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Palestinian National Liberation Movement
Fatah The Political Platform
(Ratified by the Sixth General Congress of the Movement on
August 8, 2009)
INTRODUCTION
Preparations for the launching of the Palestinian National
Liberation Movement (Fatah) started in the mid-fifties of the last
century as a result of the harbingers of a new reality after the
Nakba of 1948.They were affected by the Arab winds of determination
and resistance starting by the Egyptian Revolution of July 1952, to
the beginnings of the armed Palestinian struggle led by Abu Jihad
in Gaza in 1954, to the formation of a Palestinian guerrilla force
in Gaza under the supervision of the Egyptian leadership . The
winds of revolution and liberation movements swept through Algeria
, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia and Africa , adding another
important factor. Such developments created a fertile ground for
the launching of Fatah Movement in the last quarter of 1957.
Realizing the importance of mobilizing the Palestinian people of
all classes , sectors and whereabouts , Fatah formulated its
program of struggle, avoiding class, factional, sectarian and
regional conflicts. Fatah focused on restoring the Palestinian
identity to its land and people , and on regaining the independence
of the Palestinian will , while deepening its association with the
Arab nation , seeking its support and protection . Fatah then began
the preparation to launch the armed struggle through its military
wing ; Al-Assifa.
The launching of armed struggle on the first of January 1965
constituted a real birth of the contemporary Palestinian resistance
movement after the catastrophe (Nakba). It enabled Fatah to restore
respect to the identity of the Palestinian people and its national
personality, to draw all attention to the Palestinian just cause ,
and raising the status of Fatah among liberation movements all over
the world . The armed revolution represented the spearhead for the
Liberation of Palestine . It became a revolution with a Palestinian
face , an Arab heart and a universal human dimension. Fatah emerged
out of the womb of suffering to convert the image of the
Palestinian people from refugees seeking humanitarian aid to a
people with
national rights that deserve to be supported by the
international community and
international legitimacy. The defeat of the 1967 war and the
occupation of the rest of Palestine i.e. West Bank and the Gaza
Strip pushed Fatah to escalate the armed struggle inside our
occupied country . Yasser Arafat (Abu Ammar) and his
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companions entered the occupied homeland to consolidate the
underground
organization of Fatah, to expand it and to build new cells . The
Karamah battle of March 1968 constituted a symbol of a legendary
Palestinian resistance and increased the capability of Fatah and
the resistance movement against the Israeli
occupation, but the occupation stayed , and expanded through
settlement and colonization.
The Palestinian anger blew up in the face of the occupation ,
and the stones of the Intifada broke out on December 9, 1987 to
shake the ground under the feet of the occupiers. On November 15,
1988 the Nineteenth Palestinian National Council declared the
establishment of the State of Palestine , which was recognized by
52 countries within ten days following its proclamation. Para in
August 1990, the Gulf War broke out , the Soviet Union collapsed
later . As a result , we lost a true friend who was always on our
side ; in addition to the Arab loss in Iraq, and in the Gulf . The
emergence of a uni -polar world, with the USA as the only power
made things more difficult while creating new opportunities. As a
result, it became necessary to review our interim strategy to
explore these opportunities to move towards peace , which led to
the start of the peace process and the establishment of the
Palestinian National Authority. This opened the doors to the
liberation of Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, which allowed us to build institutions of the future
independent state, and to achieve international recognition. It
also led to the creation of political , economic and trade
relations with foreign countries . In addition, many internal
achievements were made in the political, constitutional and
economic fields . One of the most important advantages of
establishing the Palestinian Authority was the return of 200.000
Palestinians to their homeland thus putting an end to their
displacement and eviction . However, there were disadvantages and
failures resulting from the formation of the Palestinian
Authority.
In 1996, a short term Intifada , known as the TunnelIntifada
erupted following the creation by Israel of a tunnel under Al Aqsa
Mosque compound in Jerusalem. The failure of the Camp David
negotiations to reach a permanent settlement by the end of the year
2000 led to a stalemate in the peace process, and led to the
eruption of the Al AqsaIntifada . During the Intifada the Israeli
siege was intensified, settlements escalated, and resistance
stepped up. The invading Israeli forces raided and reoccupied the
entire West Bank , besieged Abu Ammar , our leader , and conspired
to kill him . Yasser Arafat maintained his steadfastness as a
leader and refused to surrender . After two years of legendary
steadfastness in the face of the siege, numerous assassination
attempts, and after an Israeli draconian blockade on theMoqataa ,
the presidential compound in Ramallah, our leader and mentor,
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Yasser Arafat , passed away on November 11, 2004. His departure
as a knight , commander and martyr created a great shock.
Fatah chose one of its symbols to lead the march in very
difficult circumstances, and it was Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazen) who
assumed the leadership. The Israeli siege continued and settlement
construction intensified. President Abu Mazen was elected in
January 1995, to succeed Abu Ammar . He announced in January 2006,
new legislative elections . Hamas won . This was followed by an
Israeli and international siege. Consequently, a national unity
government was formed in early 2007 which partially succeeded in
lifting the siege . Nevertheless, Hamas conducted a military coup
in Gaza leading to the takeover of the PNA institutions . It
imposed a strict oppressive military regime that ended the
democratic process in Gaza and separated the Gaza Strip from the
West Bank.
After its coup d tat Hamas continued in deepening the rift
between Gaza and the West Bank . It conducted a policy excluding
all its opponents , and it established alternative and parallel
institutions to the PNA ones , it used tools to suppress freedom in
order to fight Fatah, and other Palestinian factions. Hamas also
adopted its own project to replace our Palestinian national
program.
Hamas priority was to tighten itsgrip over the Gaza Strip ,
regardless of the negative repercussions on Palestinian national
unity and the interests of our people, especially in the Gaza Strip
. Despite the truce (Hudnah) reached between Hamas and Israel, the
Israeli army waged an aggression against our people in Gaza at
the
beginning of 2009. The aggression caused huge destruction and
led to the martyrdom of hundreds, and to the wounding and injury of
thousands of our people in the Gaza Strip . Israel tightened the
siege around Gaza, and blocked all attempts at its
reconstruction.
Fatah remained faithful to its principles and worked through the
Authority to
provide support for Gaza . It was always ready to engage
seriously in any unification process to restore cohesion and unity
to our people and our authority , preserving the political
legitimacy of the PLO and democratic legitimacy through elections.
Fatah responded to the Arab initiatives , the latest of which was
the Egyptian initiative in order to put an end to the rift and
restore unity . Egypt continued its endeavors to ensure success to
the Palestinian national dialogue in
Cairo, a dialogue that we fully support and strive for its
success. We signed the Egyptian paper, reached through a year of
Egyptian sponsored dialogue. Hamas
did not.
The American policy in the region played an important role in
the deterioration of
the situation in the region . During the Bush Administration it
endorsed and
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supported Israeli aggressions , and settlement activities.
Moreover, the Bush administration used excessive force in dealing
with Arab and Islamic countries , which led to the destruction of
Iraq, Afghanistan and South Lebanon. With the success of Barak
Obama and the Democratic Party during the last
American elections , the winds of change blew over the USA. The
defeat of the Republican candidate was partly the result of the
sweeping financial storm
unleashed during the last days of the Bush Administration ,
which hit the global economy as a whole . The Obama administration
announced its willingness to engage in dialogue with its friends
and opponents . The world is heading towards more pluralism, due
partly to the economic , military and political growth of Russia,
China and the European Union. This might lead to a greater
commitment to international law. It may reduce the use of excessive
force by super powers which suppressed peoples and deprived them of
their freedom and independence . President Obama expressed his
readiness to play a positive role in our cause and in the region in
general, andhasundertakenacriticalreviewofBushspolicy in our
region. He called on Israel to halt settlement construction and
adopt the two states solution. Yet, that will not bring us much
benefit unless our Movement does recover, reconstructing its ranks
, and the Palestinian split and Arab weakness are brought to an end
. Building Fatah , its regeneration , unity, and leadership of a
unified Palestinian people and its endeavor to establish a firm
Arab stand is the
way to draw benefit from the global winds of change and to take
advantage of the
difference between the policy of George Bush and the emerging
policy of the
current US President.
