Palestinian factions, groups stress rejection to amending national charter

At the invitation of Khaled al-Fahoum a meeting was held on Thursday comprising representatives of the 10 Palestinian factions and certain Palestinian forces, figures and activists in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the occupied Arab territories.

The participants in the meeting discussed current situations concerning the Palestinian people and their national cause since the signing of the Oslo agreement and later developments until the Wye River accord was signed.

At the conclusion of the meeting, al-Fahoum said in a press conference, "With all concern the participants noted the grave step the Palestinian Authority intends to take in abrogating the national charter of the PLO." He said, "It was agreed to form a preparatory committee representing all forces of our people in the homeland and the Diaspora in preparations for convening a plenary national conference which will take national decisions to withstand the current phase and future challenges."

Al-Fahoum said he will chair the meeting and make necessary contacts to set a date for convening the conference.

Al-Fahoum continued that it was agreed to set up "a Palestinian emergency committee in all Palestinian camps and Palestinian gathering centers so as to mobilize the masses and invest all efforts so as the Palestinian Authority will not convene a session for the current Palestinian national council or violate the charter of the PLO."

Al-Fahoum said the preliminary committee for the forthcoming plenary conference was already formed. He added that one representative from each of the ten groups will be represented in the conference as well as Palestinian representatives from Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.

He noted that a three-member financial committee was established with the task of setting needed expenditures for the conference.