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On 14 July 1999, representatives of the Popular Service Committees and Palestinian
national convened a meeting in al-Far’a camp in order to discuss recent statements by
PLC member and PA minister Ziad Abu Zayad on the right of return of the Palestinian
refugees and its implementation. Subject of this discussion were both, Ziad Abu
Zayad’s interview with the Israeli radio and his clarifications, published in Al-Quds
newspaper on 3 July 1999.
The participants in
this meeting consider both statements as dangerous and a threat to the national rights of
the Palestinian people, in particular to the right of the refugees to return to their
homes and to receive compensation for lost properties, as well as material and
non-material damages. The participants issued the following statements:
1. We denounce and condemn the statements made by Ziad Abu
Zayad as they do not reflect the Palestinian refugee position in Palestine and the
Diaspora.
2. We re-affirm our firm and sacred right of return and our right to compensation
guaranteed to us by UN resolutions, especially UN Resolution 194. We consider these rights
as non-negotiable national rights.
3. We call upon the refugee committees of the PLC and the PNC to implement their
responsibilities regarding refugee issues, to strongly condemn statements of this kind
which undermine the refugee position, and to prevent official representatives from making
personal statements which weaken the refugee position.
4. We call upon the PLO Refugee Department to firmly reprimand persons who issue
irresponsible statements that –we can only suspect – are given in order to
undermine the refugee position.
5. We call upon everybody, Palestinian politicians and representatives to take a firm
position on Palestinian national rights and to abstain from evading them under all
circumstances. At the same time, we warn those people who are afraid of advocating
Palestinian rights, that they will be judged by the Palestinian people.
6. We call upon President Arafat to stop at the roots all those who attempt to trespass or
weaken the national rights of the Palestinian refugees.
OUR RIGHT TO RETURN AND COMPENSATION
IS FIRM AND SACRED. THIS RIGHT IS THE RED LINE THAT WE WILL NOT PERMIT ANYBODY TO
CROSS!
The Popular Service Committees and Palestinian National
Institutions in the Refugee Camps of the Northern West Bank. |
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