Gaza is still suffering from the Israeli siege ; lack of fuel ,
electricity, agricultural and industrial production inputs , and
even food stuffs , clothing, and medicine. As Israel continues a
policy of shelling , incursions, and assassinations , Gaza is
deprived of security and stability . It also suffers from the lack
of unity with the homeland and remains deprived of free movement
for people and trade . The West Bank is still under Israeli
occupation and its space is shrinking by the cancerous
growth of settlements , and the Apartheid Wall surrounding its
cities and villages , especially around Jerusalem; the capital of
our country. Jerusalem is threatened by de-arabization, and ethnic
cleansing. The Israeli government continues to reject the
Palestinianpeopleslegitimaterights , and to deepen its occupation
without ambiguity or disguise . Our heroic prisoners are huddled in
Israeli jails, while our homeland lacks national unity, democratic
legitimacy and security.
This dark Palestinian picture should motivate us to further hard
work and struggle, but not to grief or capitulation. Our people are
still willing to sacrifice for their freedom and independence .
They endure with stunning steadfastness the most
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difficult circumstances without any indication of giving up any
single grain of the
soil of their homeland , their future independent state , or
their inalienable rights. They are steadfast in their homes and
refuse to migrate . They grow and reproduce to preserve the Arab
character of the land and its Palestinian identity.
On the other hand , Israel will not enjoy permanent safety and
stability while a just peace is not achieved. Two thirds of Israels
citizens are not sure; when asked in a recent poll , whether Israel
without peace will continue to exist in the next sixty years. The
world still recognizes our rights, and believes that security and
stability in the region will never be achieved unless our cause is
being settled in a fair and
acceptable way. Our cause still constitutes a main driving force
for Arab and Muslim nations.
As a National Liberation Movement and a Palestinian revolution
we 10 have acquired experience in addition to the experience of
developing and building state
institutions. All this expertise contributed to the training of
cadres capable of learning from our mistakes and building on our
achievements.
Yet, our pioneering Movement finds itself facing dramatic
challenges and serious changes that threaten the collapse of its
national program to establish the
Palestinian democratic state and to retrieve the usurped rights.
Our Movement is facing the threat of losing what it dearly paid for
: Thousands of martyrs led by great men including Central Committee
members led by the great martyr Yasser
Arafat our founding leader. Thousands of cadres of our best
young people continue tofilltheoccupiers prisons, and thousands of
our beloved handicapped sons and daughters suffer patiently their
wounds to make Palestine live . Those who sincerely believe in the
Palestinian liberation program of their Movement are still
full of hope that their Movement will recover from its wounds
and tackle the aches
and pains of this phase.
Our Sixth Congress, its resolutions and the speech of President
Mahmoud Abbas at the opening session of the Congress constitute a
new take off , through which our Movement restores its well-being
and effectiveness . The Congress has also regenerated our
leadership and strengthened our unity guided by our principles
and
democratic legitimacy.
The Palestinian masses are waiting for this Political Program to
provide them with
hope in the future and to renew confidence in the elected
leadership, its ability to safeguard the national project and its
readiness to carry on the struggle with
wisdom and courage until victory.
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Strategic Principles and Interim Policies of the Fatah
Movement
The Fatah Movement broke out from the womb of its people and
nation, a National Liberation Movement aiming at revolutionizing ,
unifying and organizing the Palestinian people. It aims at
liberating ourpeopleswillinordertoleadthecausewith their own hands
and push it from inertia to movement, to put an end to occupation
and colonization, and work for the return of the refugees to their
homeland.
Fatah designed a national strategy that governed its vision ,
priorities and course over half a century . Yet, it continued
setting interim programs based on its principles and its strategy,
taking into account that the world in which it operates is an
ever-changing world that carries continuous developments on the
Palestinian, Israeli, Arab and international levels . These
developments affect the elements of strength and weakness of the
Movement . It should take advantage of such developments and
opportunities, while avoiding or minimizing their risks.
The objectives of the Fatah Movement and its strategy shaped its
style and
characterized its personality , compared to other movements and
parties of the region. Some of these movements were opportunists
who changed their character , objectives and means in the light of
each development , or change of the power equations. Some others
remained static and did not evolve in the face of tremendous
international developments which led eventually to their fall ,
shrinkage, and eventual disappearance from the scene . It is said
that the only constant in the world is change , but the ability of
any political movement to survive and continue does not depend only
on its ability to cope with or adapt to
changes, but on its will to create change, to lead it and make
advantage of it; that is to act , and not only to react . The
periods of revival in Fatah were those during which the Movement
took the initiative in action and change , while the periods of its
regression were those when it succumbed to external changes and
reaction to them. When a revolutionary movement initiates change,
it always retains constant elements of its objectives and style ;
elements that characterize its personality , and guarantees its
continuity, in order to preserve the loyalty of its members and
their affiliation, and the support of its public.
A revolutionary movement regenerates and corrects its mistakes ,
overcomes its shortcomings and consolidates the elements of its
strength. It takes such steps while its eyes are fixed on its
strategic objectives and the higher interests of its
people. That is the mystery of the Fatah Movement and how it
succeeded in maintaining its leading role as a vanguard of the
Palestinian national struggle for
half a century.
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In its principles , the Movement avoided the adoption of a
unilateral ideology, considering itself as a national liberation
movement representing the people in all of its sects , classes and
sectors . Fatah opened the door to all three political and
intellectual tendencies represented in the three main modern Arab
renaissance
streams: Islamist, nationalist and leftist. Those tendencies
merged within the Fatah Movement to create a Palestinian national
revolutionary thought steeped in the
Arab and Islamic thought, enriched and developed through
practice and struggle on the ground. At the same time , the
democratic and militant content of our doctrine were deepened.
The objectives , principles and methods stipulated in the first
chapter of the basic law of Fatah remain the key elements of our
Movement and part of the intellectual
and political entity of our people . It is also the original
charter of the Movement which determined the foundation for the
launching of the contemporary Palestinian
revolution and the liberation of our people from the yoke of
colonization and
racism. It constitutes a guide and illumination for which
thousands of martyrs, wounded and prisoners sacrificed. It is also
a national and political contract upon which generations agree,
untilourpeoples right to self-determination is restored.
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On Strategy
The objectives identified in Fatah Movements strategy can be
summarized as follows:
1. Liberating the homeland , ending its settler occupation and
attaining the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people: The
liberation of the homeland is the central axis of the Fatah
Movements struggle, including the right of the Palestinian people
to self-determination, as an inalienable right. This right cannot
be lost by attrition since it was recognized and confirmed by the
international community. This includes the right to establish its
own sovereign and independent state with Jerusalem as its capital
on the liberated
Palestinian land occupied by Israel since June 4, 1967, the
right of the refugees to return and to compensation, based on the
United Nations Charter and the UN General Assembly Resolution No
.194. In the short run , it focuses on confronting the settlements,
the judaization of Jerusalem, the siege imposed on our territories
, putting an end to the occupation of our cities and villages as a
step towards achieving our strategic goals.
Fatah launched armed struggle , and other methods of legitimate
resistance to liberate the homeland. Such a right is recognized by
international law as long as the occupation of our land remains .
The Movement adopts a just and comprehensive peace as a strategic
objective to be reached by various means, but it does not accept
stalemate as an alternative . It adopts struggle with various tools
as a means to retrieve our inalienable rights.
The movement believes that its contradiction with the occupation
is the main
contradiction, while all other conflicts are of secondary nature
. It believes that the rights of the Palestinian people do not
expire by attrition i.e by the passage of time, while they rise and
mature by struggle. Every part of the Palestinian land is sacred
and important, with special priority to Jerusalem the eternal
capital of our country , its jewel and symbol ; the first of the
two Qiblas, and the center of devotion of monotheistic believers in
the whole world.
