Abu Ali Mustafa ends life of exile
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 10/1/1999

The assistant secretary general of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Abu Ali Mustafa, returned on Thursday to the West Bank following some 32 years in exile.

He said Israel should recognize the right of all Palestinian refugees to return. The second man in the PFLP, which is led by George Habash, entered the West Bank through al-Lanbi bridge which separates the West Bank from Jordan, where some 300 persons were awaiting him, led by the secretary general of the Palestinian Presidency, Al-Tayeb Abdul Rahim, Civil Affairs Minister Jamil al-Treifi, Minister of Local Rule Saeb Erekat and leaders of the PFLP in the Palestinian territories.

Several members of the Palestinian security were deployed upon receiving the Palestinian opposition official, whose group had attracted the world's attention through hijacking planes at the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s.

In a brief speech he made before those who gathered to welcome him in Ramallah, Abu Ali Mustafa, who came from Arabba town, Jenin district, said, "We have arrived back to the land of Palestine in order to continue struggle for the sake of our people and for the sake of Palestine. We are one people, and there are no divisions among us."

He added that the struggle for the restoration of Palestine is legitimate for all Palestinians and that there is no power whatsoever that will be able to confiscate this right. He added that his front will work with the Fatah movement in order to ensure honoring of this right during the final status negotiations over the Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has stressed that Israel is discussing permitting the secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, to return to the Palestinian territories." Barak said, "There is a Palestinian request in light of his joining (Hawatemah) to the camp of those who support the peace agreements to enter the territories, and this request is being studied."

Hawatemah said in a statement to Israel Radio that he knows nothing about such a request.

Previous Stories:
  Second tour of dialogue between Fatah and People's Front   (9/28/1999)
  Discussions to resume between Fatah, People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine   (9/25/1999)
  People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine will return to Palestine   (9/25/1999)

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