Palestinian alliance forces meet in Damascus
Syria, Politics, 7/21/1999

Leaders of the Palestinian forces alliance met in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss a political paper pertaining to "crystallizing a new strategy" in light of the "political developments and its requirements which will target the Palestinian and Arab situations."

The meeting was attended by leaders of eight Palestinian groups and their representatives. Absent from these meetings were the representatives of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine, led by George Habash, and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine led by Nayef Hawatemah, who were expelled from the alliance for their participation in meetings organized by the Palestinian Authority inside occupied Palestine.

It is decided that leaders of the coalition "will meet a next meeting to be organized by the follow-up committee of the Palestinian National Conference, which opposes the amendment of the Palestinian national charter," with the participation of independents and a representative of the PFLP.

Another meeting will be held later in the presence of representatives from Jordan and Palestine. The assistant secretary general of the People's Front - General Command, Talal Naji, told the London-based al-Hayat daily that he and the leader of the Palestinian Militant Struggle Front (Jabhat al-Nidal al-Falasteini), Khaled Abdul Meguid, had prepared the paper in line with an agreement reached by the participants in the "national conference," which was held in Damascus at the end of last year with the objective of settin up "terms of reference for the Palestinian people for the coming phase."

The paper includes an introduction and a political program in the Palestinian, Arab and international arenas, as well as the organizational program and steps for rebuilding the organization. The followings are certain points of what has mentioned in the introduction of the project, of which al-Hayat had a copy:

"In light of political developments and changes taking place regarding the cause of Palestine and the Arab region, as we are facing today and in the future an international operation aiming at implementing the Zionist-Imperialist programmes which aim at liquidating the cause of Palestine and imposing hegemony on the Arab homeland.

"In light of signals of the coming phase and its requirements, which will target the Palestinian and Arab situations, it is required to crystallize a new strategy for the Palestinian national work, to rebuild the Palestinian national unity in resisting the Zionist occupation and settlement and in committing to the Palestinian national rights to the returning back, self determination and the establishment of the independent Palestinian state."

However, the project's political program says: "In realization if the critical phase and the dimensions of current development and its consequences on our people and cause, the national responsibilities assigned to the Palestinian national activists, groups and figures, who are committed to the national rights of our people, are great and required the following on the Palestinian arena:

"Firstly, commitment to the unwavering national rights of our people to their homeland Palestine and their right to return back and establish their own state on their own independent state with Jerusalem as a capital.

"Secondly, firm determination to continue resisting the Zionist occupation and resistance and all forms of people and political struggle especially inside the occupied territories being the main field of conflict with the Zionist enemy.

"Thirdly, asserting that the question of Palestine is the essence of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"Fourth, adherence to the PLO and work to rebuild its establishments on democratic foundations and in accordance with the national charter and the unwavering rights of our people and the programme of returning back and self-determination and the establishment of the independent state, and Fifth, strengthening efforts to build the national front inside Palestine with the participation of all activists and figures."

Previous Stories:
  Report: Palestinian front's bureau meets in Amman   (7/20/1999)
  Khatami meets with leaders of Palestinian opposition groups in Damascus   (5/15/1999)
  People's front welcomes European position towards self-determination and Palestinian state   (3/29/1999)

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