Palestinian opposition groups deny Syrian request to halt armed struggle
Syria-Syria, Politics, 7/20/1999

The Palestinian groups in Damascus had denied reports by the Israeli dailies and quoted by news agencies about the request made by Damascus to leaders of these groups to stop armed struggle.

The leader of the al-Jihad al-Islami movement in Palestine, Ramadan Abdullah al-Shalah, said, "Nobody has contacted me or asked me for a thing like that."

Talal Naji, the assistant secretary general for the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, led by Ahmad Jibreel, said that such statements are "groundless." He added that Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam has not summoned the leaders of the Palestinian opposition to a plenary meeting since last March, while talks in the meeting which was attended by the leader of the Palestinian National Salvation Front, Khaled al-Fahoum, and the leader of the al-Saeqa organization, Issam al-Qadi, held last month were limited "to developments of conditions following the elections of Ehud Barak as a prime minister in Israel."

Naji asserted that Khaddam during the meeting stressed the "Syrian unwavering stances in backing the cause of Palestine in general, especially "in backing the militant struggle mounted by the Palestinian people in order to restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially their rights to return back home and the establishment of the Palestinian state."

Political analysts in Damascus ruled out that Syria will give up the card of the Palestinian opposition, especially as so far no "good intention" initiative has been enacted on the ground, noting that has been talked about has been built on rapid settlement expectations between Syria and Israel.

Last week, diplomatic sources in Syria said the Palestinian opposition will be part of the settlement between Damascus and Tel Aviv. The diplomatic circles attributed this to what it called the Palestinian messages from the opposition leaders in Damascus to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in order to return back into Palestine.

However, Naji said that Syria, under President al-Assad, has consolidated a strategic attitude in support of the Palestinian resistance and challenged all forms of pressure imposed on it.

Previous Stories:
  Damascus reiterates refusal of the five-member summit, receiving Arafat   (6/17/1999)
  Khatami meets with leaders of Palestinian opposition groups in Damascus   (5/15/1999)
  Damascus: Arafat's policy does not serve Palestinian cause   (2/12/1999)
  Mishal discusses recent Arab developments in Damascus   (2/3/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search