PLO to mull revoking recognition of Israel

— The Palestine Liberation Organisation’s top leadership opened the way to suspending its recognition of Israel on Saturday, but stopped short of ordering the drastic measure immediately.

Withdrawing the PLO’s recognition would threaten Israeli relations with the Palestinian leadership and raise doubts over security coordination between the two.

It would also be seen as a fatal blow to the two-state solution, already on life support following the White House’s December recognition of occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December.

The PLO’s Executive Committee released a statement after a threehour meeting on Saturday saying it would set up a committee to study the derecognition move.

The organisation’s top body was meeting for the first time since the Palestinian Central Council, another arm of the PLO, called for the step last month.

The executive committee on Saturday urged the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas to “immediately start preparing plans and projects for disengagement steps with the Israeli occupation government at the political, administrative, economic and security levels”.

The Palestinian leadership has become increasingly frustrated with the US administration, particularly since President Donald Trump’s controversial decision.

The Palestinians, who also see the city as their capital, cut off ties with Trump and said his decision had placed in jeopardy their relations with Israel. —