PRISONER and Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi has emphasised the need to accelerate the reform and development of the PLO; to hold the National Council elections in which all factions participate; to hold presidential and legislative elections in an atmosphere of unity, cohesion and solidarity; to reject internal violence and media incitement; to stop violations of human rights; and to respect the rule of law, press and media freedom, and public and individual freedom.
Barghouthi also called for a more effective way to fight corruption and one that will extend to those corrupt figures that, to this day, have never been held accountable.
He stressed the importance of transparency and integrity, of respect for the people’s right to have their funds used properly, and to hold to account and punish those who violate the trust and responsibility that they have been given.
He said that the peace process has failed and is over and that there is no longer any point in making desperate attempts to breathe life into a dead body.
He also called on the PNA and Fatah to stop spreading illusions that the peace process can form a base upon which to build, and he reiterated the need to move towards the new national Palestinian strategy that has been so emphasised and for which so many have called.
He added in his message: ‘The time has come to adopt this strategy and to carry it out to the end, relying primarily on our people’s resources and the younger generations, and to consider 2012 a year of a wide-ranging, peaceful and popular resistance against the settlements, aggression, Judaisation of Jerusalem, the siege and blockade.
‘We must continue our bid to obtain membership for the state of Palestine in all international forums and in the UN, and we must not retreat under the pressure exerted by the United States and Israel.
‘We must continue our call for a wider international boycott of Israel economically, politically, diplomatically, militarily, and on the media level, so that all forms of cooperation with it cease, as well as increasing and expanding the pace of boycotts of Israeli goods by emptying the Palestinian markets of these products.’
In his message marking the 47th anniversary of the start of the Palestinian revolution, he said: ‘I would like on this occasion, dear hearts, to send the warmest greetings and gratitude to our great people at home, in exile, and in the diaspora, as well as to the masses in our Arab and Islamic nations, and all the free people, friends, and those who express solidarity with our people’s struggle.
‘I greet with reverence and gratitude the martyrs of our great people and those of our Arab and Islamic nations, led by the martyr leader and symbol Yasser Arafat and his founder companions, spearheaded by the prince of martyrs Abu-Jihad.
‘I would also like to congratulate the leadership, cadres, members and supporters of the Fatah movement and all its popular organisations everywhere.’
He stressed that this anniversary falls at a time when Israel and its government is conducting ‘an unprecedented war and aggression against our people and our land that is largely aimed at the Judaisation of Jerusalem and the destruction and elimination of its Arab, Muslim, and Christian identity.
‘The occupation targets the city’s holy sites, neighbourhoods, and the residents and their homes. In addition, the building of settlements is continuing at a pace that is faster and greater than it has been since the beginning of the occupation in 1967, in an attempt to abort the project of the independent Palestinian state on the land occupied in 1967.
‘This is against the backdrop of the total international failure to halt Israel or to force it to stop building settlements, to end the occupation, and to accept the provisions of international legitimacy.’
Barghouthi lauded the Palestinian reconciliation agreements that have been reached, calling on all parties, factions and leaderships to work sincerely and earnestly to implement the terms of the reconciliation agreement on the ground, using the Palestinian Prisoners’ Document on national reconciliation as a guide, programme and common ground for all.
He also called on the Palestinian factions and leaderships to make their reconciliation with the Palestinian people, noting that reconciliation between the factions is not enough and will not provide the real solutions because ‘the master, judge, and arbiter is and will remain our great people, the creator of revolutions and uprisings, and the maker of our legendary steadfastness in the face of occupation and aggression.’
He stressed the importance of preserving the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and of continuing the struggle to convert it into an independent, fully sovereign state.
He called for a review of many of the PNA’s functions in order to achieve and boost national steadfastness in the face of the occupation and settlements, and he urged support for the peaceful popular resistance and for renouncing all forms of cooperation with the occupation.
He noted that work is needed to strengthen the economy and to find ways to offer steadfastness and support to the groups that are affected by the occupation, particularly the people in occupied Jerusalem; the various organisations, villages and communities that are affected by the wall; as well as the families of martyrs, prisoners, the unemployed, the wounded and graduates.
He also called for the People’s Committees to be expanded in all locations in order to counter the occupation, settlement and aggression.
He sent greetings and thanks to the revolutionary Arab peoples that have achieved victory calling on the new leaders, parties, governments and the masses to adopt a new policy towards the Palestinian cause based on providing political, economic, media and financial support to Palestine and to the struggle of its people.
And he asked them to support the unity of the people and their national reconciliation and resistance against the occupation, as well as to promote democracy in Palestine by using their influence and weight in favour of the Palestinian cause and people and in support of their just struggle for freedom, return and independence.
He also stressed the importance of the great national achievement made by the release of hundreds of activists in the exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, and reiterated that the duty of the PNA, PLO and the factions is to work to free all prisoners and detainees and to develop a comprehensive national strategy to achieve this national goal.
He called on Fatah members and all its supporters who embrace its principles, constants, and programmes to take the initiative and lead the peaceful popular resistance.
He urged them to be deeply engaged in this in every location and arena, saying: ‘Since the start of the Palestinian revolution, Fatah has taken the leading position in the PLO, in the establishment of the PNA, and in both blessed intifadas. Today, Fatah must be at the helm of the peaceful popular resistance.’
In his message, he declared: ‘As I turn to the Palestinian people on this anniversary, from which we draw strength and determination and all the values of sacrifice and absolute faith in the justice of our cause, we remember the pure blood of our martyrs and the pain and suffering of our people throughout the country, in refugee camps, and in the diaspora, and we promise our great people to keep the banner flying until the occupation has ended; our independent, fully sovereign state, with Jerusalem as its capital, is established; the refugees have returned to their homes; and all our prisoners and detainees are released.’
