Intervieu with West Bank student leaders 'There is no struggle against the Jews, only against Zionism

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criucisea the rez plan, but for unity's sake endorsed it' What was actually decided about the topics on the agenda and how does it bear on the different trends expressed in the Council?

for example, on Egypt, some diplomatic wording was agreed upon, saying that "we will approach the Egyptian regime to the extent that it will distance itself from Camp David.

The position of the left, stemming from an understanding of the Egyptian regime's character, was against approaching Egypt unless it scraps the Camp David agreement. It was not what was agreed in the end but there is neither unconditional rapprochement but a link between the two.

*On Jordan: The right wing, wishing to enter the settlement framework, stressed that there are 1¼ million Palestinians living in Jordan, that we have a common interest, and that it is better to start some "movement" on the political arena, and then we will see what will be offered If it is not in our interest then we will be able to reject it and nothing will be lost.

There are two difficulties in such a position. it would have appeared before the world as if the Palestinian Liberation Organisation was ready to enter the framework of the imperialist settlement and secondly, it would blur the character of the Jordanian regime, which is in contradiction to the Palestinian liberation movement.

• That's why the left suggested cutting relations with Jordan, explaining that political manoeuvres can bring nothing.

The left completely supported tightening relations with the Jordanian people, to the level of confederation or unity with it -it is part of the aim of the Arab liberation movement to unite the region - but it opposed discussing with the Jordanian regime about ways of implementing the imperialist plans.

In the end the left got through i resolution that confederation with Jordan will be established, but on the basis of an independont Palestinian state.

*On the armed struggle: with all the violence against the Palestinian people, especially in occupied Palestine and Lebanon, it was Clear to all that the Palestinian people has no other choice but to continue the struggle. The question was whether after the loss of the base in Lebanon, the armed struggle should be stressed again.

At the end this was confirmed again to everybody's agreement.

*On the Reagan plan: the right wing raised the idea that we might_neutralise the US it we cooperated with it politically -basing ourselves on Arab support and the connections of the Arab. regimes with the USA. Hence the right wing's activity to establish contacts with the US, through Saudi, « Moroccan, Tunisian or independent Palestinian personalities close to the right wing.

The lett's position is that one should start from a elegr definition of our allies and our enemies - and the US is on the enemy side, together with Israel and Arab reaction.

From this flows a position of total rejection of the Reagan plan, seeing this plan as part of the overall imperialist line in the region, a new shape for the Camp David agreement designed to. confuse the Arab liberation movement and especially the Palestinian revolution.

The conference resolutions endorsed the left's stand and rejected the Reagan plan. Despite Continuing an interview, from our correspondent in Haifa, with leaders of the Progressive Student Action Front; the main grouping of left-wing students in the West Bank. We will follow up in later issues of SO with other left views -including our own this, more room for political manoeuvres was given - but without giving up principled positions. The Reagan plan was rejected because it does not speak of the Palestinian people as a people, or of the Palestinian revolution as representing this people.

Also, Reagan's term of "Freezing Israeli settlements" implies accepting the existing settlements. So the plan has no positive points, and it was wholly rejected.

*On the Fez plan: From the beginning the right wing supported the Fez plan, are even the Fahd plan that collapsed with the first Fez conference. The left opposed this plan as it gives Arab cover to the imperialist plans, gives Arab recognition and security borders to Isracl, and gives up the Palestinians' rights in their land. It does not even demand Israeli recognition of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.

In Fez they spoke of "ensuring security borders to all the states in the region, including the independent Palestinian state" -as if the problem is securing the states, while the state of Israel actually exists and the Palestinian state doesn't, and it is not made clear how and where it will be established.

There are two reasons for rejecting the Fez plan on principle: 1) understanding the character of the Arab regimes that developed the plan - that they are part of the camp of the enemies of the liberation movement; 2) the plan itself will give us nothing, and does not recognise "the right of self determination. It raises in a diplomatic fashion a request for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and does not suggest any real struggle that will "bring about its establishment.

The left criticised the Fez plan publicly in the conference, and completely rejected it, but for unity's sake signed the joint resolution that endorsed this plan.

*On the contacts that took place between the right wing and progressive forces within Isracl: The basic ideas of the left about who constitutes the progressive forces within Isracl differ fundamentally from those of the right wing. This difference stems from the difference in ideology, as the left represents the attitude of the working class, while the right represents the views of the bourgeois class.

Israeli troops in the West Bank The left doesn't see Avneri or Reled and their like as a deep rooted left force that represent the Israeli working class, and argue that it is clear that they have not finally broken their ties with the Zionist movement and its goals in the region. The left advocated discussion with democratic and progressive forces that will serve the interests of the whole working class, Jews and Arabs together:

The final resolution endorsed calls in a general way for discussion with democratic and progresSiVe forces, and each side will translate it according to its views. IT has been said in the world media that the Palestinians in the 1967 occupied territories are more moderate. (The representatives of the occupied territories were prevented by the occupation from attending the conference). This is part of the propaganda war waged by imperialism. There is a plan to distance the Palestinian people from its representatives. They try to use pressure from Israel and Jordan to strengthen some personalities here as a substitute to the PLO.