2. Forms and Methods of Struggle: Struggle emanates from the
right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation, to
struggle against settlement, expulsion, displacement and racial
discrimination; a right guaranteed by international law. Our
revolutionary struggle was launched by armed struggle against the
military usurpation of our land , but it was never confined to it .
Its tools and methods were diverse and included peaceful resistance
as was practiced by the first Intifada ; demonstrations, sit-ins,
civil
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disobedience, confronting settler gangs, political, media,
legal, and diplomatic struggle including negotiations with the
occupation authority. Consequently, the Palestinian peoples right
to practice armed resistance against the military occupation of
their land remains a constant right confirmed by international
law
and international legality. However, the selection of struggle
methods, in time and space depends on the capabilities of our
people and our Movement. It also relies on local and external
developments, on the calculation of power equations, the
necessities of safeguarding the Movement and the peoplesability to
carry on the revolution, and sustain steadfastness . and the
presence of real opportunities for peace. InFatahsprinciples ; ends
do not justify all means . There are means that contradict in the
long run our overall objectives especially that Fatah has
posited
since its inception humane solutions that ensure the future
coexistence between
Muslims, Christians and Jews in one democratic state . Fatah
always rejected targeting civilians anywhere. It also rejected
transferring the fight abroad; it opposed practices of arms abuse
and domestic chaos. It respected international law and abided by
its requirements.
3. Independent National Entity and the Palestinian Identity: The
Strategy of Fatah is based on the Palestinian people and their
struggle; and the fact of having no substitute to their homeland .
Therefore, the Movement deployed efforts in all fields in order to
confirm the national independent entity of the
Palestinian people. This identity constitutes the basis for our
right in our country and for our rejection of forced settlement in
neighboring Arab countries , or in any alternative homeland. The
Movement believes that the confirmation of the national character
requires giving priority to maintaining attachment to the masses ,
to the homeland and its basic social components.
The attachment to the Palestinian identity is an integral part
of its affiliation to the
Arab Islamic civilization and the opening towards humanity.
Therefore, the Movement has always emphasized its essential
identification as a National
Palestinian Movement, which determines its own course and
priorities Para Fatah was launched in a period when Palestinians
joined various nationalist or religious
parties and identified themselves with internationalist
ideologies, which sometimes led to the loss of their original
identity , and led them to fall in the trap of subordination to
external powers and schemes. Therefore, since its inception Fatah
functioned as a vanguard and protector of the national project
since its inception on
the basis of the independence of its national identity , its
national program for the liberation of the Palestinian land , and
the establishment of the Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its
capital . The Movement struggled in the most difficult
circumstances to safeguard the independence of its national
Palestinian decision
making.
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4. Palestinian National Unity The Palestinians are a genuine
people with a clear identity and clear affiliation to
their homeland. They maintained their attachment to this
identity and to their homeland through their national struggle for
almost a century , aiming to liberate their land from occupation
and settlement. The Palestinian Arab people constitute one
political unit whether at home, in the West Bank and its heart
Jerusalem, in the Gaza Strip, behind the Green Line or in the
Diaspora.
The Palestinian people were exposed to a historic plight that
led to their expulsion
and dispersion , pushing a large part of our people to live in
Refugee camps at home and abroad. Yet, the Palestinian people kept
their attachment to their unity at all times and everywhere . Our
people ; Muslims and Christians are loyal to their beliefs and
preserve their common heritage and preserve their national unity.
Palestinians wherever they are, at home or abroad , in the
villages, in the cities and refugee camps and whatever their belief
is , are one and indivisible people . Their national unity is the
source of their strength and steadfastness . Therefore, the
Materialization of this unity and its consolidation is a strategic
goal for the
Movement. Fatah shouldered the responsibility for the protection
of the Palestinian people, everywhere. Martyr Abu Ammar played a
distinct role in the support and relief of our people, including
those who were deported across the Libyan and Iraqi borders.
Fatah rejects and condemns Palestinian infighting and considers
the spilling of Palestinian blood a red line , a crime and a sin .
Fatah struggled for the unity of the Palestinian people and its
political representation within the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) and continues to work for its representation
encompassing all factions, parties and independent national
personalities.
5. Our Arab Affiliation and Arab Relations: The Palestinian
people are Arabs and constitute an inseparable part of the Arab
nation, befriending its friends and confronting its enemies .
Freedom loving Arabs struggled with us and many of them joined our
Movement . Our Arab nation provided us with support and protection
, and joined us in the liberation struggle sacrificing the blood of
its sons . It believes that the colonial settlement project which
targeted us targets the Arab nation as well . Fatah-Arab relations,
their development and preservation are a strategic goal and a
source of strength for our
people despite Arab differences . This was expressed in the
literature of the Movement and its slogan: Fatah has a Palestinian
face, an Arab heart and depth, and the liberation
ofPalestineisanationalArabobligation.
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The Movement struggled to achieve full membership of the
Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) in the Arab League ; and insists that the
Palestinian state will continue to be an active member of this Arab
Organization , abiding by its decisions. We entertain the best
fraternal political relations with the Arab states . Yet, we do not
engage in partial alliances with some Arab countries against other
Arab countries. We recognize the special importance of the adjacent
neighboring Arab countries , but we strive to maintain the best
relations with everyone . We endeavor to achieve Arab unity but we
dontaccepttrusteeshiporsubordination to anyone. As a result we had
to enter into costly confrontations in defense of our independent
Palestinian decision.
6. Islam and Divine Religions in the Strategy of Fatah Palestine
is the holy land of monotheistic divine religions, and Islam is the
religion of the majority of the Palestinian people , which is the
official religion of the Authority and the State. Christianity
enjoys the same holiness and respect . Fatah does not allow any
discrimination between the Palestinians on the basis of religion,
ideology or the strength of their belief . We respect the freedom
of worship for all, including Jews . Since its inception our
Movement called for a democratic non -sectarian state for Muslims,
Christians and Jews.
The Movement is inspired by Islam and other divine religions
from which it
derives its spiritual and religious values . It belongs
intellectually to the Arab Islamic culture. It is the Movement of a
people which maintains spiritual and moral values and the belief in
God, His Prophets and the sacred Books . Fatah Movement does not
accept sectarianism, rejects fanaticism and extremism , and
believes that the divine religions promote fraternity, tolerance
and coexistence among nations.
7. The Role of International Relations in Fatah Strategy: There
are no permanent international alliances and relations.
International relations are based on common interests , visions,
and power equations. They change as a result of changes in these
variables. These relations are also based on international law,
human rights and international agreements.
The Movement seeks to develop and improve its international
relations , to widen the circle of its friends and allies , based
on its strategic commitment to International Law , to UN legitimacy
and UN Charter. Fatahs exercise ofinternational relations is based
on its being a national liberation movement fighting
to end the Israeli occupation . It is also based on the
protections guaranteed by international humanitarian law and in
particular the Fourth Geneva Convention of
1949 for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War ,
which includes the
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protection of civilians under foreign occupation . Our struggle
is also based on the provisions of international law that affirmed
the right of people to resist
occupation, and on their right to struggle for their freedom ,
independence and self-determination.
Our movement pays special attention to the United Nations it
works to re-activate
theUNsrole in the Palestinian cause . International law
establishes protection for the Palestinian people from the attempts
of the occupation authority to seclude us
and consider us as alocalissue, or a domestic insurgency to be
dealt with away from international humanitarian law and its
protection.
Fatah believes that the international community supports people
struggling for
their freedom and independence, while maintaining their unity,
and upholding their rights under international law and its
protection Fatah realizes the risks of the
current uni polar international system which led to bloody wars
focused on our
region, destroying Iraq and Afghanistan , spreading sectarian
and ethnic contradictions, and using brute force at the expense of
the rule of law . However, this system was subjected to military
failures, and finally to economic defeats. This development heralds
a multi-polar world system which should bring back
equilibrium into International relations and provides us with a
greater opportunity
to regain international legal support and action in favor of our
rights.
