1

Palestinian National Liberation Movement

Fatah The Political Platform

(Ratified by the Sixth General Congress of the Movement on August 8, 2009)

INTRODUCTION

Preparations for the launching of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) started in the mid-fifties of the last century as a result of the harbingers of a new reality after the Nakba of 1948.They were affected by the Arab winds of determination and resistance starting by the Egyptian Revolution of July 1952, to the beginnings of the armed Palestinian struggle led by Abu Jihad in Gaza in 1954, to the formation of a Palestinian guerrilla force in Gaza under the supervision of the Egyptian leadership . The winds of revolution and liberation movements swept through Algeria , Vietnam, and other parts of Asia and Africa , adding another important factor. Such developments created a fertile ground for the launching of Fatah Movement in the last quarter of 1957. Realizing the importance of mobilizing the Palestinian people of all classes , sectors and whereabouts , Fatah formulated its program of struggle, avoiding class, factional, sectarian and regional conflicts. Fatah focused on restoring the Palestinian identity to its land and people , and on regaining the independence of the Palestinian will , while deepening its association with the Arab nation , seeking its support and protection . Fatah then began the preparation to launch the armed struggle through its military wing ; Al-Assifa.

The launching of armed struggle on the first of January 1965 constituted a real birth of the contemporary Palestinian resistance movement after the catastrophe (Nakba). It enabled Fatah to restore respect to the identity of the Palestinian people and its national personality, to draw all attention to the Palestinian just cause , and raising the status of Fatah among liberation movements all over the world . The armed revolution represented the spearhead for the Liberation of Palestine . It became a revolution with a Palestinian face , an Arab heart and a universal human dimension. Fatah emerged out of the womb of suffering to convert the image of the Palestinian people from refugees seeking humanitarian aid to a people with

national rights that deserve to be supported by the international community and

international legitimacy. The defeat of the 1967 war and the occupation of the rest of Palestine i.e. West Bank and the Gaza Strip pushed Fatah to escalate the armed struggle inside our occupied country . Yasser Arafat (Abu Ammar) and his

2

companions entered the occupied homeland to consolidate the underground

organization of Fatah, to expand it and to build new cells . The Karamah battle of March 1968 constituted a symbol of a legendary Palestinian resistance and increased the capability of Fatah and the resistance movement against the Israeli

occupation, but the occupation stayed , and expanded through settlement and colonization.

The Palestinian anger blew up in the face of the occupation , and the stones of the Intifada broke out on December 9, 1987 to shake the ground under the feet of the occupiers. On November 15, 1988 the Nineteenth Palestinian National Council declared the establishment of the State of Palestine , which was recognized by 52 countries within ten days following its proclamation. Para in August 1990, the Gulf War broke out , the Soviet Union collapsed later . As a result , we lost a true friend who was always on our side ; in addition to the Arab loss in Iraq, and in the Gulf . The emergence of a uni -polar world, with the USA as the only power made things more difficult while creating new opportunities. As a result, it became necessary to review our interim strategy to explore these opportunities to move towards peace , which led to the start of the peace process and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority. This opened the doors to the liberation of Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which allowed us to build institutions of the future independent state, and to achieve international recognition. It also led to the creation of political , economic and trade relations with foreign countries . In addition, many internal achievements were made in the political, constitutional and economic fields . One of the most important advantages of establishing the Palestinian Authority was the return of 200.000 Palestinians to their homeland thus putting an end to their displacement and eviction . However, there were disadvantages and failures resulting from the formation of the Palestinian

Authority.

In 1996, a short term Intifada , known as the TunnelIntifada erupted following the creation by Israel of a tunnel under Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. The failure of the Camp David negotiations to reach a permanent settlement by the end of the year 2000 led to a stalemate in the peace process, and led to the eruption of the Al AqsaIntifada . During the Intifada the Israeli siege was intensified, settlements escalated, and resistance stepped up. The invading Israeli forces raided and reoccupied the entire West Bank , besieged Abu Ammar , our leader , and conspired to kill him . Yasser Arafat maintained his steadfastness as a leader and refused to surrender . After two years of legendary steadfastness in the face of the siege, numerous assassination attempts, and after an Israeli draconian blockade on theMoqataa , the presidential compound in Ramallah, our leader and mentor,

3

Yasser Arafat , passed away on November 11, 2004. His departure as a knight , commander and martyr created a great shock.

Fatah chose one of its symbols to lead the march in very difficult circumstances, and it was Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazen) who assumed the leadership. The Israeli siege continued and settlement construction intensified. President Abu Mazen was elected in January 1995, to succeed Abu Ammar . He announced in January 2006, new legislative elections . Hamas won . This was followed by an Israeli and international siege. Consequently, a national unity government was formed in early 2007 which partially succeeded in lifting the siege . Nevertheless, Hamas conducted a military coup in Gaza leading to the takeover of the PNA institutions . It imposed a strict oppressive military regime that ended the democratic process in Gaza and separated the Gaza Strip from the West Bank.

After its coup d tat Hamas continued in deepening the rift between Gaza and the West Bank . It conducted a policy excluding all its opponents , and it established alternative and parallel institutions to the PNA ones , it used tools to suppress freedom in order to fight Fatah, and other Palestinian factions. Hamas also adopted its own project to replace our Palestinian national program.

Hamas priority was to tighten itsgrip over the Gaza Strip , regardless of the negative repercussions on Palestinian national unity and the interests of our people, especially in the Gaza Strip . Despite the truce (Hudnah) reached between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli army waged an aggression against our people in Gaza at the

beginning of 2009. The aggression caused huge destruction and led to the martyrdom of hundreds, and to the wounding and injury of thousands of our people in the Gaza Strip . Israel tightened the siege around Gaza, and blocked all attempts at its reconstruction.

Fatah remained faithful to its principles and worked through the Authority to

provide support for Gaza . It was always ready to engage seriously in any unification process to restore cohesion and unity to our people and our authority , preserving the political legitimacy of the PLO and democratic legitimacy through elections. Fatah responded to the Arab initiatives , the latest of which was the Egyptian initiative in order to put an end to the rift and restore unity . Egypt continued its endeavors to ensure success to the Palestinian national dialogue in

Cairo, a dialogue that we fully support and strive for its success. We signed the Egyptian paper, reached through a year of Egyptian sponsored dialogue. Hamas

did not.

The American policy in the region played an important role in the deterioration of

the situation in the region . During the Bush Administration it endorsed and

4

supported Israeli aggressions , and settlement activities. Moreover, the Bush administration used excessive force in dealing with Arab and Islamic countries , which led to the destruction of Iraq, Afghanistan and South Lebanon. With the success of Barak Obama and the Democratic Party during the last

American elections , the winds of change blew over the USA. The defeat of the Republican candidate was partly the result of the sweeping financial storm

unleashed during the last days of the Bush Administration , which hit the global economy as a whole . The Obama administration announced its willingness to engage in dialogue with its friends and opponents . The world is heading towards more pluralism, due partly to the economic , military and political growth of Russia, China and the European Union. This might lead to a greater commitment to international law. It may reduce the use of excessive force by super powers which suppressed peoples and deprived them of their freedom and independence . President Obama expressed his readiness to play a positive role in our cause and in the region in general, andhasundertakenacriticalreviewofBushspolicy in our region. He called on Israel to halt settlement construction and adopt the two states solution. Yet, that will not bring us much benefit unless our Movement does recover, reconstructing its ranks , and the Palestinian split and Arab weakness are brought to an end . Building Fatah , its regeneration , unity, and leadership of a unified Palestinian people and its endeavor to establish a firm Arab stand is the

way to draw benefit from the global winds of change and to take advantage of the

difference between the policy of George Bush and the emerging policy of the

current US President.

