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To:
President
Mahmoud
Abbas
Chair
of
the
Palestine
Liberation
Organization
Executive
Committee
President
of
the
Palestinian
National
Authority
Re:
The
Rights
of
Palestinian
Refugees
and
the
Final
Status
Negotiations
Dear
Mr.
President,
Greetings
of
Return
We,
the
undersigned
Palestinian
refugee
organizations,
civil
society
movements
and
institutions
in
the
Palestinian
homeland
and
in
exile
are
national
organizations
working
to
defend
the
right
of
return.
We
appeal
to
you
now
because
we
are
convinced
that
the
alignment
of
the
official
Palestinian
position
and
the
position
of
the
Palestinian
people
with
regards
to
the
final
status
negotiation
issues
is
of
the
highest
priority.
Foremost
among
these
issues
is
the
cause
of
the
Palestinian
refugees.
We
are
convinced
that
the
alignment
of
popular
and
official
positions
is
the
main
guarantee
of a
strong
Palestinian
position
in
the
current
negotiation
process,
which
is
taking
place
in a
local,
regional
and
global
context
that
jeopardizes
the
national
rights
of
the
Palestinian
people.
In
this
context,
we
are
concerned
in
particular
about
the
rights
of
Palestinian
refugees
and
internally
displaced
persons
to
return
to
their
original
lands
and
properties,
restitution
of
their
homes,
lands
and
properties
and
compensation
for
damages
incurred
over
the
past
60
years.
Based
on
the
fact
that
all
of
these
rights
are
guaranteed
under
international
law,
and
based
on
our
awareness
of
the
enormous
pressures
faced
by
Palestinian
negotiators
and
the
tactics
of
negotiations,
such
as
secrecy
with
regards
to
the
negotiation
proceedings,
we
call
upon
you
to
adopt
a
negotiation
strategy
that
is
based
on
openness
with
the
entirety
of
the
Palestinian
people
-
irrespective
of
their
current
place
of
residence
-
regarding
all
aspects
and
details
of
the
negotiation
process.
Implementation
of
the
Palestinian
refugees'
right
of
return
was
and
continues
to
be
the
main
purpose
for
which
the
Palestine
Liberation
Organization
(PLO)
was
established,
a
purpose
which
forms
the
central
pillar
of
the
PLO's
legitimacy
as
the
sole
legitimate
representative
of
the
Palestinian
people.
Transparency
and
candidness
of
our
representatives
with
all
sectors
of
our
society
will
guarantee
that
our
rights
are
best
defended,
and
strengthen
our
position
in
the
face
of
enormous
pressures.
It
has
been
clear
at
all
stages
of
the
negotiations
that
this
process
aims
to
eliminate
the
core
issue
of
the
Arab/Palestinian
struggle
for
freedom
and
justice:
the
Palestinian
refugees
and
their
rights
of
return
and
restitution.
In
fact,
elimination
of
these
central
Palestinian/Arab
demands
form
the
center-piece
of
both
Israeli
and
US
policies.
It
is
also
no
secret
that
during
the
so-called
“Oslo
Peace
Process”
these
policies
have
employed
insidious
tactics
in
order
to
nullify
these
rights
altogether.
Such
tactics
include
attempts
to
substitute
the
return
and
restitution
of
the
refugees
with
monetary
compensation;
to
reduce
the
number
of
those
entitled
to
exercise
these
rights
from
over
7
million
Palestinian
refugees
and
internally
displaced
persons
to a
tiny
minority,
including
so-called
“hardship
cases”
that
would
be
arbitrarily
defined
by
Israel;
to
suggest
that
the
refugees
return
to
homes
located
in
the
areas
administered
by
the
Palestinian
Authority;
and
other
humiliating
“trade
offs”
whereby
Palestinians
are
expected
to
surrender
the
right
of
refugees
to
return
to
homes,
lands
and
properties
of
origin
in
exchange
for
other
rights
and
demands,
such
as
self-determination,
borders,
the
reclamation
of
Jerusalem
and
removal
of
the
illegal
settlement-colonies.
The
Palestinian
leadership
has
rejected
such
degrading
bargaining
tactics
in
previous
negotiations,
notably
those
known
as
the
second
Camp
David
summit
and
the
Clinton
initiative.
