Definition: The Palestine National Council, or PNC, is the legislative arm of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the supreme legislative institution for the Palestinian people. It meets roughly every two years as a parliament. The PLO and all other Palestinian organizations that claim a voice for Palestinians ostensibly operate under the umbrella of the Palestine National Council.
The Council, whose structure and rules are set out in the Palestine National Covenant, was created by the Arab League in Cairo in 1964 but has since shed its subservience to the League.
The PNC sets out Palestinian policy. Notable events include:
- Creating the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1964.
- Adopting the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988.
- Ratifying the Oslo Accords of 1993, which established the Palestinian Authority and were designed to lead to a two-state solution, including an independent Palestinian state. Oslo never lived up to its promise.