8. Other Distinct Features of Fatah Strategy Fatah adopts
democracy and tolerance , rejecting extremism and terrorism in all
its forms, especially state terrorism and it deals in moderation
with political realism . These features characterized its style,
and helped to rally the masses and assisted in widening the circle
of its friends and allies . These attributes are exercised within
the commitment to its declared principles and its readiness to
struggle to achieve
its objectives . Therefore, they form an important ingredient of
its strategic principles. RationalisminFatahsconceptdoesnot mean
giving up its principles , but using reason and scientific thinking
in choosing the means to achieve these objectives. Moderation does
not mean cowardice and evading problems , but the rejection of
extremism , and the attempt by some to cover failure through
exaggeration and imprudence . Democracy does not mean bowing to
American matrices or yielding to wrong or misleading concepts , but
by the constant return to the public , broadening the base of its
participation in decision -making, refusing dictatorship and the
rule of autocracy. We will be mistaken if we ever agree to the
course of a one man rule.
Fatah rejects bigotry ; and strives to achieve social harmony
and national unity . Fatah has committed itself to progress , and
modernization , not as an act of
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submission to globalization and alienation , but to enable our
people to achieve their objectives facing a scientifically and
technically advanced adversary , and to build a modern state facing
serious challenges and obstacles.
Fatah adopted these commitments because it is a movement of the
entire
Palestinian people, and not an elitist party . Based on its long
term analysis of the situation it decided to operate away from
opportunism and adventurism; believing in democracy and unity and
abiding by dialogue and moderation . That is why Fatah proposed a
progressive vision of the future to the Israelis , and rejected
extremism and terrorism.
However, distinction must be made between terrorism , which
targets civilians for aggressive political objectives such as state
terrorism practiced by Israel against
our people, and the legitimate resistance against foreign
occupation , andpeoples struggle for their freedom, independence
and self -determination against racism , and all forms of foreign
domination and hegemony , within the confines of international
law.
The Movement maintains its commitment to the human values of
justice , peace, human rights, equality, dialogue between
individuals and groups and between cultures and civilizations . It
strongly supports the objectives and message of the United Nations
and its specialized agencies emphasizing the role of culture
and
education in the consolidation of international peace and
security , as well as its commitment to the World Declaration on
Human Rights issued by the United
Nations.
These are the constant visions and obligations that form the
strategy of Fatah
Movement. This set of objectives and perspectives represents the
specific style for Fatah, its distinct personality and its
strategic course of struggle , in dealing with internal and
external changes . Fatah lives in a permanently changing world and
deals with it through interim programs based on its strategic
political platforms
approved by its general congresses. This requires a clear
identification of the tasks of the next stage.
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Tasks of the Coming Stage
Introduction:
Fatah emerges from its sixth Congress to lead the Palestinian
national struggle in
the coming stage . Fatah believes that the new phase of the
Palestinian national struggle, will involve major difficulties and
grave threats to the future of our national cause. The coming stage
looks more complicated and more dangerous due to a combination of
diverse and multiple external and internal factors . Foremost among
these is the US alignment with Israel, particularly during the
mandate of the previous US Administration. The Arab split, and the
internal Palestinian rift inflict serious damage to our cause , to
our homeland , and to our ability to confront the occupation. We
still live in a stage of national liberation with all its
requirements , but we will not be prisoners of rigid forms . We are
also committed to prepare our institutions in order to build our
sovereign independent state. Blending the requirements of
liberation with those of state building create complications
that
must be resolved with wisdom and creativity.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Fatah realizes that it will face the challenges and will succeed
in the coming stage
as it successfully did in previous stages . Fatah possesses
elements of strength to enable it to proceed with confidence
towards the future such as: 1. A People committed to their cause
who believe in its justice , generation after generation, and
continue the struggle despite pain and suffering in order to
achieve its national goals. 2. An Arab nation whose conscience is
still affected by the question of Palestine that motivates its
actions . It seems that after a period of antagonism, division and
painful internal conflicts the Arab governments are heading toward
reconciliation , which will enable them to provide more support to
our cause . Moreover, the Islamic nations are getting increasingly
more sympathetic to our people and its
cause. 3. An occupier who faces the international community, and
international law while hurting from the gradual decline of its
position and reputation , and from its incapability to draw the
future according to its expansionist interests. The defeat of its
invasion against Lebanon and the steadfastness of the Palestinian
people played
a role in leading to such decline. 4. The winds of change
reached the United States under its new Administration. It is
likely that the world will move away from unilateralism towards
more pluralism, equilibrium, dialogue and commitment to
international law. 5. The friendly Russian state is getting
stronger , more independent and more insistent on a limited, well
studied and cautious confrontation; China, the European
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15
Union, India, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey are all friendly
nations whose political and economic influence is growing. 6. On
brothers, the oil producing countries are achieving rapid economic
growth despite the world economic crisis . There might be no
solution for the global financial crisis without a big role to be
played by Gulf Countries with the
leadership of Saudi Arabia, aswellasbyChinas considerable
sovereign funds. Points of weakness in our situation: 1) We realize
that Israel the occupying power , despite all its internal
contradictions, still enjoys strategic support from the US despite
the electoral defeat of the anti-Arab and anti Muslim
neo-conservative Administration. 2) The Palestinian arena is still
politically and geographically divided and besieged, which is
perhaps our most serious weaknesses . Our Movement needs to
recover, activate its forces and masses ; and unify its leaders ,
cadres and potentials to overcome our internal weaknesses. This is
the outcome we expect to get from our Sixth Conference. 3) Arab
governments assist us , but they do not provide sufficient support
to create a balance with the force of our opponent, or to safeguard
Jerusalem as an Arab and Islamic city . They also do not prepare
their masses for the serious political and economic confrontation
with the Israeli occupation; and some of them are ready to bow to
US pressure , normalizing their relations with Israel for free and
at our expense. 4) European support to our cause shrank in
comparison to its position during the nineties. This is the result
of the expansion of the European Union, and the difficulties it
faces in unifying the positions of 27 countries. Moreover, the
global economic crisis , our split , shrinking Arab influence , the
US pressure and Israeli extortion accentuate the weakness of
European support.
In conclusion : There are risks we should face , or avoid ; the
most important of which is the internal rift and the changing
regional alliances. However, there are opportunities we should
seize , such as the defeat of the US Bush project in the Middle
East. The Bush Administration used brute force in conducting its
policy in the region, based on a unilateral vision towards the
world, and rejected pluralism and international participation in
decision making . This policy led to alliances in the region
focused on the American-Iranian conflict which fueled the flames
of
sedition and splits in our homeland and the region . Thus may
produce an opportunity under the new American administration . New
national and regional opportunities might present themselves
through Arab reconciliation , a positive Turkish role and an
improved Iranian position towards our cause . Turkey and Iran
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16
are regional forces that were in favor of Israel in the past and
established the
strongest alliances with it.
Facing the next stage requires first and foremost a clear
identification of struggle
tasks emanating during the next stage , as this constitutes the
basis for the formulation of the policies, mechanisms and tools of
confrontation:
Our central goal remains to defeat the occupation , liberate the
homeland, establish our independent state with Jerusalem as its
capital, and ensure the right of refugees to return and to
compensation. Our interim tasks to be accomplished for the
achievement of these goals include confronting the settler
occupation , preserving the land and holy places and their Arab
character, especially in Jerusalem ; working for the release of
prisoners , steadfastly upholding our principles in difficult times
, and mobilizing different forms of struggle to defeat the
occupation , rectifying the course of negotiations without being
confined solely to it , or accepting a futile continuation of it .
We have to try to achieve progress through negotiations towards our
goals , exploring alternative strategic means of struggle if the
peace process fails in its current form . We have to keep on
building our own strength in order to carry on the struggle.
