Proposals to strengthen Palestinians’ national representation and political participation formed the main agenda of the Palestinian National Emergency Forum held in Istanbul on Tuesday.
The forum was organized at the invitation of the National Committee for Palestinian Popular Activities, in cooperation with the Conference of Palestinians in Türkiye, and brought together participants from Palestine and the diaspora. A statement issued by participants said that 350 Palestinian figures from more than 30 countries attended the meeting in person and online.
Call for broader participation in national representative institutions
The forum called for strengthening the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization and its representative institutions. It also called for developing mechanisms that would enable broader participation by Palestinians in choosing their representatives.
The statement called for members of the Palestinian National Council to be chosen through free, direct and democratic elections. Participants argued that this process would strengthen the legitimacy of national institutions.
Proposal for an expert committee to prepare for elections
Participants opposed the use of exclusion, marginalization and selective appointment methods in representing the Palestinian people. The statement called for mechanisms based on participation and transparency.
They also proposed establishing a committee with the experience and expertise needed to oversee the election of members of the Palestinian National Council. The statement called for preparing a regular project to register Palestinians living at home and in the diaspora and for creating a national registry of voters.
The Palestinian National Council is defined as the highest legislative and representative body for all Palestinians. The council represents Palestinians inside and outside Palestine.
