Palestinian National Council

Palestinian National Council. The supreme legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, it serves as the parliament for all Palestinians worldwide. Established in 1964, its members are elected from Palestinian communities in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, diaspora, and political factions. It is responsible for setting PLO policies, electing the Executive Committee, and amending the foundational Palestinian National Covenant.

History

The inaugural session was convened in Jerusalem on 28 May 1964 under the auspices of the Arab League, with Ahmad Shukeiri as its first chairman. This gathering formally established the Palestine Liberation Organization and adopted the original Palestinian National Covenant. Following the Six-Day War in 1967 and the rise of Fatah, leadership shifted to figures like Yasser Arafat. A pivotal session in Algiers in 1988, influenced by the First Intifada, declared the independence of the State of Palestine and accepted United Nations Security Council Resolution 242. The 1991 session in Algiers authorized participation in the Madrid Conference of 1991, leading to the Oslo Accords. Subsequent sessions have been sporadic, often held in Gaza City or Ramallah, amid ongoing political divisions with Hamas.

Structure and composition

Membership is designed to represent the entire Palestinian diaspora, with seats allocated for geographic constituencies, refugee camps, and various political organizations. Major factions like Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine hold designated blocs. The council elects its own speaker, a position held by figures such as Salim Zanoun and Rawhi Fattouh. It also selects a secretariat to manage its affairs. The total number of members has fluctuated significantly, from 483 in 1988 to 669 following elections in 1996, though no comprehensive elections have been held since.

Functions and powers

Its primary constitutional role is to serve as the highest authority within the Palestine Liberation Organization, formulating strategic national objectives. It holds the exclusive power to elect the 18-member Executive Committee, which functions as the PLO's government. The council is also vested with the authority to amend the Palestinian National Covenant and to approve or reject major political agreements, such as peace treaties. Furthermore, it is tasked with reviewing reports from the Palestinian Central Council and the Executive Committee on the implementation of its resolutions.

Sessions and key resolutions

The council has convened in over twenty regular and emergency sessions, often in symbolic Arab capitals like Cairo, Damascus, and Algiers. The 12th Session in 1974 adopted the Ten Point Program, advocating a phased liberation strategy. The historic 19th Session in 1988, led by Yasser Arafat, unilaterally proclaimed statehood and prompted diplomatic recognition by over 100 countries, including Sweden and the Holy See. The 21st Session in 1996, meeting in Gaza City, amended the Palestinian National Covenant to nullify clauses calling for Israel's destruction, a condition of the Oslo Accords. The most recent session was held in Ramallah in 2024.

Relationship with the PLO and other institutions

It is the foundational and paramount institution of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to which the Palestinian Central Council and the Executive Committee are subordinate. The Palestinian Legislative Council, created by the Oslo Accords, is a separate entity governing the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with which it maintains a complex and sometimes overlapping relationship. The council's authority is also intertwined with the leadership of the Palestinian National Authority, as its members elect the President of the State of Palestine. Ongoing factional strife, particularly with Hamas, has frequently paralyzed its functions and undermined its role as a unifying national parliament.

Category:Palestine Liberation Organization Category:National legislatures Category:Politics of Palestine