Palestinian state must be proclaimed before end 2001, says Zaanoun

The Palestinian National Council (parliament) is working hard to hold a meeting in order to proclaim a Palestinian state, with Al-Quds as its capital before 2001 ends, said Salim Zaanoun, speaker of the Palestinian National Council (parliament).

In an interview with MAP, the Palestinian official, who is currently visiting Morocco, said Israel is hampering Palestinian parliamentary activity and trying by all ways to prevent the central council from meeting, that is why we fail to reach the required quorum either in Gaza, Ramallah or Amman.

Of his visit to Morocco, he said the Kingdom, whose king chairs Al-Quds committee, is instrumental in supporting the Palestinian rights over the holy city, recalling that it was in Rabat that the Palestine Liberation Organization was proclaimed as the sole legitimate representative of Palestinians.

He added that despite the hardships faced by the Palestinian cause, Palestinians have not renounced any of their constant principles and are resolved to carry on their intifadah in the form of huge demonstrations and reactions to all Israeli provocations. He went on if Israel does not come up with a peace-loving leadership, it won't have any future in the region because it can't go on living indefinitely on US aid and support.

He further argued that in case the situation goes on, the only approach is a federal state on Palestinian land with proportional parliamentary representation of Moslems, Christians and Jews. But if Israelis want to set up on their own, they should know that we will not renounce lands occupied in 1967, including Al-Quds.

He concluded that the Oslo process is over and it is necessary to go back to international resolutions which recognize the right of return of Palestinian refugees.