There was a document signed Lehem), Rashed A-Shama (Raza's mayor), Heimat Al Masri (Jordan's man in Nablus) and some 80 notables from Jordan's supporters, asking the Palestinian National Council to accept the Reagan plan.

But before the opening of the conference they cancelled this document and announced their support to the PLO and acceptance of the resolutions that will be adopted by the council. So the imperialist line to split the Palestinian people failed.

Doesn't that testify to the wishes of the public?

It deals with d group that represents the Palestinian bouriticised th geoisie and is pushed by its interests to play that role. The Palestinian bourgeoisie is subject to a special situation stemming from the prolonged occupation.

On one side they have economic and social links with the Zionist bourgeoisie; and on the other side the continuation of the occupation threatens to finally destroy them as a class. They want to find a formula that will save them from that destruction now, while the PLO sees the gencral situation and the interests of the broad masses.

The PLO understand that the liberation struggle of the Palestinian people is a long and hard struggle - and is not prepared to give imperialism whatever it asks for.

Public opinion supports the PLO - and all its steps - against the occupation.

The target of liberation is a long term one and people here don't believe it could be achieved in two, three or five years. Not because the masses here are weak but because of the whole balance of power in the region, the imperialist policy, Zionism and the reactionary Arab regimes.

Only hard work can change this weakness by changing the situation of the Arab regimes — and only then will it be possible to force imperialism to change its goals in the region, or finally to abandon them, as happened in Vietnam.

Everybody in the West Bank supports the • leadership as it emerged from the National Council's conference. People want the right of self-determination, not Camp David or the Reagan plan.

The policy of the Palestinian bourgeoisie also destroys itself. The Zionist bourgeoisie don't want the Palestinian bourgeoisie as a competitor, it wants the territorieș as its private market. Hence the settlements suggested by the Fez pla for Pale: Mansion London bourgeoisie expose themselves, not only that they are not in the interests of the working class, but they are not in the interest of the Palestinian people as a whole. The positions of the Palestinian left against diplomatic agreements is posed bý many as an extremist position against the Jews...

On the contrary! The Palestinian left today advocate Marxism-Leninism - as a strategy and philosophy - and have finished with all the chauvinist positions that interpreted the struggle as taking place between Jews and Arabs.

There is. a national struggle, for the expression of national identity in a Palestinian, state, but it also has its class character -struggle against imperialist, Zionist and fascist plans. Hence we make a complete differentiation between Zionism and Judaism, and there is no struggle against the Jews, only against Zionism as a colonialist, exploiting and imperialist movement, opposed to the interest of the Arab and Jewish peoples.

We support any struggle of the forces opposed to the Zionist movement, be they Jewish or Arab, of any religion, white or black, for the establishment of a democratic secular state that will develop toward socialism.

We know well that many Jewish workers are deceived today by Zionism. We regard them as people like us, that have been deceived - but might be moressober tomorrow.

That is why it is important that the Jews hear us and understand that we do not want to throw them into the sea - will understand our wishes for a democratic parliament, for socialism, and will see there is a basis for living together.

You should also understand thé situation of the masses in the West Bank, that know them from their daily experience only as soldiers and settlers that come as occupiers, oppressing, beating torturing, etc. People here ask where is the progressive force? And if somebody comes and says he wants peace they ask whether he serves in the army and if he would have shot us on command?

Despite all this we believe there is a basis for discussion, and there are people ready to understand, and a way to struggle together for the future.

Movement stine: c/o 2 iș, Holmlei N16. The Reagan Plan - September 1982.

*Elections. among the Palestir.. ian population of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to prepare for "full autonomy' in these areas.

*A five year transition period in which the Palestinians would take, over control, leading up to a 'final status' of 'self government by the Palestinians in association with Jordan' * Israeli withdrawal from these occupied territories in accordance with UN Resolution 242 adopted after the 1967 war.

*The status of Jerusalem to be opened up for 'negotiations' *Peace treaties to be signed by the Arab states recognising Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.

*An explicit 'ironclad' guarantee of Israel's security.

Fez The Fez Plan - September 1982.

*Israeli withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem.

*The dismantling of Zionist settlements on these territories.

*Guaranteed freedom of worship.

*The recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and of the PLO as the Palestinians' sole legitimate representative.

*The West Bank and Gaza Strip do be placed under UN control for a transitory period.

*The establishment of an inde. pendent Paiestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital.

*A UN guarantee of peace among all states in the region.

*UN guarantee of respect for these principles. mpaigr Carlton Road,

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Socialist Organiser no.129

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