Controversial Iraeli Arab delegation meets with Assad
Syria-Palestine, Politics, 8/13/1997

Despite the controversy surrounding their trip, the Israeli - Arab delegation visiting Syria, headed by Ibrahim Nimr Hussein and Shafa Amr, was relaxed as they met today with Syrian president Assad for a discussion of the peace process and the situation in the region.

Knesset member Abdul Wahab Darawsheh, a member of the delegation, is in the midst of a Likud led debate calling for his ouster from parliament, after he endorsed the full rights of Palestinians to return to occupied Jerusalem and Golan. Fellow members of the Israeli Knesset want to strip Darawsheh of his parliamentary immunity.

Adressing the group, Assad called for brotherhood between the delegates and all Arabs, telling them that they had "lived long years during which there were barriers between you and your kin in Syria and in other Arab areas. These barriers separated us, but the thing that nobody could separate is that all Arab generations have followed one another on the basis that we are an Arab nation."

"No man likes war, but when people are oppressed, they want this injustice to be lifted, and when they are under occupation, they want this occupation to be eliminated," said Assad, referring to Israeli presence in Palestinian self-rule areas and the Golan Heights.

When asked about any conflicts between Europe and the United States in negotiating for peace, Assad said, "There isn¹t a conflict in the sense of conflict between the two blocs. But there is something of competition. Beyond doubt, they don't share the same stand and thought regarding the peace process." He went on to say that the European position "is moving in a positive direction."

Assad concluded his speech by saying that "Syria has not halted the peace process. The peace process was proceeding. Netanyahu is the one who halted it and wanted to reverse its direction."

In an interview with the delegation, poet Samih Al Qasem said the main reason for his visit to Syria is "to learn from [Assad] Palestinian Arabs' steadfastness and struggle. And we told him that there are one million Palestinian Arabs who want to see if it is their right to visit their greater homeland."

The delegation stressed that they are in favor of the return of the Golan to Syria, and with the liberation of every occupied Arab land. they strongly denounced the policy of Netanyahu's government in Israel and underscored their resistance, alongside the peace elements in Israel, to Netanyahu's government.

And as an explanation of the conflict between the Arab and Islamic nation and the Israeli government, one member of the delegation, a representative of the Islamic movement, said, "The conflict between the Arab and Islamic nation and the Israeli government is not a border conflict but an existence conflict."

Al Qasem added, "I would like to declare that no peace can be realized with occupation. No peace without regaining every inch of the occupied Golan land, and Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon. And no peace without completing the establishment of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."

Previous Stories:
  Likud MK calls for Darawsheh condemnation   (8/12/1997)
  Israeli Arabs to visit Syria   (8/4/1997)

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