Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee Azzam al-Ahmad has said that the Palestinian Authority was facing great challenges in light of recent Israeli measures. Stressing that the current situation was unacceptable, Al-Ahmad, who is also a Fatah Central Committee member, noted that the Palestinian leadership was looking into the possibility of convening the Central Council. In remarks broadcast by the official radio on Thursday, Al-Ahmad said: “The leadership is seriously considering holding a session of the Central Council to take appropriate measures to respond to Israel’s settlement practices.” He added: “In light of the Israeli measures, President Mahmoud Abbas told the leadership that this current situation could not continue… We need final and clear decisions because the Israelis are building new settlements every week, every month, and every year.” Al-Ahmad emphasized “the importance of unifying Palestinian efforts to confront the Israeli measures.” He also revealed that the Palestinian Authority was mulling to urge the General Assembly to adopt resolutions under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter “so that the world knows that Palestine is serious about its measures to stop Israeli actions.” Al-Ahmad’s statements came a day after the Israeli army minister, Naftali Bennett, announced the establishment of seven natural reserves in the West Bank, in addition to expanding 12 existing reserves. These areas constitute more than 60 percent of the West Bank, which means the dream of establishing an independent Palestinian state is now at stake. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said Thursday that the recent Israeli decision “constitutes a dangerous escalation.” “This settlement project, which is intended to be built under the pretext of ‘natural reserves’, aims to annex the West Bank, isolate Jerusalem from its surroundings, and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state that is geographically interconnected and viable,” Ashrawi underlined.