We must strive to translate these directives into detailed
interim tasks in order to
achieve our objectives in the next stage; which will be
presented as follows:
Confronting Settler Occupation and continuing the Struggle for
Liberation
and Independence:
1. Principles: Continued commitment to national principles , to
the right of self-determination and the establishment of the
independent Palestinian state with
Jerusalem as its capital. 2. Refugees: Fatah Movement is
committed to the following: a. Working hard to achieve the right of
refugees for return , compensation and
restitution of properties while maintaining
theunityoftherefugees cause regardless of their locations,
including the refugees inside the green line . Fatah supports the
need to preserve the refugee camps as a political witness to
the
plight of the refugees who have been deprived of returning to
their homes
pending the resolution of their cause . Fatah will strive to
preserve UNRWA as an international address for the rights of the
refugees until their return to their
homes and country. Working to improve the conditions of the
refugees and their camps is a national necessity.
b. The rejection of forced implantation of our refugees away
from their Homeland, as an alternative homeland . No settlement
Tawteen in Lebanon and no
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17
substitute homeland WatanBadeel for the Palestinians in Jordan
are acceptable.
3. Detainees: We commit ourselves to strive to liberate all
Palestinian prisoners and never to sign any final peace agreement
without the freedom of everyone of
them. 4. Right to Resist: Fatah adheres to the right of the
Palestinian people to resist the occupation by all legitimate
means, including the right to use armed struggle. Such a right is
guaranteed by international law as long as the occupation,
settlement, and the denial of our inalienable rights continue. 5.
Forms of Struggle in the current stage : Fatah adopts all forms of
legitimate struggle while remaining committed to the option of
peace, without being restricted to negotiations only . The forms of
this struggle , which can be successfully used in the current stage
to support negotiations and reactivate them , or substitute them if
they do not deliver may include: a. Mobilization of popular
non-violent struggle against settlement activities as
expressedinitssuccessfulpresentmodelinBilinand NilinagainsttheWall,
and to the struggle rescue Jerusalem and prevent its judaization.
Our mission is to mobilize all citizens to take part in those
activities , to mobilize Arab and international participation, to
provide all kinds of support from the Authority and its agencies,
and to urge leaders to take part in its most important activities.
b. Creating new forms of struggle and resistance through grassroot
initiatives and those of Fatah cadres in the framework of our
peoplesdeterminationtoresistandstand firm protected by
international law and international guarantees. c. Boycotting
Israeli products at home and abroad through popular movement,
particularly those goods for which there is local substitute .
Performing new forms of civil disobedience against the occupation
and launching an international
campaign to boycott Israel , its products, and its institutions
benefiting from the experience of South Africa against Apartheid.
d. Exploring strategic alternatives , if progress is not achieved
through ongoing negotiations, including the option of a democratic
unitary state rejecting racism , hegemony and occupation . The
development of struggle against Israeli apartheid and racism ,
return to the idea of declaring the state on the 1967 borders; are
examples of these strategic alternatives. e. Continuing the
struggle to release the prisoners and detainees , ending the
external siege , lifting internal checkpoints and achieving the
freedom of circulation, are important tasks in the coming period.
f. Calling on the UN and the Security Council to shoulder their
responsibilities in resolving the conflict and ending the
occupation ; and continuing the drive to issue supporting
resolutions by the Security Council based on Chapter VII of the
Charter
which makes them legally binding and enforceable.
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18
g. Restoring our direct and strong relations with the Israeli
peace camp, and revitalizing our joint action for a just peace,
without mingling it with normalization with Israel, which is
rejected while occupation continues.
6. Development of PLO Performance in Negotiations The
continuation of negotiations without achieving any progress in a
fixed time
frame threatens our rights and turns into a play that enables
Israel to use them as a
cover to continue its colonization and consolidate its
occupation . To avoid this risk, we need to make sure that the PLO
and its negotiating delegations abide by the following rules to
proceed with negotiations:
1. Linking the negotiating process to real and public observable
progress on the ground. The most important indicators are : Total
halt of settlements, especially in Jerusalem, and a complete
cessation of attempts to change the character of Jerusalem, leading
to its Judaization . Negotiations should not be resumed without the
achievement of these goals. Moreover, Israel has to stop its
incursions , detentions and assassinations; it has to lift the
siege of our people in Gaza , remove the checkpoints in the West
Bank and withdraw to the lines of September 28, 2000 as a first
step towards reaching the borders of June 4, 1967. Such are clear
indicators of progress on the ground ; and progress in negotiations
should be linked to their achievement. 2. Negotiations should be
conducted on the basis of international legitimacy and its key
resolutions: (181, and194, of the UNGA , and 242, and 338 of the
UNSC ) and in the framework of the Arab Initiative. These
negotiations should continue if they
abide by these terms, and achieve our strategic and interim
objectives. 3. Continue the efforts to hold a new international
peace conference to push towards swift negotiations leading to a
peace agreement that achieves our
objectives. 4. Insist on setting a clear and binding timetable
and a time ceiling for the negotiations. 5. Refuse to postpone
negotiations on Jerusalem , the refugee issue , or any of the final
status issues. 6. Reject the idea of a state with provisional
borders. 7. Categorically Refuse to recognize Israel as a
Jewishstate, in order to protect the rights of our refugees , and
those of our people behind the Green Line (Palestinian Christian
and Muslim citizens of Israel). 8. Insist on international
participation throughout the negotiations and set a mechanism for
binding arbitration in case of differences during the
implementation
of the agreements. 9. Insist on international supervision and
international peace-keeping mechanism to ensure the implementation
of the agreement.
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19
10. Our success in achieving our goals through negotiations
requires the formation of a national professional committee
reporting to the PLO capable of handling
tough negotiations , monitored by a higher commission in which
Palestinian factions, national figures and professionals take part.
Another committee of Fatah should be formed for the follow up of
negotiations and has to report to the Central
Committee and the Revolutionary Council. 11. We must conduct a
referendum to approve the peace agreement reached through final
negotiations.
The continuity of the struggle, the activation and unification
of our Movement, the achievement of Palestinian national unity ,
and the performance of essential tasks on the Palestinian , Arab
and levels , are required in the coming stage, to achieve national
goals.
First: Rebuilding, Activation and Unification of the Movement:
Fatah as the right arm of the revolution and its leadership ,
shoulders the responsibility for protecting and achieving the
Palestinian national goals. Without a capable , unified and active
Fatah , we will fail, at least in the short run . Therefore, the
main tasks of the next stage are those of self-development and
rectification of the movement.
TheMovementsorganizationalprogramexplains these tasks in
detail.
The key tasks to reconstruct, reactivate and reunify the
Movement are:
Restoring public support for the Movement by taking the
initiative , and by insisting on activism, to restore the course of
struggle and to achieve a just peace. Emphasis on the continuity of
our Movement as a national liberation movement, which does not
abandon resistance against the occupation , preserves its
revolutionary purity , ensures the ethics of Fatah members and
their behavior inside the Movement and with the public , and
reaffirms the values of commitment, accountability and justice.
Consolidating the commitment to a unifiedinstitution reactivating
the Law of affection in relations between the members of the
Movement.
Reconstructing the Movement by re-integration of members in
accordance with the basic Statute , the revival and re-activation
of organizational cadres and frames from bottom to top of the
organization ; ending the phenomenon of the non-framed cadres and
find more effective organizational forms for
the military branch . Activating the role of the Central
Committee , requiring its formation through elections, performing
its duties without allowing it to be by-passed or marginalized.
Expanding the base of participation in decision-making by granting
wider powers to the Revolutionary Council,
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and the formation of commissions , and institutions at home and
abroad . Exercising positive democratic dialogue inside the ranks,
holding the regular congresses and developing organizational forms
to keep confidentiality , especially in areas where it is
needed.
Continued commitment to the culture of struggle , and the
permanent readiness to engage in resisting the occupation , and
sacrifice for the homeland. Continuous education through regular
organizational meetings and training courses . The issuing of Fatah
circulars , to continue mobilizing the cadres of the movement and
masses with the heritage of the Palestinian
armed struggle . Celebrating our battles , and commemorating the
history of our struggle and the permanent readiness to
sacrifice.
Achieving the unity of the Movement inside and outside the
Homeland , between the West Bank including Jerusalemand the Gaza
Strip and between
the generations.
Securing the independence of the Movement within the PLO and the
PNA.
