Democratic Palestine : 5 (ص 4)
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- Democratic Palestine : 5 (ص 4)
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Editorial
Aden-Algiers agreement draws overwhelming popular support but still faces obstacles
All nationalist and progressive forces must be alert to the
forewarnings of a new enemy offensive in the area. Right now
US imperialism is using the minesweeping operation in the
Gulf of Suez and Red Sea to increase its military presence in
this strategic area. The results of the Israeli elections could
herald a new Zionist onslaught. Already the Zionist occupiers
and their fascist allies are stepping up provocations to sabot-
age the Lebanese government's security plan.
The most prominent gap in the regional alliance needed to
confront the enemy's plans lies in the unresolved crisis of the
PLO. In this context one can grasp the full importance of the
agreement reached in Aden on June 27th, between the Demo-
cratic Alliance and Fatah’s Central Committee, on a platform
for reuniting the PLO. The agreement has since been ratified
by the respective leaderships of the five signing organizations
and ratified in Algiers on July 13th. This provides concrete evi-
dence that by reaffirming the national line, the Palestinian
revolution can reunite and reactivate its pivotal role in the
Syrian-Lebanese nationalist-Palestinian triangle of steadfast-
ness.
Despite this breakthrough, obstacles remain for the com-
prehensive national dialogue which should lay the basis for
convening the PNC. The Democratic Alliance has had no lee-
way to sit back in satisfaction, but has engaged in a continuing
political struggle to protect the agreement, expand it to encom-
pass all Palestinian national forces and insure its implementa-
tion.
Response to the Aden-Algiers agreement served as a
yardstick for gaging who is truly concerned with restoring
Palestinian national unity on an anti-imperialist, anti-Zionist
line. Our masses’ response was immediate, enthusiastic, even
jubilant, as can be seen in the sample of statements in the fol-
lowing pages. There was also positive response from the
forces of the Arab national liberation movement and progres-
sive forces internationally. The Soviet Union published its sup-
port in a special statement carried by Novosti. On the Palesti-
nian level, the negative reaction came from two opposite poles:
the hard-core rightists and the National Alliance. The first was
expected, for the Aden-Algiers agreement condemns devia-
tion and provides measures to inhibit it. The reaction of the
National Alliance must be viewed differently, for failure to draw
these organizations into the comprehensive national dialogue
will detract from the strugale against rightist deviation.
Rightist sabotage
While respected national figures in the Fatah and PLO
leadership, such as Farouq Qaddumi, termed the agreement
«historic», Arafat and his immediate circle spoke out in direct
contradiction of the basis for unity. Once again, they displayed
their readiness to sacrifice Palestinian unity on the alter of
keeping channels open to Arab reaction, which also is dis-
pleased with the new agreement. On July 17th, while visiting
Amman, Arafat asserted his intention to revisit Cairo in the
future, claiming that relations with Mubarak’s regime are based
on its having distanced itself from Camp David, thus negating
the call for the regime to abandon Camp David as specified by
the last PNC. Arafat also declared that relations with Jordan
4
have gone beyond cooperation to become joint work, challeng-
ing the conditions set by the PNC for these relations. In the
same week, he was seconded by Hani Hassan who was
quoted by Jordan Times, July 23rd, as speaking of a joint pollit-
ical program between Jordan and the PLO, and joint efforts to
establish a confederal relationship, without qualifying that this
should be between two independent states as decided by the
PNC. These are only two examples of the right’s verbal sabot-
age.
The Democratic Alliance was thus called upon to defend
the Aden-Algiers agreement: In a series of communiques the
Democratic Alliance pointed out that such statements not only
violate the new agreement but also the decisions of the PNC’s
16th session. Since those making these statements are mem-
bers of Fatah’s Central Committee, which signed the agree-
ment, the Democratic Alliance called on them to honor their
Signatures and deal with instances of non-compliance. Fatah’s
Central Committee responded by declaring commitment to the
letter and spirit of the agreement and took steps to promote
support for it, especially on the mass level. Arafat himself pub-
licly declared his commitment to the agreement. If this commit-
mentis honored, it is a very positive development which will aid
the efforts to restore unity on a nationalist basis.
The National Alliance
The Democratic Alliance also had to defend the Aden-
Algiers agreement from the National Alliance’s contention that
it was a retreat and regression. The National Alliance still
insists on Arafat's resignation as a precondition for dialogue
with Fatah’s Central Committee, or participating in the PLO
framework at all. in contrast, the Democratic Alliance found
this approach unrealistic, and determined to continue the
Struggle for Arafat's replacement through the democratic pro-
cess in the PLO’s legitimate bodies. The Aden-Algiers agree-
ment provides for Arafat being called to account for his visit to
Cairo, and the organizational points give unprecedented
guarantees for collective leadership and stopping deviation. It
is thus unfortunate that no agreement has been reached with
the National Alliance, for its organizations could be an asset in
implementing these provisions. We have earlier criticized the
National Alliance’s incorrect approach and methods for fight-
ing the right in the Palestinian revolution. Today this approach
persists in blocking the comprehensive national dialogue
which is sorely needed to restore unity on a correct political
basis. Objectively speaking this gives the right an excuse for
their own reluctance to implement the Aden-Algiers agree-
ment.
Meeting the challenge
The Democratic Alliance has made implementation of the
Aden-Algiers agreement a primary duty. Certainly its terms are
open to proposals for improvement in the course of com-
prehensive national dialogue and the PNC. Yet this requires
that all national forces make serious efforts to promote the
unity process on a correct political basis.
Based on concern for reviving the PLO’s role, the Aden-
Algiers agreement proposed that the PNC be convened by
September 15th. Yet to date the prerequisite comprehensive - هو جزء من
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