Hi to Morocco and Bhutan, bye to Hanan Ashrawi

• Author: David Singer
• Published date: 18 December 2020
• Date: 18 December 2020
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

It is also the week in which long serving member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee - Hanan Ashrawi - chose to resign when she failed to be appointed to take Saeb Erekat's place as Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee after he died of COVID-19.

Ashrawi was clearly miffed at the way her intended resignation was treated:

"I met with President Mahmoud Abbas on 24 November, 2020 and we had a candid and amicable discussion in which I informed him of my decision to resign from the Executive Committee, effective the end of the year.

"I sent the resignation in writing on 26 November, 2020, with the agreement that it will not be publicly disclosed until all necessary arrangements are concluded.

"Regrettably, news of my resignation was leaked from "senior sources" in a misleading and irresponsible manner that led to conjecture and rumours."

Ashrawi was having no truck with Abbas's belated attempt to pacify her:

"I refrained from making any comments until I communicated with President Abbas on Tuesday, December 8, and agreed to the disclosure of my resignation and publication of the letter.

"The President responded that evening with a notation on my letter deferring the decision to the Palestine Central Council.

"While I appreciate and respect the President's position, I reaffirm my resignation and consider it to be in effect. "

The reasons for Ashrawi's resignation were unambiguous, and directed at Abbas' failures, but Israel will not mourn the retirement of the person who wrote an article in National Geographic decades ago claming delusionally that Palestinian Arabs are descended from Canaanites (to make them indigenous to Israel) and sharply criticized Israel's peace with the UAE:

"I believe it is time to carry out the required reform and to activate the PLO in a manner that restores its standing and role, including by respecting the mandate of the Executive Committee rather than its marginalization and exclusion from decision-making.

"The Palestinian political system needs renewal and reinvigoration with the inclusion of youth, women, and additional qualified professionals."

Certainly – the tired old faces on the Executive Committee - and the PLO's outdated policies - need rejuvenation.

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