Developing the finances of the Movement through self-reliance
and the reliance on the Palestinian masses in the Diaspora and at
home. Rebuilding the accounting system of the Movement to ensure
transparency, accountability, and oversight through the development
of the Commission of Finance, unifying disbursements and funding
centers, and presenting periodic financial reports to the
Revolutionary Council and the General
Congress.
Rejuvenation of the Movement through cooperation between the
generations, fostering bridges of relationship between the young
cadres and the experienced founding generation. Working on the
development of young cadres, providing them with the opportunity to
gain more revolutionary experience and political acumen by
involving them in senior leadership
positions that prepares them to assume leadership of the
Movement and
ensure its continuity.
Restructuring and activating Fatah Youth Organization to play a
primary role in the rehabilitation and creation of young Fatah
cadres guiding thecubsandflowers organization together with the
Fatah Youth to ensure the future of the Movement.
Developingwomens role and preparing cadre of educationally ,
culturally and politically qualified women , broadening and
strengthening the role of women in the Movement , encouraging their
presence in leading positions . The role of Palestinian women has
grown in the resistance , and in our political and social struggle
. The results of the recent elections proved the need to develop
the role of the Movements female cadres and its
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21
regeneration in light of the growing opportunity available to
represent
women in Palestinian parliamentary life.
Eliminating centersofpower, cronyism and tribalism particularly
through the separation of the security apparatus from the civil
organization and the
rejection of any external funds for cadres , structures, and
institutions of the Movement without central control, preserving
the legitimacy, organizational hierarchy and discipline , stepping
up accountability and updating the mechanisms of control
andFatahsjudiciary.
Reviewing the media discourse of the Movement and handing its
responsibility to professionals capable of ensuring its success in
terms of
clarity, sincerity, integrity and persuasion . The media have to
adopt the discourse of action rather than reaction in its
performance , and involve the whole Movement in the formulation of
its concepts.
Promoting the provision of community services particularly in
the fields of health, education, culture, and heritage
strengthening the presence of the Movement in grassroots
organizations.
Honoring veteran activists and Fatah pioneers , making benefit
of their expertise, documenting their experiences and their
militant careers to make use of them in documenting the history of
Fatah for over half a century of
pioneering struggle.
Second: Activation of the PLO and its Institutions:
PLO is the highest authority of the Palestinianpeoples
institutions and the sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people wherever they are , and the embodiment of our
national unity. Within this framework, Fatah is committed to:
1. Emphasizing the role of the PLO as a higher reference to the
Palestinian Authority, drafting the constitutional regulations that
govern the relationship between the PLO and the PNA and its
institutions . The PLO is the organization vested in negotiations ,
and authorized to sign final political agreements to realize the
national rights of the Palestinian people . This requires setting a
national political program for the PLO that responds to the
challenges of this
stage, to be adopted by consensus. 2. Upholding the principle of
differentiating between the role of Fatah and the PLO. 3.
Activating PLO institutions , departments, diplomatic missions and
bodies at home and abroad , restructuring the current departments
according to feasibility and effectiveness , joining new
Palestinian forces and factions to the PLO , to broaden the base of
popular participation in its National Council , committing
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22
the new members to the goals of the PLO , its Charter , strategy
and commitments. 4. Holding Palestine National Council elections at
home , and abroad whenever possible, on the basis of proportional
representation , and work to convene the National Council and the
Central Council regularly. 5. Updating the concepts, mechanisms and
obligations of factions and forces participating in the PLO
institutions , ensuring compliance with their strategies, organize
their relationship within the PLO , and reduce the aggravation of
secondary contradictions amongst them. 6. Consolidating PLO
presence among the Palestinian refugees in the Diaspora, especially
in the refugee camps in the Arab States. 7. Reviving PLO ties with
Arab and international solidarity forces and re -building
relationship with them. 8. Developing PLO relations with peoples ,
parties and governments on Arab and international levels.
Third: Achieving Palestinian National Unity and Confronting the
Blockade:
Confronting the Separation: The continuation of the state of
separation between the two parts of the homeland
represents a serious threat to the future of the national cause
of the Palestinian
people; and Hamas cannot escape its responsibility if the split
continues. We need to move forward to reach success of the
comprehensive national dialogue
and foremost the dialogue with Hamas, based on ending the
division in Gaza by: a. Establishing a national unity government
that organizes simultaneous
legislative and presidential elections. b. Unifying the security
apparatuses as a national institution to protect the
security of the homeland and its citizens. c. Dealing with the
consequences of the coup and the split , to achieve national
reconciliation including the release of detainees on both
sides.
The failure of the dialoguebecauseofHamas intransigence will
neither detract from this priority nor undermine our determination
to continue our engagement. However, such failure obliges Fatah to
adopt alternative options: Rebuilding the Movement in Gaza , to
cope with the requirements of the present situation, and providing
full support for the Fatah organization in Gaza to face the split.
Directing the energies of the Movement towards promoting public
action and mobilizing the Palestinian people to face the split and
the dictatorship.
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23
Exposing the actions of Hamas that violate Palestinian
traditions and customs by committing crimes against the Palestinian
people of Gaza. Calling for Arab security support in the Gaza Strip
during the interim stage. Strengthening the media work in the Arab
and Islamic street to expose the reality ofHamas policies and
practices.
Confronting the Siege: Our duty to confront the Israeli Siege of
Gaza requires our performance of the
following actions: a) Strengthen the steadfastness of Gaza in
the face of the siege; give it a priority in providing national
support through budgetary finance and international grants , and
solving the pressing problems of Gaza people living abroad ,
particularly students and patients. b) Launching international
humanitarian campaign against the siege and starvation, and
informing the world about the crimes against humanity committed by
Israel against the people of Gaza , and to link resuming
negotiations with Israel with lifting the siege. c) Gradual
separation of the Palestinian economy from the Israeli market,
especially in electricity, fuel, gas and basic foodstuffs,
replacing it by the Egyptian, Jordanian and Arab markets. d)
Working to implement the International Convention for the Rafah
Crossing, trying to develop it by denying Israel the opportunity to
control the opening and closing of this vital crossing.
Achieving National Unity and Political Partnership:
While emphasizing the role of the Palestine Liberation
Organization as the highest
authority, embodying the national unity of the Palestinian
people, the development of the concept of national unity into
political partnership has become an urgent
necessity in the coming stage. This has resulted from the
diversity of the present tasks and the access of new national
factions, parties and bodies to the national arena, which requires
the establishment of new rules to cope with these forces in a
disciplined partnership that strengthens the areas of agreement and
reduces the
points of dispute based on clear terms of reference such as: 1.
Respecting pluralism and the right to form political parties and
factions in accordance with the law. 2. Promoting the concepts of
democracy and peaceful transfer of power at local and national
levels. 3. Resorting to the ballot box in the formation of local
councils , trade unions , legislative bodies and other
frameworks.
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24
4. Broadening popular participation in determining national
public policies. 5. Amending laws , especially those related to
elections to give the emerging powers and parties a better chance
to participate in the elections. 6. Establishing a supreme
constitutional court to resolve disputes related to the
Constitution and other laws. 7. Consolidating Palestinian political
gains by insisting on the commitment to obligations and agreements
is a decisive prerequisite for participation in
Palestinian political life. 8. Motivating the grass-roots bases
to protect national unity and political partnership. 9.
Disseminating the culture of partnership , prioritizing the
national public interest over the narrow selfish interests of the
forces, factions and parties.
Fourth: Protecting Jerusalem:
Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and its heart , the first
kibleh and third holiest shrine of Islam, the city of peace and the
symbol of divine religions. No peace can be installed without the
return of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the State of
Palestine. Fatah
considersallthedecisionsofIsraelsannexationofJerusalem, its
settlement, displacement of people and changes of its features as
null and void and their consequences must be abolished , in
implementation of international resolutions that condemned all
attempts to Judaize Jerusalem . Jerusalem is an integral part of
the land of Palestine occupied in 1967.
Fatah commits to the following tasks regarding Jerusalem: 1.
