Democratic Palestine : 31 (ص 3)
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- عنوان
- Democratic Palestine : 31 (ص 3)
- المحتوى
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A State is Born
The Palestine National Council held its 19th session (ex-
traordinary), the Session of the Intifada, between November
12th and 15th. Palestinians from the four corners of the earth,
with the exception of the Palestinian territories occupied by
‘Israel’, along with hundreds of media personnel, converged
on the Algerian capital for this historic event. Two landmark
decisions were made during this PNC session: first the declara-
tion of an independent Palestinian state; and second, the ac-
ceptance of UN Security Councii resolutions 242 and 338, plus
Palestinian self-determination, as a basis for a settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict.
On the agenda were four major issues: the Declaration of
Independence, the formation of a provisional government, the
uprising and the political report.
The intifada was the catalyst not only for the Declaration of
Independence, but for the convening of the PNC session as
well. The decision to declare an independent Palestinian state
was discussed by the PLO Central Council after King Hussein
severed the administrative and legal ties with the West Bank on
July 3ist. Despite its motives, the king’s move was a result of
the continuation and escalation of the intifada, and the
Palestinian people’s rejection of the Jordanian option. Bet-
ween the declaration and actual establishment of the state lies a
long and treacherous road, which necessitates consistent
struggle on all levels, persistence and above all national unity.
Nonetheless, the declaration is a victory for the PLO. It puts to
rest once and for all the Jordanian option and the idea of a
confederation between the Palestinian West Bank and Jordan,
before the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
King Hussein can no longer claim the Palestinian West Bank as
part of his kingdon; nor can Peres continue to hope of
negotiating its future with Hussein. The Palestinians now have
a state. This also puts an end to Shamir’s plan to enforce the
Camp David «autonomy» plan on the Palestinians.
The declaration of an independent Palestinian state has
given the intifada new momentum. The Palestinian people
under occupation have come so far during the past year that it
would be next to impossible to go back, after sacrificing hun-
dreds of lives, the thousands of injured and imprisoned, the
demolition of homes, expulsions, the closure of schools,
desecration of Moslem and Christian holy places, etc.
As in the case of the Declaration of Independence, the for-
mation of a provisional government was also discussed and
agreed upon in principle at the Central Council and Executive
Committee meetings prior to the PNC. Some of the specifics
were hammered out during the PNC’s discussion of the
political report, while some issues were left to the Central
Council to make final decisions on. Among the issues left open
for the Central Council to decide are: the relationship between
this government and the PLO - whether the government will be
the political apparatus of the PLO, or take its place; how and
when the government will be formed - now or at the doorsteps
of an international peace conference? These are all critical
questions whose answers will have a direct bearing on the
future course of events and on the PLO.
Two committees were formed in the PNC, an intifada
committee and a political committee. The intifada committee
met and drew up draft resolutions which were unanimously
approved (see text in this issue). They stressed the need for na-
tional unity and escalating the uprising, as well as programs of
action for supporting it from outside on the Palestinian, Arab
and international levels. Besides material aid, there were
specific proposals for placing the occupied territories under
UN supervision and for the Arab countries to open their
borders to the Palestinian resistance, as part of the support to
the uprising.
The political committee was engaged in a heated discussion
over the political report which was finally approved by a ma-
jority with some abstentions. The report calls for convening an
effective international conference under UN auspices, with the
participation of the five permanent members of the Security
council, and all parties to the conflict, including the PLO on an
equal footing, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242
and 338, with the guarantee of the legitimate national rights of
the Palestinian people, including their right to self-
determination; the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the areas
occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem; a halt to all an-
nexation and the removal of Israeli settlements built since
1967; resolving the question of Palestinian refugees in accor-
dance with related UN resolutions; and guaranteeing freedom
of worship in holy places for all religions. The political report
also rejects all forms of terrorism, including state terrorism
(see text in this issue).
The main point of contention was making specific reference
to resolutions 242 and 338. These resolutions were adopted by
the UN Security Council after the 1967 war and directed at
‘Israel’, Egypt, Syria and Jordan. They do not present a solu-
tion for the Palestinian question, whereas there are other UN
resolutions which specifically deal with the Palestinian pro-
blem, for example resolution 194, which recognizes the
Palestinians’ right to repatriation, and 3236 which recognizes
the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Accepting 242 at this time is in essence answering to the US
demands, and giving a gratuitous concession. Making such a
concession, without any concession from ‘Israel’ in return, will
put the PLO at a disadvantage at the negotiations table. It will
also set a precedent for the US and ‘Israel’ to ask for more
concessions, while they have yet to recognize the Palestinian
people’s right to self-determination or even to choose their own
representatives.
Concessions, as an essential ingredient in making a settle-
ment, must be reciprocai. The PLO’s decision to accept 242
and 338 was met with demands from the US administration for
yet more concessions, while Israeli leaders are now speaking of
the mass expulsion of Palestinians. ‘Israel’ is not interested in
making peace, but in mcre annexation. ‘Israel’ has to be forced
to make peace, and this will only come about through continu-
ing and escalating the intifada, at the same time increasing the
growing isolation of ‘Israel’ on the international ievel.
All in all, the drawback of accepting 242 and 338 was
balanced by the declaration of an independent state and the
resolutions on the intifada. Despite the polarization over the
political report, Chairman Yasir Arafat and Dr. George
Habash bcth stressed the overriding issue of national unity; a
split in the ranks of the PLO was ruled out by George Habash
@
even before the PNC started. - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 31
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