
Nov. 22-29, 1984
The 17th PNC session, called for by Fateh, convenes in Amman. King Hussein opens the session with a call for a Palestinian-Jordanian initiative for peace talks based on the formula of ‘territory for peace’, and the principles of Palestinian self-determination and a process in line with international legitimacy as expressed in UN Res. 242. PLO rejects the latter notion as basis for peace talks. Most PLO factions boycott the session, but the 257 delegates [251 are needed for a quorum] confirm the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians and reelect Arafat as Chairman of the new Exec. Committee, whose other members are: Farouk Qaddoumi (Fateh), Mahmoud Abbas (Fateh), Abdel Rahim Ahmed (ALF), Mohammed ‘Abbas (PLF); and the independents Jamal Sourani, Bishop Elia Khouri, Fahd Qawasmeh, Abdel Razzaq Yahya, Mohammed Milham and Jawid Al-Ghosein. Three seats are reserved for the boycotting factions (PFLP, DFLP and The Communist party). Sheikh Abdul Hamid As-Sayyeh is elected head of the PNC.