The
late
President
Yasser
Arafat
rejected
these
tactics,
and
he
was
made
to
pay
for
that
with
his
liberty
and
his
life.
Whereas
the
rights
of
return,
restitution
and
compensation
are
enshrined
in
international
law
and
specifically
affirmed
in
UN
General
Assembly
Resolution
194
and
UN
Security
Council
Resolution
237;
Whereas
we
see
that
increasing
US
pressure
aims
to
force
Palestinian
negotiators
to
agree
to
an
obscure
framework
for
a
solution
that
is
to
be
achieved
by
any
means
and
at
the
soonest
date,
and
that
such
a
framework
is
largely
for
internal
US
consumption
in
the
context
of a
US
Presidential
election;
Whereas
it
has
become
clear
that
the
US
administration
is
working
on
other
fronts
to
market
its
obscure
framework
for
a
solution
in
the
September
2008
session
of
the
UN
General
Assembly;
Whereas
we
realize,
as a
result
of
our
movement's
long
and
difficult
experience
with
Israeli
politics,
that
Israeli
political
actors
seek
to
solve
the
internal
Israeli
political
crisis
by
venting
destruction
on
the
Palestinian
front
through
various
policies
and
practices,
all
of
which
work
to
entrench
Israeli
occupation,
colonialism,
and
apartheid,
and
aim
to
attain
international
recognition
of
Israel
as a
'Jewish
State;'
Whereas
Western
and
Israeli
election
platforms
must
not
be
employed
to
put
pressure
on
the
Palestinian
negotiators,
who
should
in
no
way
be a
party
to
the
political
maneuvers
of
US
and
Israeli
political
candidates,
particularly
in
order
to
protect
the
legality,
legitimacy,
and
sanctity
of
Palestinian
national
rights
regardless
of
who
emerges
victorious
in
foreign
elections;
Whereas
we
perceive
the
retreat
of
the
once
principled
European
position,
and
the
transformation
of
this
position
into
one
that
conforms
to
the
US
policy
of
total
complicity
and
support
for
Israel;
Whereas
we
clearly
see
the
weakness
and
inability
of
the
Arab
countries
to
take
action
or
play
any
effective
role;
Whereas
we
witness
the
sharp,
painful
and
unprecedented
deterioration
in
the
internal
Palestinian
political
arena;
Whereas
it
has
become
plain
and
obvious
that
powerful
external
pressures
aim
to
annul
Palestinian
refugee
rights,
particularly
the
right
to
return
to
their
original
lands
and
properties
and
the
restitution
of
these
lands
and
properties;
Whereas
Israel
and
the
US,
according
to
Israeli
officials,
are
intensifying
their
efforts
to
reach
a
framework
for
a
solution
that
is
acceptable
to
both
Israel
and
the
US
and
will
be
viable
regardless
of
the
ruling
party;
Whereas
the
primary
measure
of
the
legitimacy
of
any
solution
remains
the
extent
to
which
it
will
lead
to
the
exercise
of
the
right
of
self-determination
by
the
Palestinian
people,
including
foremost
the
right
of
Palestinian
refugees
to
choose
to
return
to
their
original
homes
and
lands
regardless
of
their
current
place
of
refuge,
We
approach
you
with
this
statement
based
on
our
strong
desire
to
chart
a
way
forward
that
is
built
on
the
highest
levels
of
clarity
and
candidness
with
the
Palestinian
people;
a
way
forward
that
aims
to
strengthen
the
Palestinian
position
in
this
sensitive
stage
of
the
Palestinian
struggle;
a
way
forward
that
ensures
that
any
framework
for
a
solution
will
include
the
following
principles
in
clear
and
immutable
language
:
-
The rights of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons to return, restitution and compensation are fundamental rights under international law and relevant UN resolutions – particularly UN General Assembly Resolution 194 and UN Security Council Resolution 237. The content of these rights is non-negotiable irrespective of the manner in which they will be exercised;
-
The right of return is an individual right held by every Palestinian refugee and internally displaced person. This right is passed on from one generation to the next, based on the individual's choice on whether or not to return, an inalienable and indivisible right, and not affected by any bilateral, multilateral, or international treaty or agreement. Any such agreement must respect the fundamental precepts and principles of international law;
-
The right of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons to return is a collective right that is not limited to one group or another, and it is an integral part of the Palestinian right of self-determination;
-
The right of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons to return is not subject to referendum.
