Democratic Palestine : 26 (ص 3)
غرض
- عنوان
- Democratic Palestine : 26 (ص 3)
- المحتوى
-
Editorial
Palestinians in Lebanon are a Main Force in the
Process of Liberation and Unification
In mid-July, the Lebanese Front for Liberation and
Unification was declared. It was formed in difficult and com-
plex circumstances, the most important of which are the
following:
1. Continued Israeli occupation of large areas in southern
Lebanon: The Israelis are currently attempting to enlarge their
occupation by expanding the so-called security zone. The new
‘security’ areas would be controlled by Lebanese forces other
than Antoine Lahd’s South Lebanese Army (SLA). Moreover,
the Israeli forces continue to launch attacks on Lebanese
villages and citizens inside and outside the areas they control.
2. The Lebanese fascists’ calls for the partition of Lebanon:
These calls have recently been advanced more vehemently as
with the call of Samir Geagea, commander of the Lebanese
Forces, for a «cabinet of independence.»Promoting an alter-
native to the existing government is obviously an attempt to
divide the country. By raising such issues, the fascists aim to
intensify the prevailing crisis to the point of chaos. This would
give ‘Israel’ free reins in South Lebanon, while strengthening
the fascists’ hand in relation to next year’s presidential elec-
tions.
3. The deepening Lebanese economic and social crisis which
threatens tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens with starva-
tion, especially in the poor areas. Today, Lebanon’s inflation
rate is among the highest in the world.
In its first statement, the Front for Liberation and Unifica-
tion evaluated these circumstances in depth and expounded its
main tasks in the current stage. The most urgent tasks were
specified as continuing the liberation process, unifying
Lebanon in opposition to all the calls for partition, resolving
the economic crisis and overthrowing the sectarian regime.
THE PALESTINIAN ASPECT
The Palestinian masses in Lebanon view the urgent tasks of
the Front for Unification and Liberation as being in line with
their interests. They view the liberation of occupied Lebanese
territory as being their task as well. The Palestinian masses
have always been opposed to sectarian plans and partition.
They are among the first to be hit by the economic crisis. Ina
nutshell, the Palestinian masses approve of all the issues in the
program concerning the Lebanese internal situation.
However, the Palestinian masses are worried by the section
in the Front for Liberation and Unification’s statement per-
taining to the Palestinian presence in Lebanon. This section
clearly represents the viewpoint of one particular Lebanese
faction, the same faction that has waged a savage war on the
Palestinian camps for the past two and a half years. A
thorough study of this section of the statement reveals the
following shortcomings:
1. Failure to recognize the PLO as the representative of the
Palestinian masses in Lebanon. This incorrect position is
especially glaring because it occurs at a time when the forces of
peace, progress, liberation and socialism worldwide recognize
the PLO, particularly after the unification session of the
Palestinian National Council.
2. Accusing the PLO’s current leadership of being devia-
tionist and capitulationist. The Front for Liberation and
Unification ignores the fact that the current PLO leadership is
composed of representatives of the main organizations in the
Palestinian national movement. This includes those which have
close relations with many Lebanese organizations who are
members in the Front for Liberation and Unification.
3. Explicit approval of the abrogation of the Cairo agree-
ment. The abrogation of this agreement was never before a
demand of the Lebanese national movement. On the contrary,
it was the demand of the fascist forces. In fact, the Lebanese
national movement always fought any attempt to abrogate this
agreement.
4. Ignoring the numerous episodes of the Amal movement’s
killing, dispersing, arresting and torturing Palestinians in
Lebanon. These episodes continue, especially in South
Lebanon. The statement did not call for an end to these crimes,
or an end to the continuing siege around the Palestinian camps.
Instead, it referred only to the issue which is wrongly termed
‘Palestinian armed expansion outside the camps’. This is ex-
actly the pretext used by the Amal movement to launch its
savage attacks on the Palestinian masses in the camps.
5. An unrealistic assessment of the steadfastness of Beirut
during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and the ensuing
anti-occupation resistance. The statement minimizes the mili-
tant. role of the Palestinian revolution, side by side with
Lebanese nationalists, at that time. It ignores the fact that the
decision for the Palestinian fighters to evacuate Beirut was not
taken by the PLO alone. It was a decision of both the PLO and
the Lebanese National Movement.
All in all, the Front for Liberation and Unification’s state-
ment takes only the position of the Amal movement into con-
sideration when dealing with the question of the Palestinians in
Lebanon. The Palestinian masses now have reason to be afraid
that Amal will continue its aggression against their camps
under the banner of the Front for Liberation and Unification.
Our masses in Lebanon are ready to march under the banner
of the Front for Liberation and Unification, to struggle with it
for a democratic, independent, unified Lebanon. At the same
time, they seek a serious discussion with this front. Dialogue
should start immediately between the Palestinian national
movement, the Lebanese nationalist forces and Syria, aimed at
regulating relations among these forces. Relations should be
based on a common line, free of sectarianism. The experience
of the last two and a half years has shown that no one force is
capable of imposing its viewpoint on the others. This is par-
ticularly the case when the viewpoint concerned is based on
wishful thinking that the Israelis will withdraw from South
Lebanon if the Palestinian movement is eliminated in
Lebanon. @
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- Democratic Palestine : 26
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