Official Fatah Website Editorial: Sharon’s Instinctive Aggression [Palestinians should not shoot in populated areas, collaborators should be apprehended, no “political arrests”]

[IMRA: The most telling segment in this Fatah editorial states that “National and Islamic forces also coordinate with the security forces to provide an atmosphere of safety for the citizens. Security forces also ensure that the law applies to those who violate it, especially those who shoot in demonstrations, marches, or populated areas. Another important task the security apparatus performs is the apprehension of collaborators who help the enemy in assassinating the Intifada activists. Security forces are not supposed to carry out political arrests.” This is a far cry from the “cease-fire” envisioned in Tenet’s plan.]

Sharon’s Instinctive Aggression www.fateh.net/e_editor/01/300601.htm

It can be said that the successive American administrations have made a number of foolish acts out of arrogance in their attempts to impose their hegemony during the cold war era or during their involvement in the frozen Middle East peace process. However, the craziest act lies in the unprecedented awkwardness that the US Administration experienced following Powel’s visit to the area. In a press conference he had with President Arafat, Powel expressed his support for the idea of having international observers to ensure that a period of quiet can take hold. Few hours later, he declared that the only person who can decide on whether such a period has been reached is Sharon – an act that legitimized Sharon’s aggression.

Many analysts believed that after seven months of reluctance and after the expiration of the one hundred day period that Sharon was granted to finish the Intifada and impose his version of security, the US new involvement in the Arab Israeli conflict will be more balanced to ensure security for all people in the area. A similar policy was adopted by the Clinton administration but proved unsuccessful because it failed to consider the real situation.

Sharon’s last meeting with Bush revealed some differences in their perception of the situation. Powel was sent to the area to explore that situation and report on the commitment of Israel and the PNA to the implementation of both Tenet’s paper and Mitchell’s report.

Unfortunately, Powel’s statements emphasized one important thing: the US is fully biased to Israel. In fact, one can conclude that the US activated its role only to blackmail the Palestinian leadership into making further concessions. The US seems to be rewarding a war criminal who is aggressive by instinct.

It has become clear that the direct and indirect pressure the US placed on the Palestinian leadership to accept the Tenet’s paper aimed to frighten the Palestinian people into accepting Sharon’s dictates. Such an attempt, however, failed to produce the desired results when the Palestinian leadership refused to sign the paper. The US attempt was aborted due to the steadfastness that the Palestinian civil society and the National and Islamic forces have shown.

Despite the reservations the Palestinian leadership made regarding Tenet’s paper, the US took another step in supporting Sharon’s aggression. Mitchell’ s report was torn into pieces when the US agreed to his demand that the political issue can only be tackled after a cease-fire takes hold. Sharon’s definition of a cease-fire includes throwing stones, peaceful marches, playing the national anthem or even saying Jerusalem belongs to us.

The US partiality towards Sharon reinforces his aggressive nature and allows his soldiers and flocks of settlers to go on with their assault against Palestinians and their property. This irresponsible attitude on behalf of the US requires Arabs and Muslims to stand against whatever pressures that may be exerted to blackmail us. Also, we need to strengthen our home front against any possible attacks, not forgetting the supportive role institutions in both the Arab and Islamic world can play in this regard. After all, the Israeli aggression is not confined to historic Palestine but goes as far as Lebanon and Syria.

Accepting this situation turns Sharon’s aggression into an instrument in the hands of the Republican administration that needs to create a state of permanent tension in order to impose its hegemony on the area. To undermine this strategy, we should exercise cautioun and prepare ourselves for the worst options without panic. Panic only leads to surrender. Caution, on the other hand, prepares the way for using all sources in fighting the Israeli occupation and the US bias. We have to make it clear to the US administration that Sharon’s aggression threatens its vital interests in the Arab and Muslim world.

As Palestinians and as members of Fateh, we realize the importance of a unified position that we share with Arabs and Muslims all over the world. Importance, however, should be given to cementing our home front that should include: the organizations of the civil society, the military, security and civil institutions of the PNA, and the National and Muslim forces. When we act as spearhead of the confrontation against Sharon, we will secure Arab and Muslim support.

After nine months of perseverance and resolution, the Intifada has proven that national unity remains an effective shield against the American pressure, the reckless settlers, and the Israeli army. To maintain such a situation, it is necessary to scrutinize our Intifada before the end of its first year. This scrutinization is be based on the political and strategic considerations that specify the goals of the Intifada, and it aims to enhance the methods it has been using to achieve its goals.

National and Muslim forces should focus their attention on strengthening our national unity. To ensure this, the burden of the Intifada ought to be distributed in a way that ensures the participation of all sectors, each according to its capacity. Each sector of the community should feel that it is an integral part of the Intifada that seeks freedom and national independence by achieving the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people: the right of the refugees to return to the homes they were driven out from, self-determination, and the establishment of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

These principles constitute a struggle program that should be adhered to. Such a program unifies all forces inside and outside Palestine in their efforts to bring about a change in the US position by placing pressure on Arab governments.

Based on its understanding of the importance of the role of the organizations of the civil society, the National and Islamic forces insist on the participation of representatives from these organizations in the decision making process. This helps in unifying decisions taken at the level of all governorates in Palestine regarding the functions and activities to be carried out.

The involvement of the civil society in the Intifada activities shows the world the peaceful nature of the protests being carried out against the occupation. Areas of cooperation between the PNA institutions and those of the civil society such as municipalities, village councils, public federations, and trade unions have been specified.

It has also become clear that organizing the daily needs of the people is a basic element in the continuation of the Intifada and its development until it achieves its goals. Emphasis has been placed on supporting PNA institutions that offer public services that influence the daily life of the Palestinian individual. Therefore, full coordination is made with the ministries that deal with health, education, social affairs, and labor.

National and Islamic forces also coordinate with the security forces to provide an atmosphere of safety for the citizens. Security forces also ensure that the law applies to those who violate it, especially those who shoot in demonstrations, marches, or populated areas. Another important task the security apparatus performs is the apprehension of collaborators who help the enemy in assassinating the Intifada activists. Security forces are not supposed to carry out political arrests.

A campaign of social solidarity should be launched to extend help to families that are directly or indirectly harmed by the Israeli practices -families of the martyrs and the injured or families that have their houses demolished or one or more of its members captured by the Israeli army. In this regard, solidarity groups in the Arab and Muslim world should be activated to offer the necessary assistance to these families.

A united Palestinian position elicits a united Arab and Islamic stance that supports the Palestinian struggle against Sharon who has an instinct for aggression. This aggression threatens not only the historic Palestine but also the whole Arab world. It is our duty to prove to the world that our conflict with Israel is between the instinct of faith and righteousness and that of aggression and injustice.

Revolution until victory.

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