Expected changes in behavior between Syria and Israel regarding Palestinian opposition
Palestine, Politics, 10/7/1999

The decision taken by the Palestinian opposition which takes Damascus as a headquarters to transfer the headquarters of its struggle to inside the Palestinian territories and its unprecedented calm in confronting events such as the return of one of its key leaders, the second man in the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Abu Ali Mustafa, reflect a remarkable change in the attitude and ideology of the Palestinian opposition.

Political analysts see the decision of the Palestinian opposition to "concentrate the struggle inside Palestine" after the area adjoining occupied Palestine was a place for its military and political activities during the past decades, can be attributed to the possibility of resuming "Syrian -Israeli negotiations."

This very conviction is strengthened by the assistant secretary general of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine -- General Command, Talal Naji, who said, "It is objective to say that the opposition is affected by the political development, negatively or positively, speaking", adding, "These developments will not prevent this opposition from proceeding with its work," especially, "Damascus will not stand against this work."

Naji said, "The objectives of the Palestinian opposition will not be confined to practicing the military activities."

The leader of the Palestinian Salvation Front, Khaled al-Fahoum, justified the return of Abu Ali Mustafa to the Palestinian territories and the request made by the leader of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, to also return there, as helping "to escalate the struggle in the coming phase which requires a solidarity and unity of the opposition in confrontation of requirements of the coming phase," such as the questions of the refugees, Jerusalem, the settlements and the state of Palestine.

Al-Fahoum added: "By having the Palestinian opposition stand still before Oslo and the Wye River agreement means its end because the coming phase determines the future of the Palestinian people, either to be or not to be."

Naji also considered the return of the Palestinian leaders to the inside to be "a legitimate matter, and one of the rights of the Palestinian people," yet he asked for "not to let the whole opposition leadership return back and leave the Palestinian people alone abroad."

For its part, the Islamic forces alone describe the return of Abu Ali Mustafa or Hawatemah as "part of liquidating the cause of Palestine due to the need of both of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to have political cover in order to perpetuate the bargained agreements," according to the leader of the Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, who sees no connection between "the return back of certain Palestinian leaders to the increase or decrease of the struggle, because the driving force in the struggle of the Palestinian people, represented in the Islamic movement, are concentrated in the inside (in Palestine)."

Previous Stories:
  Abu Ali Mustafa ends life of exile   (10/1/1999)
  Israel discusses Hawatmah's entry to the self ruling areas   (9/30/1999)
  Hamas, Islamic Jihad oppose settlement with Israel   (9/6/1999)
  Palestinian opposition assures its adherence to discussion with Fatah   (8/24/1999)
  Disputes in the Palestinian follow up committee   (8/17/1999)

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