PLO Executive Committee opposes US-led Bahrain conference

Headline: “The PLO emphasizes its firm opposition to the convening of the Manama Conference”
“The PLO Executive Committee emphasized its firm opposition to the convening of the Manama Conference (refers to US-led conference to be held in Bahrain in late June 2019 focusing on economic aspects of US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan –Ed.). It called on all of the states and political and financial bodies that have been invited to the conference to respect the position of the Palestinian consensus and not participate in it.
In a statement published at the end of the consultation meeting that it held yesterday [May 26, 2019] in Ramallah, the committee emphasized that it has not authorized any body to hold negotiations on behalf of the Palestinian people. It called on all of the Arab states that have confirmed their participation in the workshop at Manama to reexamine their positions…
The Executive Committee expressed its appreciation for the Palestinian consensus regarding the opposition to the American plans, whose goal is to replace the principle of ‘land for peace’ with the principle ‘prosperity and money for peace.’ [It also expressed its appreciation] for the adherence to the Palestinian people’s legitimate and inalienable national rights, and prime among them the right to self-determination, the right to establish its independent state within the June 4, 1967 borders, and the right of return in accordance with [UN] General Assembly Resolution 194 (see note below –Ed.).”

UN Resolution 194 (Chapter 11, Dec. 11, 1948) states that "refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return." Palestinian leaders argue this means that all Arabs who left Israel during the war (hundreds of thousands) and their descendants (a few million) have a "right of return" to Israel. Israel argues that the resolution only calls for a limited return and only under certain conditions, especially focusing on the words "wishing to return... and live at peace with their neighbors."