May
you
remain
steadfast
in
our
struggle
for
freedom
and
dignity
Drafted:
August
2008
Signed:
-
194 Association (Syria)
-
Abassiya Association (Palestine)
-
Abnaa Al-Balad Center for the Defense of the Right of Return (Syria)
-
Aidun Group (Lebanon)
-
Aidun Group (Syria)
-
Al-Awda Palestine Network (Holland)
-
Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition (North America)
-
Arab Cultural Forum (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Arab Liberation Front
-
Arab Palestinian Front
-
Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Internally Displaced (Palestine)
-
Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights (Palestine)
-
Beit Nabala Association (Palestine)
-
Bisan Association (Syria)
-
Coalition of Right of Return Defense Committees (Jordan)
-
Coalition of Right of Return Defense Committees (Jordan)
-
Committee for the Rights of Palestinian Women (Syria)
-
Confederation of Right of Return Committees (Europe: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, France, Holland, Poland, Finland)
-
Coordinating Committee of Palestinian Organizations Working in Lebanon (Lebanon)
-
Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine (Palestine)
-
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
-
Democratic Palestine Committee
-
Depopulated Towns and Villages Associations (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Farah Heritage Society (Syria)
-
Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (Palestine)
-
Higher Follow-up Committee on Prisoners (Palestine)
-
Higher National Committee for the Defense of the Right of Return (Palestine)
-
Inevitable Return Assembly (Syria)
-
Islamic Jihad Movement
-
Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas]
-
Istiqlal Youth Union (Lebanon)
-
Istiqlal Youth Union (Syria)
-
Ittijah: Union of Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations (Palestine)
-
Jafra Youth Center (Syria)
-
Jimzo Association (Palestine)
-
Lajee Center, Aida Camp (Palestine)
-
National Assembly of of Palestinian Civil Society Organizations (Palestine)
-
National Committee to Commemorate the Martyr Ahmad Al-Shuqairy (Jordan)
-
National Nakba Commemoration Committee (Palestine)
-
Palestine Democratic Union [Fida]
-
Palestine House Educational and Cultural Center (Canada)
-
Palestine Liberation Movement [Fatah]
-
Palestine Remembered (USA)
-
Palestine Right of Return Coalition (Global)
-
Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (Palestine)
-
Palestinian Civil Society Coordinating Committee in Palestine and Abroad (Global)
-
Palestinian Liberation Front
-
Palestinian National Democratic Movement (Palestine)
-
Palestinian National Initiative
-
Palestinian People's Party
-
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front
-
Palestinian Refugee Rights Defense Committee (Balata Camp, Palestine)
-
Palestinian University Professors Union (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Palestinian Women's Grassroots Organization (Syria)
-
Palestinian Youth Democratic Union (Syria)
-
Palestinian Youth Organization (Syria)
-
Palestinian Youth Struggle Union (Syria Branch)
-
People's Assembly of the Towns and Villages Depopulated in 1948 (Palestine)
-
Platform of Associations in Solidarity with Palestine (Switzerland)
-
Popular Committees to Defend the Right of Return (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
-
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command
-
Refugee and Right of Return Committee (Syria)
-
Refugee Camp Popular Committees (West Bank & Gaza, Palestine)
-
Refugee Executive Office (Palestine)
-
Right of Return committee (Switzerland)
-
Ruwwad Cultural Center (Aida Camp, Palestine)
-
Salameh Association (Palestine)
-
Secular Democratic State Group (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Union of Right of Return Committees (Syria)
-
Union of Women's Activity Centers, West Bank Refugee Camps (Palestine)
-
Union of Youth Activity Centers, Refugee Camps (Palestine)
-
Vanguard for the Popular Liberation War [Sa'iqa]
-
Women's Activity Centers (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Yaffa Charitable Fund (Jordan)
-
Yaffa Cultural Center (Balata Camp, Palestine)
-
Youth Assembly (Gaza, Palestine)
-
Youth Struggle Union (Lebanon)
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