Gaza is still suffering from the Israeli siege ; lack of fuel , electricity, agricultural and industrial production inputs , and even food stuffs , clothing, and medicine. As Israel continues a policy of shelling , incursions, and assassinations , Gaza is deprived of security and stability . It also suffers from the lack of unity with the homeland and remains deprived of free movement for people and trade . The West Bank is still under Israeli occupation and its space is shrinking by the cancerous

growth of settlements , and the Apartheid Wall surrounding its cities and villages , especially around Jerusalem; the capital of our country. Jerusalem is threatened by de-arabization, and ethnic cleansing. The Israeli government continues to reject the Palestinianpeopleslegitimaterights , and to deepen its occupation without ambiguity or disguise . Our heroic prisoners are huddled in Israeli jails, while our homeland lacks national unity, democratic legitimacy and security.

This dark Palestinian picture should motivate us to further hard work and struggle, but not to grief or capitulation. Our people are still willing to sacrifice for their freedom and independence . They endure with stunning steadfastness the most

5

difficult circumstances without any indication of giving up any single grain of the

soil of their homeland , their future independent state , or their inalienable rights. They are steadfast in their homes and refuse to migrate . They grow and reproduce to preserve the Arab character of the land and its Palestinian identity.

On the other hand , Israel will not enjoy permanent safety and stability while a just peace is not achieved. Two thirds of Israels citizens are not sure; when asked in a recent poll , whether Israel without peace will continue to exist in the next sixty years. The world still recognizes our rights, and believes that security and stability in the region will never be achieved unless our cause is being settled in a fair and

acceptable way. Our cause still constitutes a main driving force for Arab and Muslim nations.

As a National Liberation Movement and a Palestinian revolution we 10 have acquired experience in addition to the experience of developing and building state

institutions. All this expertise contributed to the training of cadres capable of learning from our mistakes and building on our achievements.

Yet, our pioneering Movement finds itself facing dramatic challenges and serious changes that threaten the collapse of its national program to establish the

Palestinian democratic state and to retrieve the usurped rights. Our Movement is facing the threat of losing what it dearly paid for : Thousands of martyrs led by great men including Central Committee members led by the great martyr Yasser

Arafat our founding leader. Thousands of cadres of our best young people continue tofilltheoccupiers prisons, and thousands of our beloved handicapped sons and daughters suffer patiently their wounds to make Palestine live . Those who sincerely believe in the Palestinian liberation program of their Movement are still

full of hope that their Movement will recover from its wounds and tackle the aches

and pains of this phase.

Our Sixth Congress, its resolutions and the speech of President Mahmoud Abbas at the opening session of the Congress constitute a new take off , through which our Movement restores its well-being and effectiveness . The Congress has also regenerated our leadership and strengthened our unity guided by our principles and

democratic legitimacy.

The Palestinian masses are waiting for this Political Program to provide them with

hope in the future and to renew confidence in the elected leadership, its ability to safeguard the national project and its readiness to carry on the struggle with

wisdom and courage until victory.

6

Strategic Principles and Interim Policies of the Fatah Movement

The Fatah Movement broke out from the womb of its people and nation, a National Liberation Movement aiming at revolutionizing , unifying and organizing the Palestinian people. It aims at liberating ourpeopleswillinordertoleadthecausewith their own hands and push it from inertia to movement, to put an end to occupation and colonization, and work for the return of the refugees to their homeland.

Fatah designed a national strategy that governed its vision , priorities and course over half a century . Yet, it continued setting interim programs based on its principles and its strategy, taking into account that the world in which it operates is an ever-changing world that carries continuous developments on the Palestinian, Israeli, Arab and international levels . These developments affect the elements of strength and weakness of the Movement . It should take advantage of such developments and opportunities, while avoiding or minimizing their risks.

The objectives of the Fatah Movement and its strategy shaped its style and

characterized its personality , compared to other movements and parties of the region. Some of these movements were opportunists who changed their character , objectives and means in the light of each development , or change of the power equations. Some others remained static and did not evolve in the face of tremendous international developments which led eventually to their fall , shrinkage, and eventual disappearance from the scene . It is said that the only constant in the world is change , but the ability of any political movement to survive and continue does not depend only on its ability to cope with or adapt to

changes, but on its will to create change, to lead it and make advantage of it; that is to act , and not only to react . The periods of revival in Fatah were those during which the Movement took the initiative in action and change , while the periods of its regression were those when it succumbed to external changes and reaction to them. When a revolutionary movement initiates change, it always retains constant elements of its objectives and style ; elements that characterize its personality , and guarantees its continuity, in order to preserve the loyalty of its members and their affiliation, and the support of its public.

A revolutionary movement regenerates and corrects its mistakes , overcomes its shortcomings and consolidates the elements of its strength. It takes such steps while its eyes are fixed on its strategic objectives and the higher interests of its

people. That is the mystery of the Fatah Movement and how it succeeded in maintaining its leading role as a vanguard of the Palestinian national struggle for

half a century.

7

In its principles , the Movement avoided the adoption of a unilateral ideology, considering itself as a national liberation movement representing the people in all of its sects , classes and sectors . Fatah opened the door to all three political and intellectual tendencies represented in the three main modern Arab renaissance

streams: Islamist, nationalist and leftist. Those tendencies merged within the Fatah Movement to create a Palestinian national revolutionary thought steeped in the

Arab and Islamic thought, enriched and developed through practice and struggle on the ground. At the same time , the democratic and militant content of our doctrine were deepened.

The objectives , principles and methods stipulated in the first chapter of the basic law of Fatah remain the key elements of our Movement and part of the intellectual

and political entity of our people . It is also the original charter of the Movement which determined the foundation for the launching of the contemporary Palestinian

revolution and the liberation of our people from the yoke of colonization and

racism. It constitutes a guide and illumination for which thousands of martyrs, wounded and prisoners sacrificed. It is also a national and political contract upon which generations agree, untilourpeoples right to self-determination is restored.

8

On Strategy

The objectives identified in Fatah Movements strategy can be summarized as follows:

1. Liberating the homeland , ending its settler occupation and attaining the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people: The liberation of the homeland is the central axis of the Fatah Movements struggle, including the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, as an inalienable right. This right cannot be lost by attrition since it was recognized and confirmed by the international community. This includes the right to establish its own sovereign and independent state with Jerusalem as its capital on the liberated

Palestinian land occupied by Israel since June 4, 1967, the right of the refugees to return and to compensation, based on the United Nations Charter and the UN General Assembly Resolution No .194. In the short run , it focuses on confronting the settlements, the judaization of Jerusalem, the siege imposed on our territories , putting an end to the occupation of our cities and villages as a step towards achieving our strategic goals.

Fatah launched armed struggle , and other methods of legitimate resistance to liberate the homeland. Such a right is recognized by international law as long as the occupation of our land remains . The Movement adopts a just and comprehensive peace as a strategic objective to be reached by various means, but it does not accept stalemate as an alternative . It adopts struggle with various tools as a means to retrieve our inalienable rights.

The movement believes that its contradiction with the occupation is the main

contradiction, while all other conflicts are of secondary nature . It believes that the rights of the Palestinian people do not expire by attrition i.e by the passage of time, while they rise and mature by struggle. Every part of the Palestinian land is sacred and important, with special priority to Jerusalem the eternal capital of our country , its jewel and symbol ; the first of the two Qiblas, and the center of devotion of monotheistic believers in the whole world.