Embodiment of Jerusalem as an eternal political capital of
Palestine and a spiritual capital for the Arab nation, Islamic and
Christian world. 2. Upholding absolute commitment to the
resolutions of international legitimacy and the International Court
of Justice advisory opinion on Jerusalem, which
confirmstheinvalidityofIsraelsdecisionsof annexation, settlement,
and building the apartheid wall . Jerusalem is an inseparable part
of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel during the
aggression of 1967. 3. Provide means of support related to
preservation of Jerusalem and resist attempts of its judaization ,
settlement and isolation from the rest of the Palestinian
territories. 4.Provide all the facilities that the Movement can
provide , and those provided by the National Authority to support
the steadfastness and perseverance of our people
in Jerusalem and to support projects that provide essential
services to the residents
of Jerusalem to strengthen their steadfastness and preserve
their national and
cultural identity.
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5. Support Jerusalemite institutions and maintain their
continuity in serving the steadfastness of Jerusalemites , to build
new institutions , to maintain the Arab character of Jerusalem, and
work to reopen the institutions shut down by Israel. 6. Activate
Fatah channels , and those of the National Authority , with the
Arab , Islamic and friendly countries for the implementation of
special projects to preserve the identity of Jerusalem and its Arab
character and face the settlement
and judaization attacks. 7. Establish a special fund for
Jerusalem to receive local, regional and international donations
and to unify them in order to consolidate the steadfastness of the
people
of Jerusalem. 8. Strengthen the role of research centers to
publish information , historical and cultural studies, organize
conferences and seminars about the city of Jerusalem and to publish
their proceedings in the media to raise the issue of Jerusalem at
the
global level. 9. Activate Fatah Jerusalem Commission as a Fatah
reference for Jerusalem Affairs.
Fifth: Tasks of the Palestinian National Authority:
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was established in 1994
by a decision of the Palestine Liberation Organization . Fatah
assumed most of its leading and administrative responsibilities.
Yet, the PNA belongs to the Palestinian people and is governed
through democratic elections. It is also an independent body. Fatah
has the ability to influence the PNA especially when it assumes its
leadership . The Movement should form a clear vision of the PNA ,
including the future tasks Fatah is committed to implement through
the Authority, once Fatah assumes its leadership through democratic
legitimacy. Fatah should also select the tasks that it will call on
the PNA to implement when it is outside the leadership of the
Authority. The following points are a summary of these tasks ,
although detailing them is the task of the National Construction
Program submitted to the Sixth Conference separately: 1.
Emphasizing the principles of democracy , pluralism and peaceful
transfer of power, consolidating those principles and protecting
the freedom of individuals and their rights as the bases of
state-building. 2. Achieving security, safety and respect of the
law , and re-building the security apparatus on national and
professional foundations. 3. Continue building and rebuilding state
institutions , preserving the constitution and the laws regulating
political, economic and social life.
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26
4. Developing values and concepts based on the principles of our
Arab and Islamic culture, and international standards with regard
to women , children, family and youth; political and civil rights
and public freedoms. 5. Strengthening the role of women by
eliminating all forms of discrimination against them , protecting
them against family and social violence, working to enable them to
enjoy their civil , political, economic, social and cultural
rights; and paying special attention to the health of women, and
health education. 6. Continuing to provide all kinds of support for
the wounded and prisoners; develop specialized programs for the
rehabilitation of ex-detainees and develop programs to take care of
their families. 7. Fighting corruption and conducting radical
reform in the performance of the Authority and judiciary,
protecting and enforcing its provisions and independence,
respecting the law, developing mechanisms of governance based on
the separation of powers and activating the principle of
accountability. 8. Strengthening the presence and participation of
civil society organizations which play a recognized, effective
national role. 9. Developing the national economy on the basis of
economic efficiency and independence from Israeli economic hegemony
, keeping balance between the districts and governorates:
developing and maintaining human capacity and human resources;
creating the best conditions for international free trade to
facilitate and support exports; achieving social justice and
solidarity ; providing safety rules for the most suffering
categories in the society and for those who paid with their lives,
their health and freedom during the national struggle, such as the
families of martyrs, the wounded and disabled prisoners and
detainees in Israeli jails and veterans and their families. 10.
Focusing on private sector support by creating an encouraging
investment environment, granting facilities to investors and
establishing a sound market mechanism to maintain legitimate and
effective competition, restricting monopoly and achieving
protection for the consumer . Encouraging economic production
capable of competition. 11. Respecting the right of every
Palestinian to work and continue the efforts to provide employment
opportunities , to comply with minimum wage ; activate and support
labor frameworks and trade unions. 12. Encouraging the Palestinian
Investment Fund and the private sector to invest in the housing
sector, especially in the outskirts of cities threatened by
settlement, and provide housing priced within the reach of
intermediate and low-incomes. 13. Ensuring the right to participate
in cultural life in all its dimensions . Discover and sponsor
talented and creative people , pay attention to the Palestinian
cultural heritage, protect and highlight it in all forums and
institutions.
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Sixth: Tasks toward the Palestinian people in the Diaspora:
Our people in the Diaspora are an important and integral part of
the Palestinian
people. The revolution was launched in the Diaspora , and our
people have sacrificed thousands of martyrs for it . They paid
heavy losses and were forced to migrate several times in order to
achieve the continuity of the revolution . They continued to
provide material and moral support without hesitation or respite.
All Palestinians in the Diaspora have the right to return to their
homes. Palestinians in the Diaspora are a real asset to their
country and their Movement , they provide personal and financial
contributions , have voluntary work to serve their country and they
impact on the communities where they live for the benefit of
their
homeland. But the activation of their power requires the
following tasks: 1- Activate and consolidate the role of
Palestinian communities and support their militant and professional
cadres ; activate popular associations and organizations in all
regions of the Palestinian Diaspora ; strengthening their
relationship with our Movement, with the PLO and its institutions
and work for the creation of a genuine representation of these
communities within the frameworks
of Fatah 36 and the PLO through periodic elections to designate
their representatives. 2- Engage Palestinians in the Diaspora in
the activities of Fatah and PLO and in making crucial decisions ,
deliver detailed information about home events , recruit their
energies to support the homeland in the hosting countries and open
the way to them to invest in Palestine. 3- Help our people in the
Diaspora when they are subjected to danger, as happened to our
people residing in Iraq . Avoid the risks of involvement in
internal battles of hosting countries and rescue them when they are
harmed . Encourage them to integrate into the political, economic
and intellectual life of the communities where they live ; and
preserve their political , civil and material accomplishments in
hosting countries . The Movement must seek to activate the
departments of the PLO among our people in the Diaspora to activate
the required
support. 4- Preserve the culture and affiliation of generations
outside the Arab world in terms of consolidating their attachment
to the homeland ; develop programs to teach their children the
Arabic language , the history of their country and the struggle of
their people , and to maintain their national affiliation and their
right to return home.
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Seventh: Tasks toward ourpeopleinthe 48:
The Palestinians our people in the territory occupied by Israel
in 1948 are an integral part of the Palestinian people . They
maintained their national identity , heritage, belonging and belief
in the just cause of their people, and they paid a high price for
their steadfastness in the homeland. They are treated by Israel as
second class citizens and live under the threat of judaization and
ethniccleansing which means expulsion from their country . Fatah is
committed to perform necessary tasks and take positions to protect
them in the coming stage, such as: 1. Fatah rejects the call to
recognize Israel as a JewishState , and adopts the demands of our
Palestinian people in the territory of 48 to be recognized by
Israel as full citizens with full rights. 2.
FatahrejectsIsraelsracistcallsforethniccleansingstressingthe fact
of natural and historic existence of our people in their homeland
of Palestine before the
establishment of Israel and its usurpation of our land. 3. Fatah
supports the demands of our people for equality , restoring their
rights to achieve economic , social and educational development for
themselves , their regions, towns and villages. 4. Fatah supports
unity and alliance between the Palestinian factions in Israel in
order to reach adequate proportional parliamentary seats in the
Israeli elections
equal to their percentage in the population. This will enable
them to increasing their ability to achieve their just demands. 5.
