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PLO Suffers Setback in Holland, As Dutch Parties Refuse Meeting

November 21, 1989
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The Palestine Liberation Organization has suffered a serious political setback in Holland among supporters of its cause.

The country’s four main parties have withdrawn from participation in a public meeting to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, scheduled for Thursday.

The meeting, organized by the PLO’s representative in The Hague, Afif Safieh, will celebrate the second anniversary of the intifada, which began Dec. 9, 1987.

The parley will also mark the first anniversary of the declaration of an independent “state of Palestine” by the Palestine National Council in Algiers on Nov. 15, 1988.

But its purpose was called too unclear by the Dutch Labor Party, the PVDA, which is on record in favor of a Palestinian state. The party pulled its scheduled speaker, Sen. Elizabeth Baarveld, out of the event.

It acted only after the Liberal Party, the Democratic-66 and the Christian Democrats each withdrew their representatives.

The Netherlands Zionist Organization and three other groups plan to stage a demonstration.

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