2. Forms and Methods of Struggle: Struggle emanates from the right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation, to struggle against settlement, expulsion, displacement and racial discrimination; a right guaranteed by international law. Our revolutionary struggle was launched by armed struggle against the military usurpation of our land , but it was never confined to it . Its tools and methods were diverse and included peaceful resistance as was practiced by the first Intifada ; demonstrations, sit-ins, civil

9

disobedience, confronting settler gangs, political, media, legal, and diplomatic struggle including negotiations with the occupation authority. Consequently, the Palestinian peoples right to practice armed resistance against the military occupation of their land remains a constant right confirmed by international law

and international legality. However, the selection of struggle methods, in time and space depends on the capabilities of our people and our Movement. It also relies on local and external developments, on the calculation of power equations, the necessities of safeguarding the Movement and the peoplesability to carry on the revolution, and sustain steadfastness . and the presence of real opportunities for peace. InFatahsprinciples ; ends do not justify all means . There are means that contradict in the long run our overall objectives especially that Fatah has posited

since its inception humane solutions that ensure the future coexistence between

Muslims, Christians and Jews in one democratic state . Fatah always rejected targeting civilians anywhere. It also rejected transferring the fight abroad; it opposed practices of arms abuse and domestic chaos. It respected international law and abided by its requirements.

3. Independent National Entity and the Palestinian Identity: The Strategy of Fatah is based on the Palestinian people and their struggle; and the fact of having no substitute to their homeland . Therefore, the Movement deployed efforts in all fields in order to confirm the national independent entity of the

Palestinian people. This identity constitutes the basis for our right in our country and for our rejection of forced settlement in neighboring Arab countries , or in any alternative homeland. The Movement believes that the confirmation of the national character requires giving priority to maintaining attachment to the masses , to the homeland and its basic social components.

The attachment to the Palestinian identity is an integral part of its affiliation to the

Arab Islamic civilization and the opening towards humanity. Therefore, the Movement has always emphasized its essential identification as a National

Palestinian Movement, which determines its own course and priorities Para Fatah was launched in a period when Palestinians joined various nationalist or religious

parties and identified themselves with internationalist ideologies, which sometimes led to the loss of their original identity , and led them to fall in the trap of subordination to external powers and schemes. Therefore, since its inception Fatah functioned as a vanguard and protector of the national project since its inception on

the basis of the independence of its national identity , its national program for the liberation of the Palestinian land , and the establishment of the Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital . The Movement struggled in the most difficult circumstances to safeguard the independence of its national Palestinian decision

making.

10

4. Palestinian National Unity The Palestinians are a genuine people with a clear identity and clear affiliation to

their homeland. They maintained their attachment to this identity and to their homeland through their national struggle for almost a century , aiming to liberate their land from occupation and settlement. The Palestinian Arab people constitute one political unit whether at home, in the West Bank and its heart Jerusalem, in the Gaza Strip, behind the Green Line or in the Diaspora.

The Palestinian people were exposed to a historic plight that led to their expulsion

and dispersion , pushing a large part of our people to live in Refugee camps at home and abroad. Yet, the Palestinian people kept their attachment to their unity at all times and everywhere . Our people ; Muslims and Christians are loyal to their beliefs and preserve their common heritage and preserve their national unity. Palestinians wherever they are, at home or abroad , in the villages, in the cities and refugee camps and whatever their belief is , are one and indivisible people . Their national unity is the source of their strength and steadfastness . Therefore, the Materialization of this unity and its consolidation is a strategic goal for the

Movement. Fatah shouldered the responsibility for the protection of the Palestinian people, everywhere. Martyr Abu Ammar played a distinct role in the support and relief of our people, including those who were deported across the Libyan and Iraqi borders.

Fatah rejects and condemns Palestinian infighting and considers the spilling of Palestinian blood a red line , a crime and a sin . Fatah struggled for the unity of the Palestinian people and its political representation within the Palestine Liberation

Organization (PLO) and continues to work for its representation encompassing all factions, parties and independent national personalities.

5. Our Arab Affiliation and Arab Relations: The Palestinian people are Arabs and constitute an inseparable part of the Arab

nation, befriending its friends and confronting its enemies . Freedom loving Arabs struggled with us and many of them joined our Movement . Our Arab nation provided us with support and protection , and joined us in the liberation struggle sacrificing the blood of its sons . It believes that the colonial settlement project which targeted us targets the Arab nation as well . Fatah-Arab relations, their development and preservation are a strategic goal and a source of strength for our

people despite Arab differences . This was expressed in the literature of the Movement and its slogan: Fatah has a Palestinian face, an Arab heart and depth, and the liberation ofPalestineisanationalArabobligation.

11

The Movement struggled to achieve full membership of the Palestine Liberation

Organization (PLO) in the Arab League ; and insists that the Palestinian state will continue to be an active member of this Arab Organization , abiding by its decisions. We entertain the best fraternal political relations with the Arab states . Yet, we do not engage in partial alliances with some Arab countries against other Arab countries. We recognize the special importance of the adjacent neighboring Arab countries , but we strive to maintain the best relations with everyone . We endeavor to achieve Arab unity but we dontaccepttrusteeshiporsubordination to anyone. As a result we had to enter into costly confrontations in defense of our independent Palestinian decision.

6. Islam and Divine Religions in the Strategy of Fatah Palestine is the holy land of monotheistic divine religions, and Islam is the religion of the majority of the Palestinian people , which is the official religion of the Authority and the State. Christianity enjoys the same holiness and respect . Fatah does not allow any discrimination between the Palestinians on the basis of religion, ideology or the strength of their belief . We respect the freedom of worship for all, including Jews . Since its inception our Movement called for a democratic non -sectarian state for Muslims, Christians and Jews.

The Movement is inspired by Islam and other divine religions from which it

derives its spiritual and religious values . It belongs intellectually to the Arab Islamic culture. It is the Movement of a people which maintains spiritual and moral values and the belief in God, His Prophets and the sacred Books . Fatah Movement does not accept sectarianism, rejects fanaticism and extremism , and believes that the divine religions promote fraternity, tolerance and coexistence among nations.

7. The Role of International Relations in Fatah Strategy: There are no permanent international alliances and relations. International relations are based on common interests , visions, and power equations. They change as a result of changes in these variables. These relations are also based on international law, human rights and international agreements.

The Movement seeks to develop and improve its international relations , to widen the circle of its friends and allies , based on its strategic commitment to International Law , to UN legitimacy and UN Charter. Fatahs exercise ofinternational relations is based on its being a national liberation movement fighting

to end the Israeli occupation . It is also based on the protections guaranteed by international humanitarian law and in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention of

1949 for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War , which includes the

12

protection of civilians under foreign occupation . Our struggle is also based on the provisions of international law that affirmed the right of people to resist

occupation, and on their right to struggle for their freedom , independence and self-determination.

Our movement pays special attention to the United Nations it works to re-activate

theUNsrole in the Palestinian cause . International law establishes protection for the Palestinian people from the attempts of the occupation authority to seclude us

and consider us as alocalissue, or a domestic insurgency to be dealt with away from international humanitarian law and its protection.

Fatah believes that the international community supports people struggling for

their freedom and independence, while maintaining their unity, and upholding their rights under international law and its protection Fatah realizes the risks of the

current uni polar international system which led to bloody wars focused on our

region, destroying Iraq and Afghanistan , spreading sectarian and ethnic contradictions, and using brute force at the expense of the rule of law . However, this system was subjected to military failures, and finally to economic defeats. This development heralds a multi-polar world system which should bring back

equilibrium into International relations and provides us with a greater opportunity

to regain international legal support and action in favor of our rights.