Fatah works to promote interaction and communication between our
Palestinian people in Israel and the masses , bodies and NGOs in
the West Bank and Gaza to promote unity between the members of the
same people. 6. Fatah works to inform the world about the
Palestinian presence in Israel and to support this presence in the
various fields of human , social and cultural rights , to face the
policy of racial discrimination against the Palestinians. 7. Fatah
supports the creation of joint committees and frameworks of our
people with peace forces and peace activists in Israel against the
occupation and
colonization of our Palestinian land in order to establish the
Palestinian
independent State on the 1967 borders with Holy Jerusalem as its
capital.
Eight: Activating Arab action and insistence on the independence
of the Palestinian national decision:
1. Achieving the greatest Arab support possible through
intensified work with Arab countries on bilateral level , and in
particular with the neighboring countries of Egypt , Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia; with the Arab League , the joint Arab
frameworks and Arab grassroots institutions , to consolidate
Arab
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commitment. The Movement rejects normalization with Israel
before ending the occupation on the basis of the Arab peace
initiative . It works with our Arab brothers to impose boycott
measure on Israel and punish it for its crimes and
behavior, especially if it insists on carrying on its settlement
policy. 2. Maintaining the strongest ties with the Arab masses
through rebuilding the strongest relations with Arab institutions ,
popular parties and to work on restructuring popular support and
advocacy committees to support the struggle of
the Palestinian people. 3. Building special relationships with
neighboring countries as follows: Continue to build a special
political relationship with Egypt for its leading Arab, regional
and international role, and as the main neighboring state to the
Gaza Strip. Continue to build a special relationship with Jordan
for its continued support of our rights to an independent
Palestinian state , for the inter twinning of Palestinian and
Jordanian peoples , the Palestinian publics strongpresence in
Jordan and itsneighborhood to the West Bank. Continue to build a
special relationship with Syria for its historical leading role,
for its regional and Arab strategic importance and for the strong
presence of the Palestinian communities in Syria. Continue to build
a special relationship with Lebanon , where the fundamental problem
of Palestinian refugees in the Diaspora exists , to ensure
neutrality in Lebanonsinternalaffairs, takingcareofrefugees
interests, rejecting their forced settlement and ensuring the
national unity of Lebanon. 4. Continue to build a special
relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its historical
role, for its Arab and international status , its continuous
political and economic support. Continue to develop excellent
relations with Tunisia, which has embraced the Palestinian
leadership in very difficult times ; with Algeria, which supported
Fatah since its inception and sponsored the National Council
meetings ; with Morocco, a sponsor of the Jerusalem Committee and
its Fund; with the Gulf states, particularly the United Arab
Emirates for its political and financial support and for the
hosting of an important Palestinian community; with Yemen, Sudan
and Mauritania for their leading political role and the hosting of
our people and our Movement. 5. Consolidate the role of the Arab
League, the political home of the Arabs as a center of solidarity ,
cooperation and joint Arab action in all political , cultural and
economic issues; and to work on developing its specialized
agencies. 6. Preserve the independent Palestinian national decision
, rejecting the policy of axes within the Arab world and maintain
equal distances with the Arab countries
concerning their internal Arab problems, continue to support
democracy and
pluralism in Arab affairs.
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7. Assert the need to have a comprehensive peace on all Arab
tracks because this is the guarantee of a real, just and lasting
peace. 8. Ensure respect for the human , social and economic rights
of refugees in the hosting Arab countries, their right to work and
live in dignity while respecting the laws applied in those
countries. 9. Reject compulsory resettlement in any Arab country
and reject the projects of a substitute homeland. 10. Declare
Solidarity with the brotherly Iraqi people to ensure its
sovereignty, territorial integrity, and end to the American
occupation. Support Syria in its quest to regain the occupied Golan
Heights , affirm the right of Lebanon to restore its occupied
territories, to reactivate Arab solidarity and support Sudan and
Somalia in their quest for national unity, peace and stability.
Ninth: Tasks of International Relations:
In the coming phase , Fatah must work hard to restore its
historical and natural position amongst the forces of freedom ,
liberation and the peoples of the world , based on its true
character and its role as a National Liberation Movement . Fatah
has also accomplished international achievements amongst political
parties , parliaments and political gatherings in the world , as
the leader of Palestinian struggle, and for its endeavor to achieve
a just peace in our region . This requires performing the following
tasks: 1. Intensify our political activities to present our
principles , our goals and our struggle as a National Liberation
Movement facing the dangers of racist settler
occupation of our country , and working to rectify the image of
our Movement amongst the masses and the freedom forces in the world
; in addition to confirmation of our affiliation to the
international liberation movement. 2. Strengthen relations with the
solidarity movements , political parties , Trade-unions and
non-governmental organizations, particularly those working in the
field of human rights, since they enjoy effective impact on the
national and international levels. 3. Explain the concept of peace
adopted by the Palestinian people: based on justice and the right
to exercise self-determination like all other peoples of the world,
and on the principles of International Law and International
legitimacy . Reject the concept of Israeli peace, based on
aggression , conquest of Palestinian land , the building of
settlements , the destruction of the Palestinian society , the
elimination of the components of the independent Palestinian state
thus undermining the
foundations of its existence, the introduction of the Jewish
State concept in order to enable Israel practice further racial
discrimination, and ethnic cleansing against our
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people beyond the Green Line and to deny Palestinian refugees
their right to return
to their homeland.
Activate the contacts with countries and international
organizations through
the Fatah institutions, the PLO and the PNA, which requires:
1. Intensification of activity and contacts on bilateral,
international and multilateral levels to consolidate international
support for Palestinian rights against settlements, siege and the
Wall; to protect Jerusalem, to release the prisoners, to ensure the
flow of financial and economic support. Taking lesson of the South
African experience , the Fatah Movement has to be ready to step up
the international campaign against
Israeli racist practices to reach international boycott. 2.
Intensification of our official relations with the United Nations
and the Security Council, through the PNA and the PLO to affirm
international legitimacy and its role. To work with the
International Court of Justice and various international
institutions, and with the Commission on Human Rights and the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to
face the Israeli siege and
settlement. 3. Directing PLO and PNA to strengthen special
Palestinian relationship with Russia and China , the two historic
friends of Palestine and with the European Union and its
institutions. 4. Promoting strong relationship of the PLO and PNA
with the United States of America and its new President, despite
the traditional US alignment with Israel and the special
relationship . We have to build a relationship with the US by
avoiding falling into the trap of vassalage; and keeping on
reminding the Americans of their obligations towards the peace
process, and the rights of the Palestinian people. It is in the US
interest to achieve stability in our region, which has to be based
on a just solution to our cause, and recall the abject failure of
the policy of President Bush in our region. Fatah must build
balanced relations with the two major US parties . It has to widen
the circle of contacts with the Congress and the important US
institutions. The Movement has to take advantage of the present
change in the United States and activate the role of Palestinian,
Arab and Islamic communities in support of the Palestinian cause.
5. Motivate the PLO and PNA to develop special relationship with
important friendly countries of the third world , whose political
and economic power is growing and their international influence is
increasing , notably Brazil , India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey,
and South Africa , Endeavor to open a strategic dialogue with Iran.
6. Develop our relationship with new members of the EU and with
European non-member countries in the EU , particularly Norway and
Switzerland. Fatah should
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activate the relationship with the political forces and
grassroots institutions in those
countries. 7. Deepen the relationship with regional institutions
and political groupings, such as the Organization of Islamic
Conference , the Non -Aligned Movement and the Socialist
International Movement . Fatah should pay attention to the
relationship with Islamic , Asian and African political parties and
groupings as well as with Western parties, based on mutual respect
that achieves support to the Palestinian
cause. 8. Maintain our Commitment to international law and
promote peaceful coexistence by denouncing racism , occupation,
terrorism and extremism , and distinguish between terrorism and
legitimate resistance. 9. Fatah will work to join the global
campaign against nuclear weapons , reminding the world of the
Israeli nuclear weapons arsenal and join the campaign for a
Middle East free of such destructive weapons.