Reports of secret talks with the Israelis conducted by Palestinian officials close to President Mahmoud Abbas have stirred controversy within the PLO Executive Committee, a senior official has told Quds Net.
The anonymous official said that left-wing factions made their opposition to such talks known at the latest meeting of the PLO executive committee. “The move is interpreted as a unilateral step by Abbas and a violation of the PLO Central Committee’s resolutions,” he said. Although they are not actual members of the committee, those who oppose the talks attend its meetings by permission of the leadership. The coming days could see an increase in tension if they do not respect the decision to hold talks with the Israelis, it is said.
A member of the Democratic Front’s political bureau, Talal Abu Zarifa, told Quds Net that the DFLP and the Popular Front oppose the opening of secret negotiation channels with Israel.
Israel’s Walla news site revealed last month that secret meetings have taken place between Palestinian and Israeli officials, with the support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Abbas. Both sides, it was claimed, were able to defuse some of the tension that prevailed following their failed talks in 2014.