8. Other Distinct Features of Fatah Strategy Fatah adopts democracy and tolerance , rejecting extremism and terrorism in all its forms, especially state terrorism and it deals in moderation with political realism . These features characterized its style, and helped to rally the masses and assisted in widening the circle of its friends and allies . These attributes are exercised within the commitment to its declared principles and its readiness to struggle to achieve

its objectives . Therefore, they form an important ingredient of its strategic principles. RationalisminFatahsconceptdoesnot mean giving up its principles , but using reason and scientific thinking in choosing the means to achieve these objectives. Moderation does not mean cowardice and evading problems , but the rejection of extremism , and the attempt by some to cover failure through exaggeration and imprudence . Democracy does not mean bowing to American matrices or yielding to wrong or misleading concepts , but by the constant return to the public , broadening the base of its participation in decision -making, refusing dictatorship and the rule of autocracy. We will be mistaken if we ever agree to the course of a one man rule.

Fatah rejects bigotry ; and strives to achieve social harmony and national unity . Fatah has committed itself to progress , and modernization , not as an act of

13

submission to globalization and alienation , but to enable our people to achieve their objectives facing a scientifically and technically advanced adversary , and to build a modern state facing serious challenges and obstacles.

Fatah adopted these commitments because it is a movement of the entire

Palestinian people, and not an elitist party . Based on its long term analysis of the situation it decided to operate away from opportunism and adventurism; believing in democracy and unity and abiding by dialogue and moderation . That is why Fatah proposed a progressive vision of the future to the Israelis , and rejected extremism and terrorism.

However, distinction must be made between terrorism , which targets civilians for aggressive political objectives such as state terrorism practiced by Israel against

our people, and the legitimate resistance against foreign occupation , andpeoples struggle for their freedom, independence and self -determination against racism , and all forms of foreign domination and hegemony , within the confines of international law.

The Movement maintains its commitment to the human values of justice , peace, human rights, equality, dialogue between individuals and groups and between cultures and civilizations . It strongly supports the objectives and message of the United Nations and its specialized agencies emphasizing the role of culture and

education in the consolidation of international peace and security , as well as its commitment to the World Declaration on Human Rights issued by the United

Nations.

These are the constant visions and obligations that form the strategy of Fatah

Movement. This set of objectives and perspectives represents the specific style for Fatah, its distinct personality and its strategic course of struggle , in dealing with internal and external changes . Fatah lives in a permanently changing world and deals with it through interim programs based on its strategic political platforms

approved by its general congresses. This requires a clear identification of the tasks of the next stage.

14

Tasks of the Coming Stage

Introduction:

Fatah emerges from its sixth Congress to lead the Palestinian national struggle in

the coming stage . Fatah believes that the new phase of the Palestinian national struggle, will involve major difficulties and grave threats to the future of our national cause. The coming stage looks more complicated and more dangerous due to a combination of diverse and multiple external and internal factors . Foremost among these is the US alignment with Israel, particularly during the mandate of the previous US Administration. The Arab split, and the internal Palestinian rift inflict serious damage to our cause , to our homeland , and to our ability to confront the occupation. We still live in a stage of national liberation with all its requirements , but we will not be prisoners of rigid forms . We are also committed to prepare our institutions in order to build our sovereign independent state. Blending the requirements of liberation with those of state building create complications that

must be resolved with wisdom and creativity.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Fatah realizes that it will face the challenges and will succeed in the coming stage

as it successfully did in previous stages . Fatah possesses elements of strength to enable it to proceed with confidence towards the future such as: 1. A People committed to their cause who believe in its justice , generation after generation, and continue the struggle despite pain and suffering in order to achieve its national goals. 2. An Arab nation whose conscience is still affected by the question of Palestine that motivates its actions . It seems that after a period of antagonism, division and painful internal conflicts the Arab governments are heading toward reconciliation , which will enable them to provide more support to our cause . Moreover, the Islamic nations are getting increasingly more sympathetic to our people and its

cause. 3. An occupier who faces the international community, and international law while hurting from the gradual decline of its position and reputation , and from its incapability to draw the future according to its expansionist interests. The defeat of its invasion against Lebanon and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people played

a role in leading to such decline. 4. The winds of change reached the United States under its new Administration. It is likely that the world will move away from unilateralism towards more pluralism, equilibrium, dialogue and commitment to international law. 5. The friendly Russian state is getting stronger , more independent and more insistent on a limited, well studied and cautious confrontation; China, the European

15

Union, India, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey are all friendly nations whose political and economic influence is growing. 6. On brothers, the oil producing countries are achieving rapid economic growth despite the world economic crisis . There might be no solution for the global financial crisis without a big role to be played by Gulf Countries with the

leadership of Saudi Arabia, aswellasbyChinas considerable sovereign funds. Points of weakness in our situation: 1) We realize that Israel the occupying power , despite all its internal contradictions, still enjoys strategic support from the US despite the electoral defeat of the anti-Arab and anti Muslim neo-conservative Administration. 2) The Palestinian arena is still politically and geographically divided and besieged, which is perhaps our most serious weaknesses . Our Movement needs to recover, activate its forces and masses ; and unify its leaders , cadres and potentials to overcome our internal weaknesses. This is the outcome we expect to get from our Sixth Conference. 3) Arab governments assist us , but they do not provide sufficient support to create a balance with the force of our opponent, or to safeguard Jerusalem as an Arab and Islamic city . They also do not prepare their masses for the serious political and economic confrontation with the Israeli occupation; and some of them are ready to bow to US pressure , normalizing their relations with Israel for free and at our expense. 4) European support to our cause shrank in comparison to its position during the nineties. This is the result of the expansion of the European Union, and the difficulties it faces in unifying the positions of 27 countries. Moreover, the global economic crisis , our split , shrinking Arab influence , the US pressure and Israeli extortion accentuate the weakness of European support.

In conclusion : There are risks we should face , or avoid ; the most important of which is the internal rift and the changing regional alliances. However, there are opportunities we should seize , such as the defeat of the US Bush project in the Middle East. The Bush Administration used brute force in conducting its policy in the region, based on a unilateral vision towards the world, and rejected pluralism and international participation in decision making . This policy led to alliances in the region focused on the American-Iranian conflict which fueled the flames of

sedition and splits in our homeland and the region . Thus may produce an opportunity under the new American administration . New national and regional opportunities might present themselves through Arab reconciliation , a positive Turkish role and an improved Iranian position towards our cause . Turkey and Iran

16

are regional forces that were in favor of Israel in the past and established the

strongest alliances with it.

Facing the next stage requires first and foremost a clear identification of struggle

tasks emanating during the next stage , as this constitutes the basis for the formulation of the policies, mechanisms and tools of confrontation:

Our central goal remains to defeat the occupation , liberate the homeland, establish our independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and ensure the right of refugees to return and to compensation. Our interim tasks to be accomplished for the achievement of these goals include confronting the settler occupation , preserving the land and holy places and their Arab character, especially in Jerusalem ; working for the release of prisoners , steadfastly upholding our principles in difficult times , and mobilizing different forms of struggle to defeat the occupation , rectifying the course of negotiations without being confined solely to it , or accepting a futile continuation of it . We have to try to achieve progress through negotiations towards our goals , exploring alternative strategic means of struggle if the peace process fails in its current form . We have to keep on building our own strength in order to carry on the struggle.

