PLO to hold talks in Ramallah on possibly suspending security ties with Israel

Kerry phoned Abbas to urge him to refrain from taking “harsh” decisions before the upcoming Israeli elections.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinians walk near an opening in Israel's controversial barrier in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of A-tur (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinians walk near an opening in Israel's controversial barrier in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of A-tur
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The PLO’s Central Council is scheduled to hold a meeting in Ramallah on Wednesday to discuss the future of relations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, Palestinian sources said.
The 124-member council consists of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip and several countries. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are not participating in the discussions.
The sources said that the PLO representatives would discuss the possibility of suspending or cutting security, economic and political ties with Israel.
They said that the two-day meeting would focus on Israel’s recent measures against the Palestinians, including the withholding of tax revenues and cutting of electricity to some West Bank cities due to the Palestinians’ debts to the Israel Electricity Company.
Some PLO officials said that they would push for “harsh” decisions in response to the Israeli measures.
On the eve of the meeting, US Secretary of State John Kerry phoned PA President Mahmoud Abbas and urged him to refrain from taking “harsh” decisions before the upcoming Israeli elections.
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