Well-informed Palestinian sources have disclosed that the Palestinian resistance factions in the Syrian capital of Damascus are currently studying the formation of a new Palestinian reference representing the Palestinian people at home and abroad as a substitute for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This comes as a respond to a proposal by Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Meshaal.
The new reference will include all the Palestinian factions, in addition to national figures believing in the option of resistance. The Damascus-Based Alliance of Palestinian Forces has been assigned to prepare a draft for the reference in one month.
During a party in Doha two days ago under the title "Gaza won", Meshaal promised a "surprise" for a new Palestinian reference, adding: "Hamas will not accept the equation of the opening of the crossings in exchange for releasing the captured soldier Gilad Shalit. There will not be calm without lifting the siege."
Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmed Jibril has threatened to form a national bloc of resistance factions in case the Palestinian dialogue and reconciliation failed. Speaking to an Algerian parliamentary delegation, Jibril said Egypt should not be the sole mediator in the national dialogue, calling for an Arab Muslim umbrella in the Palestinian national dialogue.
Member of the PLO Central Committee Nabil Shaath has described the new reference as a "disaster" that destroys the Palestinian and Arab action.
The PLO is the result of the Arab Summit and the Palestinian organization that had its Arab and world legitimacy from the Rabat decrees, Shaath said, pointing out that the solution lies in the national unity.
The Arab League has called for the national dialogue and charged Egypt with making an effort in this regard. In fact, Cairo does its role sincerely and Fatah is committed to any serious attempt in this regard.
This is not the first time in which the factions in Damascus try to "sabotage" the PLO, as there have been many attempts since 1979, but, fortunately, all such attempts failed, Shaath added.
"I'm sure that Meshaal's call will fail," he said, expressing optimism about the Egyptian efforts to reach a truce and a Palestinian national dialogue. He expected a truce within days.
On the other hand, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Nayef Hawatmeh has uncovered an Israeli proposal to establish a 500-meter-deep security belt on the border between Egypt and Gaza. This proposal was put forward by the front's delegation during talks in Cairo with chief of the Egyptian intelligence Omar Suleiman, he said, stressing the front's refusal to this proposal.