We must strive to translate these directives into detailed interim tasks in order to

achieve our objectives in the next stage; which will be presented as follows:

Confronting Settler Occupation and continuing the Struggle for Liberation

and Independence:

1. Principles: Continued commitment to national principles , to the right of self-determination and the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with

Jerusalem as its capital. 2. Refugees: Fatah Movement is committed to the following: a. Working hard to achieve the right of refugees for return , compensation and

restitution of properties while maintaining theunityoftherefugees cause regardless of their locations, including the refugees inside the green line . Fatah supports the need to preserve the refugee camps as a political witness to the

plight of the refugees who have been deprived of returning to their homes

pending the resolution of their cause . Fatah will strive to preserve UNRWA as an international address for the rights of the refugees until their return to their

homes and country. Working to improve the conditions of the refugees and their camps is a national necessity.

b. The rejection of forced implantation of our refugees away from their Homeland, as an alternative homeland . No settlement Tawteen in Lebanon and no

17

substitute homeland WatanBadeel for the Palestinians in Jordan are acceptable.

3. Detainees: We commit ourselves to strive to liberate all Palestinian prisoners and never to sign any final peace agreement without the freedom of everyone of

them. 4. Right to Resist: Fatah adheres to the right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation by all legitimate means, including the right to use armed struggle. Such a right is guaranteed by international law as long as the occupation, settlement, and the denial of our inalienable rights continue. 5. Forms of Struggle in the current stage : Fatah adopts all forms of legitimate struggle while remaining committed to the option of peace, without being restricted to negotiations only . The forms of this struggle , which can be successfully used in the current stage to support negotiations and reactivate them , or substitute them if they do not deliver may include: a. Mobilization of popular non-violent struggle against settlement activities as expressedinitssuccessfulpresentmodelinBilinand NilinagainsttheWall, and to the struggle rescue Jerusalem and prevent its judaization. Our mission is to mobilize all citizens to take part in those activities , to mobilize Arab and international participation, to provide all kinds of support from the Authority and its agencies, and to urge leaders to take part in its most important activities. b. Creating new forms of struggle and resistance through grassroot initiatives and those of Fatah cadres in the framework of our peoplesdeterminationtoresistandstand firm protected by international law and international guarantees. c. Boycotting Israeli products at home and abroad through popular movement, particularly those goods for which there is local substitute . Performing new forms of civil disobedience against the occupation and launching an international

campaign to boycott Israel , its products, and its institutions benefiting from the experience of South Africa against Apartheid. d. Exploring strategic alternatives , if progress is not achieved through ongoing negotiations, including the option of a democratic unitary state rejecting racism , hegemony and occupation . The development of struggle against Israeli apartheid and racism , return to the idea of declaring the state on the 1967 borders; are examples of these strategic alternatives. e. Continuing the struggle to release the prisoners and detainees , ending the external siege , lifting internal checkpoints and achieving the freedom of circulation, are important tasks in the coming period. f. Calling on the UN and the Security Council to shoulder their responsibilities in resolving the conflict and ending the occupation ; and continuing the drive to issue supporting resolutions by the Security Council based on Chapter VII of the Charter

which makes them legally binding and enforceable.

18

g. Restoring our direct and strong relations with the Israeli peace camp, and revitalizing our joint action for a just peace, without mingling it with normalization with Israel, which is rejected while occupation continues.

6. Development of PLO Performance in Negotiations The continuation of negotiations without achieving any progress in a fixed time

frame threatens our rights and turns into a play that enables Israel to use them as a

cover to continue its colonization and consolidate its occupation . To avoid this risk, we need to make sure that the PLO and its negotiating delegations abide by the following rules to proceed with negotiations:

1. Linking the negotiating process to real and public observable progress on the ground. The most important indicators are : Total halt of settlements, especially in Jerusalem, and a complete cessation of attempts to change the character of Jerusalem, leading to its Judaization . Negotiations should not be resumed without the achievement of these goals. Moreover, Israel has to stop its incursions , detentions and assassinations; it has to lift the siege of our people in Gaza , remove the checkpoints in the West Bank and withdraw to the lines of September 28, 2000 as a first step towards reaching the borders of June 4, 1967. Such are clear indicators of progress on the ground ; and progress in negotiations should be linked to their achievement. 2. Negotiations should be conducted on the basis of international legitimacy and its key resolutions: (181, and194, of the UNGA , and 242, and 338 of the UNSC ) and in the framework of the Arab Initiative. These negotiations should continue if they

abide by these terms, and achieve our strategic and interim objectives. 3. Continue the efforts to hold a new international peace conference to push towards swift negotiations leading to a peace agreement that achieves our

objectives. 4. Insist on setting a clear and binding timetable and a time ceiling for the negotiations. 5. Refuse to postpone negotiations on Jerusalem , the refugee issue , or any of the final status issues. 6. Reject the idea of a state with provisional borders. 7. Categorically Refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewishstate, in order to protect the rights of our refugees , and those of our people behind the Green Line (Palestinian Christian and Muslim citizens of Israel). 8. Insist on international participation throughout the negotiations and set a mechanism for binding arbitration in case of differences during the implementation

of the agreements. 9. Insist on international supervision and international peace-keeping mechanism to ensure the implementation of the agreement.

19

10. Our success in achieving our goals through negotiations requires the formation of a national professional committee reporting to the PLO capable of handling

tough negotiations , monitored by a higher commission in which Palestinian factions, national figures and professionals take part. Another committee of Fatah should be formed for the follow up of negotiations and has to report to the Central

Committee and the Revolutionary Council. 11. We must conduct a referendum to approve the peace agreement reached through final negotiations.

The continuity of the struggle, the activation and unification of our Movement, the achievement of Palestinian national unity , and the performance of essential tasks on the Palestinian , Arab and levels , are required in the coming stage, to achieve national goals.

First: Rebuilding, Activation and Unification of the Movement: Fatah as the right arm of the revolution and its leadership , shoulders the responsibility for protecting and achieving the Palestinian national goals. Without a capable , unified and active Fatah , we will fail, at least in the short run . Therefore, the main tasks of the next stage are those of self-development and rectification of the movement.

TheMovementsorganizationalprogramexplains these tasks in detail.

The key tasks to reconstruct, reactivate and reunify the Movement are:

Restoring public support for the Movement by taking the initiative , and by insisting on activism, to restore the course of struggle and to achieve a just peace. Emphasis on the continuity of our Movement as a national liberation movement, which does not abandon resistance against the occupation , preserves its revolutionary purity , ensures the ethics of Fatah members and their behavior inside the Movement and with the public , and reaffirms the values of commitment, accountability and justice. Consolidating the commitment to a unifiedinstitution reactivating the Law of affection in relations between the members of the Movement.

Reconstructing the Movement by re-integration of members in accordance with the basic Statute , the revival and re-activation of organizational cadres and frames from bottom to top of the organization ; ending the phenomenon of the non-framed cadres and find more effective organizational forms for

the military branch . Activating the role of the Central Committee , requiring its formation through elections, performing its duties without allowing it to be by-passed or marginalized. Expanding the base of participation in decision-making by granting wider powers to the Revolutionary Council,

20

and the formation of commissions , and institutions at home and abroad . Exercising positive democratic dialogue inside the ranks, holding the regular congresses and developing organizational forms to keep confidentiality , especially in areas where it is needed.

Continued commitment to the culture of struggle , and the permanent readiness to engage in resisting the occupation , and sacrifice for the homeland. Continuous education through regular organizational meetings and training courses . The issuing of Fatah circulars , to continue mobilizing the cadres of the movement and masses with the heritage of the Palestinian

armed struggle . Celebrating our battles , and commemorating the history of our struggle and the permanent readiness to sacrifice.

Achieving the unity of the Movement inside and outside the Homeland , between the West Bank including Jerusalemand the Gaza Strip and between

the generations.

Securing the independence of the Movement within the PLO and the PNA.

