Democratic Palestine : 31 (ص 13)
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- Democratic Palestine : 31 (ص 13)
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The Aftermath of the PNC
With the break of daylight on the
15th of November, Palestinians took to
the streets in the occupied Palestinian
West Bank, Gaza Strip and 1948 ter-
ritories after the declaration of the in-
dependent Palestinian state, despite the
curfews which had been enforced since
November 12th (the opening day of the
PNC), the clampdown on all com-
munications to and from the occupied
territories, the road blocks and the
warnings by Shamir and Rabin against
any form of celebration. Palestinians
challenged the Israeli occupiers and
filled the streets, carrying Palestinian
flags and singing nationalist songs, de-
fying the 5-year jail sentence and
$10,000 fine declared by the Israeli
army just prior to the convening of the
PNC against those carrying the
Palestinian flag and singing nationalist
songs.
Amidst the rejoicing and welcoming
of the Declaration of Independence,
many Palestinians, however, were not
in favor of accepting UN resolutions
242 and 338, which was a major con-
cession in return for no Israeli conces-
sions. According to the London-based
International Information Service’s
survey in the occupied Palestinian West
Bank and Gaza, 98% of those polled
supported the declaration of an in-
dependent state, while only 22% were
in support if the declaration entailed
recognition of ‘Israel’; the survey was
conducted in October 1988, and in-
cluded 1,000 Palestinians of various
age groups and _ strata, including
students, workers, professionals,
employees and farmers. Taking into
account the margin of error of a few
points more or less, the survey clearly
indicates a majority of Palestinians
against recognition of ‘Israel’ (at least
at this time).
THE ARAB RESPONSE
On the Arab level, the reaction was
positive. Algeria was the first Arab
country to recognize the Palestinian
state, in a statement which was read
immediately after its declaration.
Brother Bousayeh, Central Committee
member of the National Liberation
Front Party, congratulated the PNC
and the Palestinian people «on the
historic occasion of declaring an in-
dependent Palestinian state.»
On the other hand, Egypt lauded the
PLO for taking a «courageous step» by
recognizing UN resolutions 242 and 338
as the basis for a negotiated settlement.
Egypt’s recognition of the Palestinian
state is very important however,
because it negates the Palestinian sec-
tion of the Camp David Accords, the
so-called «autonomy» or «self-rule»
although the Egyptian section of the
agreement is still intact.
King MHussein’s reaction, which
reflects his overriding concern, was that
he feels «clearly and honestly that
President Arafat has fulfilled all US
demands.» The excitement of the reac-
tionary Arab regimes over the results of
the PNC was not particularly due to the
Declaration of Independence, but
rather to accomodating US and Israeli
demands - recognizing UN resolutions
242 and 338, in addition to renouncing
terrorism. Furthermore, these regimes
are fearful of a spill-over from the in-
tifada into their own countries, and
their support is hinged on reaching a
political settlement (not necessarily a
just one) as soon as possible, before
their population is «contaminated» by
the revolutionary fervor of the intifada.
Concurrently, these regimes continue to
pressure the PLO into trying to end the
intifada, although Chairman Arafat
himself said that he cannot stop it, even
if he wanted.
INTERNATIONAL
REPERCUSSIONS
Repercussions of the PNC were felt
on a wide scale in the international
arena, particularly after the denial of a
visa by the US State Department to
Arafat, to address the UN General
Assembly in New York. Most Euro-
pean countries viewed with favor the
results of the 19th PNC, which
facilitated a conducive atmosphere for
peaceful negotiations. European
Community representative and Greek
Foreign Minister Carlos Papoulius
said, «The EEC wants an international
peace conference which would result in
a just, durable and global solution to
the conflict.» France urged ‘Israel’ to
reciprocate to the PLO initiative, and
Britain’s Foreign Office Minister
William Waldegrave declared, after
meeting with a PLO official in early
December, that he will go to Tunisia
and hold discussions with PLO leaders.
Waldegrave said that «progress is being
made» and that «there had been
nothing from Israel but a concerted
blast of criticism.» He will go to ‘Israel’
in an effort to get the Israelis involved
in the peace process. Italian Prime
Minister De Mita said, «World public
Opinion demands from the Israeli
government to avoid all actions which
increase tension.» He added, «It’s not
possible for one to sit idle before the
tragedy in the occupied territories.»
The Spanish Foreign Minister has
scheduled a Middle East tour during
January in his capacity as an EEC
representative; he will make contacts
with the parties involved in the conflict
in an effort to mediate and push for the
convening of an international peace
conference. Austria has elevated the
PLO representation to the am-
bassadorial level.
This positive European response to
the outcome of the PNC and the in-
itiatives the various states have under-
taken, was explained by the Guardian:
«European patience with US tolerance
of Israel’s obstruction of a peace con-
ference and the violent repression of
Palestinians in the occupied territories
has worn extremely thin (December 2,
1988).
The most positive reaction, however,
came from the African and Asian
countries and the socialist community
which extended full recognition to the
Palestinian state, and opened Palesti-
nian embassies on their soil. Nicaragua
and Cuba are the only Latin American
states so far to have recognized the
Palestinian state.
Both Labor and Likud reacted
negatively to the PNC, describing it as a
«publicity stunt,» while according to a
survey taken after the PNC by a leading
Israeli newspaper, Yediot Ahranot,
54% of Israelis favored direct negotia-
tions with the PLO if it does not aban-
don the resolutions passed in the 19th
PNC. This indicates that the Israeli
leaders, regardless of their political af-
filiation, are out of step with their con- >
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