Democratic Palestine : 36 (ص 15)
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- Democratic Palestine : 36 (ص 15)
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It is our duty to increase the support of our masses in the 1948
occupied territories to the uprising, and to develop the subjec-
live factor, in order to actually reach the stage where we can say
that they are participating in the uprising. The PLO should
shoulder its responsibility towards this part of our people, and
raise slogans that insure their support to the PLO. and to the
interim of strategic goals of the Palestinian revolution.
What is Europe’s role in relation to a Middle East set-
tlement, and how can we work to develop the Euro-
pan position on Palestinian rights?
Positive developments have occurred in the position of West-
ern European and other capitalist countries, such as Japan, in
relation to the Palestinian question. There is an obvious differ-
ence between their positions and that of the US administration.
As was clear at the EEC summit in Madrid, Europe recognizes
the PLO as a party to any solution for the Middle East conflict,
and that the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is a
basis for such a solution, in addition to viewing the international
conference as a Suitable framework. Some European countries
have a distinguished position: Greece, Spain, France and Italy
now allow offictal Palestinian diplomatic representation in their
capitals. Of course, credit for all this goes to the intifada.
On the other hand, there is the position of the US administra-
tion that began a dialogue with the PLO, but still doesn’t recog-
nize it as the Palestinian people’s sole legitimate representative.
Rather, via the Shamir and Baker plans, the US is trying to find
alternatives to the PLO. It is procrastinating about the interna-
tional conference, viewing this solely as an umbrella for direct
negotiations, and doesn’t recognize the Palestinian people’s
right to self-determination.
Although the European position is becoming more indepen-
dent, it has yet to completely free itself of the US pressure.
European countrics that had a clear position in Madrid, later
succumbed to US pressure at the summit of the seven industrial
powers, which did not express recognition of the PLO’s role nor
the Palestinian right to self-determination. It only mentioned
the international conference - which means procrastination of
this issue.
I don't want to belittle Europe's role. Due to the changes that
are occurring in the international balance of power, Europe
could play a more positive role. Western Europe is now consi-
dered one of the main poles in the world, in addition to the
Soviet Union, US, Japan, etc. It cannot be ignored when it
comes to reaching a settlement in the Middle East. The idea of
the international conference involves the participation of the
five permanent members of the Security Council, reflecting
Europe’s importance. In addition, French President Mitterand
has called for a European-Arab dialoguc, in a situation where it
has become even clearer that the US is insisting on direct negoti-
ations, in view of the Shamir and Mubarak plans. Clearly,
Europe is working to reassert its role in relation toasett!ement.
Thus, we feel it is necessary to increase mutual understanding
with Europe. The PLO should struggle to strengthen the Euro-
pean position. I welcomed Mitterand’s initiative and announced
that the PFLP would participate in a European-Arab dialogue
Democratic Palestine, December 1989
via a PLO delegation. Efforts should moreover be directed
towards European public opinion. This could have significant
influence on the position of Western European countries. The
British Labor Party, for example, recognizes the PLO as the
sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, as well
as the international conference and the Palestinian right to an
independent state. This is very significant, particularly if this
party were to gain a majority in the next British government.
There are two points of view about how to bridge the
gap between declaring the Palestinian state, and
actually realizing it. How do you evaluate the policies
of the PLO concerning the means to achieve the state?
From the first months of the uprising, the PFLP noted that
there were two different political views and tactics. I personally
experienced this at the PNC’s 19th session. The right-wing in the
PLO leadership was not counting on the uprising’s continua-
tion; they were worried it would stop before any political vic-
tories were achieved. This trend is overly hasty and willing to
give gratuitous concession, duc to the lack of faith in the upris-
ing. Its advocates have fallen into the trap of illusions and
exaggerating the effect of the uprising on the Zionist entity and
Isracli public opinion. Experience has proven otherwise: after
two years, the Israeli position is still comp‘etely hostile to the
Palestinians’ aspirations and legitimate rights. Peres is equiva-
lent to Shamir, and Rabin ts comparable to Sharon.
The advocates of this trend are also betting on international
detente as an additional factor which increases the possibility of
a solution for the Palestintan question. They overestimate the
effect of detente on our area. They think that as soon as Presi-
dent Bush phones Shamir, Israel would change its position,
bearing in mind the historical example of how former US Presi-
dent Eisenhower called Ben Gurion, ordering an Israeli with-
drawal from the Gaza Strip in 1956. hey failed to notice the
development of US-Israeli relations over these past thirty (30)
years. The time is past when Israel complied to Washington’s
orders. Israel is no longer just a follower of the US - It has
become a junior partner.
The other trend, led by the PFLP, bases its struggle on the fact
that the intifada has reached the point of no return. Despite the
repression, it will not stop short of achieving freedom and inde-
pendence, and our people’s rights to repatriation, self-determi-
nation and an independent state. This position is based on aseri-
ous evaluation of the objective and subjective conditions that
led to the outbreak of the uprising. As long as these conditions
persist, the uprising will continue, regardless of the costs.
The PFLP’s view is also based on knowledge of the nature of
the Zionist enemy as being colonialist and expansionist, based
on areactionary interpretation of the Torah. The Zionist entity
is heading towards right-wing extremism. The Israeli religious
parties are on the ascent, and they are not willing to withdraw
from one square meter of Palestinian land. Shamir has
threatened to dissolve the government coalition, and warned of
civil war, if the Labor Party continues discussing withdrawal
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