Developing the finances of the Movement through self-reliance and the reliance on the Palestinian masses in the Diaspora and at home. Rebuilding the accounting system of the Movement to ensure transparency, accountability, and oversight through the development of the Commission of Finance, unifying disbursements and funding centers, and presenting periodic financial reports to the Revolutionary Council and the General

Congress.

Rejuvenation of the Movement through cooperation between the generations, fostering bridges of relationship between the young cadres and the experienced founding generation. Working on the development of young cadres, providing them with the opportunity to gain more revolutionary experience and political acumen by involving them in senior leadership

positions that prepares them to assume leadership of the Movement and

ensure its continuity.

Restructuring and activating Fatah Youth Organization to play a primary role in the rehabilitation and creation of young Fatah cadres guiding thecubsandflowers organization together with the Fatah Youth to ensure the future of the Movement.

Developingwomens role and preparing cadre of educationally , culturally and politically qualified women , broadening and strengthening the role of women in the Movement , encouraging their presence in leading positions . The role of Palestinian women has grown in the resistance , and in our political and social struggle . The results of the recent elections proved the need to develop the role of the Movements female cadres and its

21

regeneration in light of the growing opportunity available to represent

women in Palestinian parliamentary life.

Eliminating centersofpower, cronyism and tribalism particularly through the separation of the security apparatus from the civil organization and the

rejection of any external funds for cadres , structures, and institutions of the Movement without central control, preserving the legitimacy, organizational hierarchy and discipline , stepping up accountability and updating the mechanisms of control andFatahsjudiciary.

Reviewing the media discourse of the Movement and handing its responsibility to professionals capable of ensuring its success in terms of

clarity, sincerity, integrity and persuasion . The media have to adopt the discourse of action rather than reaction in its performance , and involve the whole Movement in the formulation of its concepts.

Promoting the provision of community services particularly in the fields of health, education, culture, and heritage strengthening the presence of the Movement in grassroots organizations.

Honoring veteran activists and Fatah pioneers , making benefit of their expertise, documenting their experiences and their militant careers to make use of them in documenting the history of Fatah for over half a century of

pioneering struggle.

Second: Activation of the PLO and its Institutions:

PLO is the highest authority of the Palestinianpeoples institutions and the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people wherever they are , and the embodiment of our national unity. Within this framework, Fatah is committed to:

1. Emphasizing the role of the PLO as a higher reference to the Palestinian Authority, drafting the constitutional regulations that govern the relationship between the PLO and the PNA and its institutions . The PLO is the organization vested in negotiations , and authorized to sign final political agreements to realize the national rights of the Palestinian people . This requires setting a national political program for the PLO that responds to the challenges of this

stage, to be adopted by consensus. 2. Upholding the principle of differentiating between the role of Fatah and the PLO. 3. Activating PLO institutions , departments, diplomatic missions and bodies at home and abroad , restructuring the current departments according to feasibility and effectiveness , joining new Palestinian forces and factions to the PLO , to broaden the base of popular participation in its National Council , committing

22

the new members to the goals of the PLO , its Charter , strategy and commitments. 4. Holding Palestine National Council elections at home , and abroad whenever possible, on the basis of proportional representation , and work to convene the National Council and the Central Council regularly. 5. Updating the concepts, mechanisms and obligations of factions and forces participating in the PLO institutions , ensuring compliance with their strategies, organize their relationship within the PLO , and reduce the aggravation of secondary contradictions amongst them. 6. Consolidating PLO presence among the Palestinian refugees in the Diaspora, especially in the refugee camps in the Arab States. 7. Reviving PLO ties with Arab and international solidarity forces and re -building relationship with them. 8. Developing PLO relations with peoples , parties and governments on Arab and international levels.

Third: Achieving Palestinian National Unity and Confronting the Blockade:

Confronting the Separation: The continuation of the state of separation between the two parts of the homeland

represents a serious threat to the future of the national cause of the Palestinian

people; and Hamas cannot escape its responsibility if the split continues. We need to move forward to reach success of the comprehensive national dialogue

and foremost the dialogue with Hamas, based on ending the division in Gaza by: a. Establishing a national unity government that organizes simultaneous

legislative and presidential elections. b. Unifying the security apparatuses as a national institution to protect the

security of the homeland and its citizens. c. Dealing with the consequences of the coup and the split , to achieve national

reconciliation including the release of detainees on both sides.

The failure of the dialoguebecauseofHamas intransigence will neither detract from this priority nor undermine our determination to continue our engagement. However, such failure obliges Fatah to adopt alternative options: Rebuilding the Movement in Gaza , to cope with the requirements of the present situation, and providing full support for the Fatah organization in Gaza to face the split. Directing the energies of the Movement towards promoting public action and mobilizing the Palestinian people to face the split and the dictatorship.

23

Exposing the actions of Hamas that violate Palestinian traditions and customs by committing crimes against the Palestinian people of Gaza. Calling for Arab security support in the Gaza Strip during the interim stage. Strengthening the media work in the Arab and Islamic street to expose the reality ofHamas policies and practices.

Confronting the Siege: Our duty to confront the Israeli Siege of Gaza requires our performance of the

following actions: a) Strengthen the steadfastness of Gaza in the face of the siege; give it a priority in providing national support through budgetary finance and international grants , and solving the pressing problems of Gaza people living abroad , particularly students and patients. b) Launching international humanitarian campaign against the siege and starvation, and informing the world about the crimes against humanity committed by Israel against the people of Gaza , and to link resuming negotiations with Israel with lifting the siege. c) Gradual separation of the Palestinian economy from the Israeli market, especially in electricity, fuel, gas and basic foodstuffs, replacing it by the Egyptian, Jordanian and Arab markets. d) Working to implement the International Convention for the Rafah Crossing, trying to develop it by denying Israel the opportunity to control the opening and closing of this vital crossing.

Achieving National Unity and Political Partnership:

While emphasizing the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization as the highest

authority, embodying the national unity of the Palestinian people, the development of the concept of national unity into political partnership has become an urgent

necessity in the coming stage. This has resulted from the diversity of the present tasks and the access of new national factions, parties and bodies to the national arena, which requires the establishment of new rules to cope with these forces in a disciplined partnership that strengthens the areas of agreement and reduces the

points of dispute based on clear terms of reference such as: 1. Respecting pluralism and the right to form political parties and factions in accordance with the law. 2. Promoting the concepts of democracy and peaceful transfer of power at local and national levels. 3. Resorting to the ballot box in the formation of local councils , trade unions , legislative bodies and other frameworks.

24

4. Broadening popular participation in determining national public policies. 5. Amending laws , especially those related to elections to give the emerging powers and parties a better chance to participate in the elections. 6. Establishing a supreme constitutional court to resolve disputes related to the Constitution and other laws. 7. Consolidating Palestinian political gains by insisting on the commitment to obligations and agreements is a decisive prerequisite for participation in

Palestinian political life. 8. Motivating the grass-roots bases to protect national unity and political partnership. 9. Disseminating the culture of partnership , prioritizing the national public interest over the narrow selfish interests of the forces, factions and parties.

Fourth: Protecting Jerusalem:

Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and its heart , the first kibleh and third holiest shrine of Islam, the city of peace and the symbol of divine religions. No peace can be installed without the return of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the State of Palestine. Fatah considersallthedecisionsofIsraelsannexationofJerusalem, its settlement, displacement of people and changes of its features as null and void and their consequences must be abolished , in implementation of international resolutions that condemned all attempts to Judaize Jerusalem . Jerusalem is an integral part of the land of Palestine occupied in 1967.

