By David Singer ——Bio and Archives--March 9, 2017
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"We are trying here to create a supporting structure to be an asset to the PLO, not against it,"
"attempt to divide the Palestinian people."PLO member Ahmad al-Majdalani said that the motives behind the conference were "suspicious" - echoing accusations that the event was organized to export internal Palestinian political divisions abroad. A member of Hamas' politburo Izzat al-Rashq expressed support for the conference on behalf of Hamas - adding that:
"those who claim that Hamas is behind the conference are mistaken."No matter whose viewpoint one believes--the Conference is surely evidence that the Palestinian Arabs living abroad want to have a say in their own future and have formed an organisation that will allow them to do so--because they consider that the PLO as presently structured is not meeting their aspirations.
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"We as Palestinian diaspora have the right to organise and tell the traditional Palestinian leaders what we think is the best way forward,"Anees Fawzi Kassem - the head of the conference - said the Oslo Accords were the worst deal possible and had resulted in Palestinians being unable to represent Palestinians.
"We are gathered here today to demand that we the people of Palestine be given our voice back,"Khalid Turaani, another spokesperson for the conference reportedly claimed:
"It is high time that Palestinians come together to ensure that a weak donor-bondaged [PLO] doesn't give away any more of our legal historic and moral rights in Palestine,"Kassem's and Turanni's sentiments will resonate with those Palestinian Arabs living under PLO rule whose voices have been silenced whilst being denied free, fair and transparent elections since 2006. Negotiations between Israel and the PLO under the Oslo Accords were always destined to founder since the PLO Charter states that:
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David Singer is an Australian Lawyer, a Foundation Member of the International Analyst Network and Convenor of Jordan is Palestine International—an organization calling for sovereignty of the West Bank and Gaza to be allocated between Israel and Jordan as the two successor States to the Mandate for Palestine. Previous articles written by him can be found at: jordanispalestine.blogspot.com