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Interview with
Marwan Barghouti
by
AlAqsaIntifada.org
Mr. Marwan Barghouti, 41,
is a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, a leading figure in
Fateh, and the chief coordinator of Al-Aqsa Intifada. Mr. Barghouti joined
Fateh at the age of 15 and studied history and political science at
Birzeit University, taking a masters degree in international relations. He
spent six years in Israeli jails and was deported from his homeland in
1987. His involvement with the first Intifada was as a liaison officer in
the PLO's offices in Amman and Tunis. He returned in 1994 under the Oslo
accords, as a believer in the peace process. He is now on Israel's most
wanted list.
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We understand that the Security
Meetings being held between the Palestinians and the Israelis are
based on the latest Clinton plan, which was rejected by the
Palestinians since it doesnt meet the minimum Palestinian demands
and rights. What has recently changed to justify holding such
meetings?
First of all, I believe that Al-Aqsa
Intifada has expressed a new Palestinian state of mind refusing to
live under the current circumstances or going back to the
pre-September 28 status quo. Therefore, I see no point in proceeding
with negotiations in the same framework that they were conducted
during the past seven years, which led to nothing but more U.S.
support for Israel. The current Intifada has ascertained the
Palestinian demands, the principles for establishing the Palestinian
State and Independence, and the neccesity of reaching a just and
final solution pursuant to the provisions of the United Nations
Resolutions. The Intifada has set the one and only acceptable agenda
and that is to provide a time-frame for implementing the UN
resolutions, including Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders and
the implementation of UN resolution 194.
Second, I believe that giving in to
the U.S. as the only sponsor for the peace process is disastrous
since the past ten years has proven that the U.S. is not only a
biased mediator, but a partner to the Israelis. In fact, the latest
U.S. proposal is an Israeli proposal introduced under the U.S. name.
Other parties must also be recognized as partners in sponsoring the
peace process, including China, Russia, Europe and others.
Unfortunately, some parties on the
Palestinian side insisted on continuing with the talks; we
understand the necessity for continuing the political efforts, but
that requires the conditions to be mature enough to produce any
results. Therefore, I emphasize that there is no point in proceeding
with the negotiations as per the same old framework.
The Security Coordination is one of
the outcomes of Oslo and the transitional phase; the Intifada is
meant to end this phase once and for all. The Israelis want such
meetings to guarantee their security and to end the Intifada, but
why do we need to coordinate with them while they completely deny
the Palestinian rights and continue their aggression against our
people? The PNA should reconsider and redirect its political and
administrative efforts to reinforce the Intifada and support its
people. As long as the Israelis are not accepting the Palestinian
demands, the security meetings and coordinations should be stopped.
The Israeli forces recently took
some measures constituting of opening the borders, removing some
barricades, and as they claim "easing the seige." Do you
think that such measures might bring back stability?
I think that the scenes you
probably watched on different Arab and foreign T.V. channels, of the
assasination of the martyr Shaker Hassouneh in Hebron, and how the Israeli
soldiers dragged his bleeding body for a long distance, is evidence of the
Israels decision to continue its brutal aggression against our people.
Israels removal of barricades from
some areas was for their own benefit, as these had become
flashpoints for the Intifada, and their removal was for the
protection of the Israeli soldiers, as they realized that the
Intifada was growing in strength. Another reason is to reduce the
resistance due to the blockage of medical and essential supplies,
thus limiting Israels responsibility for any emergencies that
might occur due to this closure.
The demonstrations that took place on
Friday (Jan. 12th) are a clear message of the continuation and
escalation of the Intifada. The goal of the Intifada is not to
remove one or two barricades here and there, but to put an end to
the Israeli occupation and establish our Palestinian State, and
achieve freedom, independence, and the right of return. Therefore,
the Intifada is not a matter of days, or months; it will continue
until it accomplishes its goals.
The Israeli agencies monitoring
the Intifada issued a report indicating that the Intifada activities
have declined since the start of the security meetings. Do you think
that the situation will be calmer the coming days awaiting the
results of the negotiations?
The Intifada has the necessary and
needed ingredients for continuation. As I mentioned, it won't come
to an end by lifting one or two barricades, but only when the
occupation ends. This is the decision of the Palestinian People and
they won't accept bringing things back to the way they were before
the Intifada. We affirm that there will be no peace with occupation
and no peace with settlements and settlers. The Intifada is a living
thing, made up of the People; it has brains, feelings and needs, as
well as aspirations; it has enthusiasm and persistence, and its
activities vary from time to time. The coming days will witness more
activities.
As a response to the ongoing
security meetings and political negotiaitons, the Palestinians have
held demonstrations opposing such meetings - the biggest was in
Ramallah, organized by all Palestinian fractions with Fatah on the
top of the list. What is the message conveyed by such
demonstrations?
The message is the continuty of the
Intifada. The demonstrations were organized under the slogan
"No compromise on the Palestinian right of return, as per UN
resolution 194". No one should think that a security meeting or
understanding can bring an end to the Intifada.
A meeting for all the
Palestinian National and Islamic factions was held this evening.
What are the main decisions reached in this meeting, and what are
the activities planned for this coming week?
The following decisions were made:
- Rejection of the security
coordination.
- Rejection of the
IsraeliAmerican plans, and calling on refusing any formula
for proceeding with the negotiations on such a basis, as well as
rejecting the presidential declaration suggested by the U.S.
As for activities, the coming week shall
witness different national activities, including coordinating with the
Ministry of Education to dedicate the first two classes in schools for
discussing the right of return. Also, next Saturday (January 20, 2001)
will be announced as the day of return; demonstrations will be
organized in Palestine and outside.
Source:
by courtesy & 2001
AlAqsaIntifada.org
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