Fatah commits to the following tasks regarding Jerusalem: 1. Embodiment of Jerusalem as an eternal political capital of Palestine and a spiritual capital for the Arab nation, Islamic and Christian world. 2. Upholding absolute commitment to the resolutions of international legitimacy and the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Jerusalem, which confirmstheinvalidityofIsraelsdecisionsof annexation, settlement, and building the apartheid wall . Jerusalem is an inseparable part of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel during the aggression of 1967. 3. Provide means of support related to preservation of Jerusalem and resist attempts of its judaization , settlement and isolation from the rest of the Palestinian territories. 4.Provide all the facilities that the Movement can provide , and those provided by the National Authority to support the steadfastness and perseverance of our people

in Jerusalem and to support projects that provide essential services to the residents

of Jerusalem to strengthen their steadfastness and preserve their national and

cultural identity.

25

5. Support Jerusalemite institutions and maintain their continuity in serving the steadfastness of Jerusalemites , to build new institutions , to maintain the Arab character of Jerusalem, and work to reopen the institutions shut down by Israel. 6. Activate Fatah channels , and those of the National Authority , with the Arab , Islamic and friendly countries for the implementation of special projects to preserve the identity of Jerusalem and its Arab character and face the settlement

and judaization attacks. 7. Establish a special fund for Jerusalem to receive local, regional and international donations and to unify them in order to consolidate the steadfastness of the people

of Jerusalem. 8. Strengthen the role of research centers to publish information , historical and cultural studies, organize conferences and seminars about the city of Jerusalem and to publish their proceedings in the media to raise the issue of Jerusalem at the

global level. 9. Activate Fatah Jerusalem Commission as a Fatah reference for Jerusalem Affairs.

Fifth: Tasks of the Palestinian National Authority:

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was established in 1994 by a decision of the Palestine Liberation Organization . Fatah assumed most of its leading and administrative responsibilities. Yet, the PNA belongs to the Palestinian people and is governed through democratic elections. It is also an independent body. Fatah has the ability to influence the PNA especially when it assumes its leadership . The Movement should form a clear vision of the PNA , including the future tasks Fatah is committed to implement through the Authority, once Fatah assumes its leadership through democratic legitimacy. Fatah should also select the tasks that it will call on the PNA to implement when it is outside the leadership of the

Authority. The following points are a summary of these tasks , although detailing them is the task of the National Construction Program submitted to the Sixth Conference separately: 1. Emphasizing the principles of democracy , pluralism and peaceful transfer of power, consolidating those principles and protecting the freedom of individuals and their rights as the bases of state-building. 2. Achieving security, safety and respect of the law , and re-building the security apparatus on national and professional foundations. 3. Continue building and rebuilding state institutions , preserving the constitution and the laws regulating political, economic and social life.

26

4. Developing values and concepts based on the principles of our Arab and Islamic culture, and international standards with regard to women , children, family and youth; political and civil rights and public freedoms. 5. Strengthening the role of women by eliminating all forms of discrimination against them , protecting them against family and social violence, working to enable them to enjoy their civil , political, economic, social and cultural rights; and paying special attention to the health of women, and health education. 6. Continuing to provide all kinds of support for the wounded and prisoners; develop specialized programs for the rehabilitation of ex-detainees and develop programs to take care of their families. 7. Fighting corruption and conducting radical reform in the performance of the Authority and judiciary, protecting and enforcing its provisions and independence, respecting the law, developing mechanisms of governance based on the separation of powers and activating the principle of accountability. 8. Strengthening the presence and participation of civil society organizations which play a recognized, effective national role. 9. Developing the national economy on the basis of economic efficiency and independence from Israeli economic hegemony , keeping balance between the districts and governorates: developing and maintaining human capacity and human resources; creating the best conditions for international free trade to facilitate and support exports; achieving social justice and solidarity ; providing safety rules for the most suffering categories in the society and for those who paid with their lives, their health and freedom during the national struggle, such as the families of martyrs, the wounded and disabled prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails and veterans and their families. 10. Focusing on private sector support by creating an encouraging investment environment, granting facilities to investors and establishing a sound market mechanism to maintain legitimate and effective competition, restricting monopoly and achieving protection for the consumer . Encouraging economic production capable of competition. 11. Respecting the right of every Palestinian to work and continue the efforts to provide employment opportunities , to comply with minimum wage ; activate and support labor frameworks and trade unions. 12. Encouraging the Palestinian Investment Fund and the private sector to invest in the housing sector, especially in the outskirts of cities threatened by settlement, and provide housing priced within the reach of intermediate and low-incomes. 13. Ensuring the right to participate in cultural life in all its dimensions . Discover and sponsor talented and creative people , pay attention to the Palestinian cultural heritage, protect and highlight it in all forums and institutions.

27

Sixth: Tasks toward the Palestinian people in the Diaspora:

Our people in the Diaspora are an important and integral part of the Palestinian

people. The revolution was launched in the Diaspora , and our people have sacrificed thousands of martyrs for it . They paid heavy losses and were forced to migrate several times in order to achieve the continuity of the revolution . They continued to provide material and moral support without hesitation or respite. All Palestinians in the Diaspora have the right to return to their homes. Palestinians in the Diaspora are a real asset to their country and their Movement , they provide personal and financial contributions , have voluntary work to serve their country and they impact on the communities where they live for the benefit of their

homeland. But the activation of their power requires the following tasks: 1- Activate and consolidate the role of Palestinian communities and support their militant and professional cadres ; activate popular associations and organizations in all regions of the Palestinian Diaspora ; strengthening their relationship with our Movement, with the PLO and its institutions and work for the creation of a genuine representation of these communities within the frameworks

of Fatah 36 and the PLO through periodic elections to designate their representatives. 2- Engage Palestinians in the Diaspora in the activities of Fatah and PLO and in making crucial decisions , deliver detailed information about home events , recruit their energies to support the homeland in the hosting countries and open the way to them to invest in Palestine. 3- Help our people in the Diaspora when they are subjected to danger, as happened to our people residing in Iraq . Avoid the risks of involvement in internal battles of hosting countries and rescue them when they are harmed . Encourage them to integrate into the political, economic and intellectual life of the communities where they live ; and preserve their political , civil and material accomplishments in hosting countries . The Movement must seek to activate the departments of the PLO among our people in the Diaspora to activate the required

support. 4- Preserve the culture and affiliation of generations outside the Arab world in terms of consolidating their attachment to the homeland ; develop programs to teach their children the Arabic language , the history of their country and the struggle of their people , and to maintain their national affiliation and their right to return home.

28

Seventh: Tasks toward ourpeopleinthe 48:

The Palestinians our people in the territory occupied by Israel in 1948 are an integral part of the Palestinian people . They maintained their national identity , heritage, belonging and belief in the just cause of their people, and they paid a high price for their steadfastness in the homeland. They are treated by Israel as second class citizens and live under the threat of judaization and ethniccleansing which means expulsion from their country . Fatah is committed to perform necessary tasks and take positions to protect them in the coming stage, such as: 1. Fatah rejects the call to recognize Israel as a JewishState , and adopts the demands of our Palestinian people in the territory of 48 to be recognized by Israel as full citizens with full rights. 2. FatahrejectsIsraelsracistcallsforethniccleansingstressingthe fact of natural and historic existence of our people in their homeland of Palestine before the

establishment of Israel and its usurpation of our land. 3. Fatah supports the demands of our people for equality , restoring their rights to achieve economic , social and educational development for themselves , their regions, towns and villages. 4. Fatah supports unity and alliance between the Palestinian factions in Israel in order to reach adequate proportional parliamentary seats in the Israeli elections

equal to their percentage in the population. This will enable them to increasing their ability to achieve their just demands. 5. Fatah works to promote interaction and communication between our Palestinian people in Israel and the masses , bodies and NGOs in the West Bank and Gaza to promote unity between the members of the same people. 6. Fatah works to inform the world about the Palestinian presence in Israel and to support this presence in the various fields of human , social and cultural rights , to face the policy of racial discrimination against the Palestinians. 7. Fatah supports the creation of joint committees and frameworks of our people with peace forces and peace activists in Israel against the occupation and

colonization of our Palestinian land in order to establish the Palestinian

independent State on the 1967 borders with Holy Jerusalem as its capital.

