon’s Interior Ministry said it will not allow trespassing on private property despite the displacement crisis.