After holding meetings for three consecutive days, the Revolutionary Council of the Palestinian Liberation Movement (Fateh) concluded its 23rd session in the Presidential premises located in Ramallah City, and issued a closing statement addressing the main aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The statement asserted that peace and security would not be achieved in the region unless the Israeli occupation and settlements be vanquished from the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the removal of the Apartheid Wall, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with holy Jerusalem as its capital.
The Revolutionary Council called the Israeli government to agree to a full and reciprocal ceasefire, in which Israel ends its invasions, extrajudicial executions, siege and use of internationally-prohibited weapons, and withdraw all its forces to their positions prior to September 28, 2000, as prelude to their final withdrawal of all the Palestinian territories they occupied in 1967. The Council also called the Quartet Committee to quickly intervene and ensure the implementation of the international-sponsored "Road Map" peace plan.
Addressing the issue of attacks against civilians, Fatah movement declared categorical objections to all military actions against civilians, whether Israelis or Palestinians, and that the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people and their cities, towns, villages, refugee camps and holy shrines for the past forty months was the main reason for the security deterioration in the Palestinian territories.
"The Revolutionary Council is calling for a ceasefire and extending the hand for peace to the Israeli people and the Israeli government. The serious and volatile situation on the ground calls for an immediate heeding of this call to reach a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations according to the signed treaties, namely the "Road Map" peace plan," excerpts from the statement read.
As for the internal affairs of the movement, the Revolutionary Council decided to form a committee to prepare for the movement's sixth general conference within a year of the formation of this committee.
The Council's statement demanded that the issue of the Palestinian refugees be solved according to the United Nations resolution 194 and the Arab peace initiative, and the issue of the Palestinian prisoners be dealt with immediately as a central issue on the Palestinian agenda. The Council commended all the Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli jails and concentration camps, especially Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members Marwan Al Barghouti and Hossam Khader.
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