Eight: Activating Arab action and insistence on the independence of the Palestinian national decision:

1. Achieving the greatest Arab support possible through intensified work with Arab countries on bilateral level , and in particular with the neighboring countries of Egypt , Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia; with the Arab League , the joint Arab frameworks and Arab grassroots institutions , to consolidate Arab

29

commitment. The Movement rejects normalization with Israel before ending the occupation on the basis of the Arab peace initiative . It works with our Arab brothers to impose boycott measure on Israel and punish it for its crimes and

behavior, especially if it insists on carrying on its settlement policy. 2. Maintaining the strongest ties with the Arab masses through rebuilding the strongest relations with Arab institutions , popular parties and to work on restructuring popular support and advocacy committees to support the struggle of

the Palestinian people. 3. Building special relationships with neighboring countries as follows: Continue to build a special political relationship with Egypt for its leading Arab, regional and international role, and as the main neighboring state to the Gaza Strip. Continue to build a special relationship with Jordan for its continued support of our rights to an independent Palestinian state , for the inter twinning of Palestinian and Jordanian peoples , the Palestinian publics strongpresence in Jordan and itsneighborhood to the West Bank. Continue to build a special relationship with Syria for its historical leading role, for its regional and Arab strategic importance and for the strong presence of the Palestinian communities in Syria. Continue to build a special relationship with Lebanon , where the fundamental problem of Palestinian refugees in the Diaspora exists , to ensure neutrality in Lebanonsinternalaffairs, takingcareofrefugees interests, rejecting their forced settlement and ensuring the national unity of Lebanon. 4. Continue to build a special relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its historical role, for its Arab and international status , its continuous political and economic support. Continue to develop excellent relations with Tunisia, which has embraced the Palestinian leadership in very difficult times ; with Algeria, which supported Fatah since its inception and sponsored the National Council meetings ; with Morocco, a sponsor of the Jerusalem Committee and its Fund; with the Gulf states, particularly the United Arab Emirates for its political and financial support and for the hosting of an important Palestinian community; with Yemen, Sudan and Mauritania for their leading political role and the hosting of our people and our Movement. 5. Consolidate the role of the Arab League, the political home of the Arabs as a center of solidarity , cooperation and joint Arab action in all political , cultural and economic issues; and to work on developing its specialized agencies. 6. Preserve the independent Palestinian national decision , rejecting the policy of axes within the Arab world and maintain equal distances with the Arab countries

concerning their internal Arab problems, continue to support democracy and

pluralism in Arab affairs.

30

7. Assert the need to have a comprehensive peace on all Arab tracks because this is the guarantee of a real, just and lasting peace. 8. Ensure respect for the human , social and economic rights of refugees in the hosting Arab countries, their right to work and live in dignity while respecting the laws applied in those countries. 9. Reject compulsory resettlement in any Arab country and reject the projects of a substitute homeland. 10. Declare Solidarity with the brotherly Iraqi people to ensure its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and end to the American occupation. Support Syria in its quest to regain the occupied Golan Heights , affirm the right of Lebanon to restore its occupied territories, to reactivate Arab solidarity and support Sudan and Somalia in their quest for national unity, peace and stability.

Ninth: Tasks of International Relations:

In the coming phase , Fatah must work hard to restore its historical and natural position amongst the forces of freedom , liberation and the peoples of the world , based on its true character and its role as a National Liberation Movement . Fatah has also accomplished international achievements amongst political parties , parliaments and political gatherings in the world , as the leader of Palestinian struggle, and for its endeavor to achieve a just peace in our region . This requires performing the following tasks: 1. Intensify our political activities to present our principles , our goals and our struggle as a National Liberation Movement facing the dangers of racist settler

occupation of our country , and working to rectify the image of our Movement amongst the masses and the freedom forces in the world ; in addition to confirmation of our affiliation to the international liberation movement. 2. Strengthen relations with the solidarity movements , political parties , Trade-unions and non-governmental organizations, particularly those working in the field of human rights, since they enjoy effective impact on the national and international levels. 3. Explain the concept of peace adopted by the Palestinian people: based on justice and the right to exercise self-determination like all other peoples of the world, and on the principles of International Law and International legitimacy . Reject the concept of Israeli peace, based on aggression , conquest of Palestinian land , the building of settlements , the destruction of the Palestinian society , the elimination of the components of the independent Palestinian state thus undermining the

foundations of its existence, the introduction of the Jewish State concept in order to enable Israel practice further racial discrimination, and ethnic cleansing against our

31

people beyond the Green Line and to deny Palestinian refugees their right to return

to their homeland.

Activate the contacts with countries and international organizations through

the Fatah institutions, the PLO and the PNA, which requires:

1. Intensification of activity and contacts on bilateral, international and multilateral levels to consolidate international support for Palestinian rights against settlements, siege and the Wall; to protect Jerusalem, to release the prisoners, to ensure the flow of financial and economic support. Taking lesson of the South African experience , the Fatah Movement has to be ready to step up the international campaign against

Israeli racist practices to reach international boycott. 2. Intensification of our official relations with the United Nations and the Security Council, through the PNA and the PLO to affirm international legitimacy and its role. To work with the International Court of Justice and various international institutions, and with the Commission on Human Rights and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to face the Israeli siege and

settlement. 3. Directing PLO and PNA to strengthen special Palestinian relationship with Russia and China , the two historic friends of Palestine and with the European Union and its institutions. 4. Promoting strong relationship of the PLO and PNA with the United States of America and its new President, despite the traditional US alignment with Israel and the special relationship . We have to build a relationship with the US by avoiding falling into the trap of vassalage; and keeping on reminding the Americans of their obligations towards the peace process, and the rights of the Palestinian people. It is in the US interest to achieve stability in our region, which has to be based on a just solution to our cause, and recall the abject failure of the policy of President Bush in our region. Fatah must build balanced relations with the two major US parties . It has to widen the circle of contacts with the Congress and the important US

institutions. The Movement has to take advantage of the present change in the United States and activate the role of Palestinian, Arab and Islamic communities in support of the Palestinian cause. 5. Motivate the PLO and PNA to develop special relationship with important friendly countries of the third world , whose political and economic power is growing and their international influence is increasing , notably Brazil , India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, and South Africa , Endeavor to open a strategic dialogue with Iran. 6. Develop our relationship with new members of the EU and with European non-member countries in the EU , particularly Norway and Switzerland. Fatah should

32

activate the relationship with the political forces and grassroots institutions in those

countries. 7. Deepen the relationship with regional institutions and political groupings, such as the Organization of Islamic Conference , the Non -Aligned Movement and the Socialist International Movement . Fatah should pay attention to the relationship with Islamic , Asian and African political parties and groupings as well as with Western parties, based on mutual respect that achieves support to the Palestinian

cause. 8. Maintain our Commitment to international law and promote peaceful coexistence by denouncing racism , occupation, terrorism and extremism , and distinguish between terrorism and legitimate resistance. 9. Fatah will work to join the global campaign against nuclear weapons , reminding the world of the Israeli nuclear weapons arsenal and join the campaign for a

Middle East free of such destructive weapons.