JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1995, Page 11

Special Report

The Declaration of Principles Is Just a Beginning

by Hassan Abdelrahman

The Declaration of Principles (DOP) is an interim arrangement, which we consider a step toward the achievement of self-determination for the Palestinian people. Of course, the DOP does not provide the Palestinians with independence, as is our objective. But we believe that it gives us the opportunity to engage with the Israelis in peaceful negotiations that will transform the relationship between the two sides from one of confrontation to partnership in the peace process. These negotiations must lead to the achievement of both Israeli withdrawal from all of the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that eventually will be confederated with Jordan. We believe that the DOP, if implemented correctly, can achieve these goals.

During the last hundred years of Palestinian-Zionist confrontation, the trend was toward an expansion of Zionist control, authority and domination over Palestine and the Palestinians. The DOP reverses this trend. It reduces Israeli control over Palestinian life and territory and gradually expands Palestinian authority over first Gaza and Jericho, and then the rest of the West Bank. The DOP makes provisions for the establishment of an elected Palestinian authority and discussions on settlements, Jerusalem and refugees as per U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The DOP should be seen as the opening of a process, not as a final, ultimate solution. It is one stage in a process that will eventually culminate in ending occupation, establishment of a democratic Palestinian government, an independent Palestinian state and peaceful relations between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

Since the DOP was signed in September 1993, Israel has withdrawn its forces from most of Gaza and Jericho, Palestinian security forces are now in control of law and order in those areas, with the exception of areas left for final status negotiations, and there is a Palestinian National Authority which is expanding and doing well given the circumstances and economic and political constraints. There is a new atmosphere in Gaza, despite the tragic events of Nov. 18.

This confrontation between Islamist militants and Palestinian security personnel demonstrated that the forces which have dominated both the political and social life of Gaza are nervous because the Palestinian Authority is trying to implement a new social life which takes into consideration the religious, economic and political pluralism of the Palestinian people. The Islamists are unhappy with this pluralism and want to impose their own social concepts on the Palestinian people, which has produced confrontation between the legitimate Palestinian Authority and a political party or faction that wants to undermine the Palestinian National Authority and its policies.

Those who call for armed struggle at this time are out of touch with regional and international realities.

The lessons of the past show that the time for armed struggle is over. The PLO, which is now in control of Gaza and Jericho, conducted over the last 30 years one of the most intense national resistance struggles in the history of the Middle East, using both arms and diplomacy. The DOP is the fruit of that struggle and of all the sacrifices which the Palestinian people have made over the years. The PLO is not a group which arrived on the scene only yesterday. What Hamas is saying now, we said in 1965. Those who call for armed struggle at this point in time, given the changes in the international and regional situations, are out of touch with regional and international realities.

The only solution is to look at your objectives—the end of Israeli occupation, creation of a democratic and independent Palestinian state, and peaceful coexistence with all of our neighbors, including Israel—and create a new vision. To go back to what was or what could have been, or what might have been the right position in 1965, or 1975, or 1985, is simply counterproductive. The leadership of the Palestinian people, the PLO, has made the necessary adjustments in its political program and approach which have enabled us to achieve what has been accomplished in the peace process.

At the time of the 1991 Madrid Conference, the PLO was not allowed to participate, Jerusalem was not to be discussed, and the Palestinian delegation was made up only of individuals from the occupied territories. The DOP represents Israel's recognition of the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, its renunciation of a "Greater Israel" from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River, and its acknowledgement of the need to discuss issues like the settlements, Jerusalem and refugees. These are great achievements, though they do not mean we have achieved peace. The DOP is the beginning of the beginning of a process which has to be pursued in order to achieve our national objectives.

Requirements for Success

The success of this process requires three things, which must occur simultaneously. First, Israel must commit itself to an honest and complete implementation of the terms of the DOP and the provisions of U.N. Resolution 242 pertaining to total withdrawal from the occupied territories, including Jerusalem; cease its repressive security polcies; permit elections; and address the question of Palestinian prisoners. Second, the international community must keep its pledges to assist the Palestinian Authority in solving the economic problems of the area through economic development and the construction of Palestinian national institutions vital to a viable economy and a pluralistic political system. Finally, Palestinians have to establish a system of law whereby everyone is held accountable; a democratic system of checks and balances; respect for civil society and institutions; and an absolute respect for the right of the minority to express itself, including its opposition, while vesting the Palestinian Authority with the sole responsibility for the maintenance of law and order. If these three factors come together, we can achieve our goals.

Palestinians from all over the world—any Palestinian and all Palestinians—should come to help in the construction of our future. This is the challenge that we face.