Erkänn ett självständigt Palestina!

Jag befinner mig för närvarande i Betlehem för att planera det projekt Socialdemokraterna i Uppsala län bedriver tillsammans med ett par av Fatahs partidistrikt i de södra delarna av Västbanken. Det finns väldigt mycket att säga om vad vi upplever och om den rådande politiska situationen, men jag nöjer mig för närvarande med att publicera Fatahs utrikeskommissions alldeles färska uttalande om varför PLO och Arabförbundet kräver ett FN-erkännande av en oberoende palestinsk stat.

Initiativet hänger samman med en allt större otålighet bland palestinier med en fredsprocess som fullständigt gått i stå. Och som synes är det också en konsekvens av de beslut som Fatahs kongress i Betlehem i augusti fattade kring de olika alternativ som rörelsen seriöst överväger i den fortsatta kampen för ett fritt och demokratiskt Palestina.

Uppmaningen till de europeiska staterna är tydlig - att erkänna ett självständigt Palestina inom 1967 års gränser med östra Jerusalem som huvudstad. Carl Bildt har sagt att det är "för tidigt" att erkänna Palestinas självständighet. Detta trots att Sverige 2008 erkände Kosovo trots att denna stat inte har kontroll över landets serbiska enklaver.

Svensk socialdemokrati har en lång tradition av solidaritet med det palestinska folket, och fattade nyligen ett kongressbeslut om att vi vill att Sverige ska erkänna Västsaharas självständighet. Vad blir vårt och de övriga rödgrönas svar?

Our Position on the Security Council decision recognizing the Independent State of Palestine.
Meeting of the Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo decided to initiate action on the Palestinian issue at the UN Security Council. The Arab motion asks the Security Council to recognize the Independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The immediate reason for the action is the Israeli total blockage of the peace process, its continuation of the settlement activities in the West Bank, particularly in Jerusalem, and the acquiescence of the Obama Administration to the Israeli actions, retreating from earlier American promises and commitments. After 18 years of negotiations under the ongoing peace process, and more than doubling of the settler colonial population in the West Bank, other alternatives had to be considered. The Palestinians went into a peace process under the formula of “land for peace:” no peace was achieved, no freedom and independence won, and the land was eaten through settlements “piece by piece”.

Resort to a renewed war of independence is definitely not the chosen option.

The Political Program of Fatah, approved by the Bethlehem Sixth Congress of last August indicate some of the options seriously considered by Fatah, All of them are non-violent:
1. Non violent popular strikes, demonstrations, and sit ins around the Israeli separation Wall, settlements, and Jerusalem sites.
2. International action modeled after the ANC boycott of Apartheid South Africa, and pursuant of Israel’s gross violations of International Humanitarian Law. The Goldstone report provides an opportunity to seek sanctions against Israel for its violation of Palestinian human rights.
3. International action, particularly at the UN seeking support of the right of Palestinians to an Independent State of their own on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem its Capital.
4. Serious consideration of other Palestinian options, such as seeking the establishment of one democratic non sectarian state in Palestine instead of two states.

The Arab decision to seek a Security Council resolution on the Independent Palestinian State is certainly one of these options. IT IS NOT a unilateral declaration of Independence. That declaration was made in November of 1988 in Algeria. It was not unilateral either, as 125 countries including Russia, China, India, Turkey, and all the Arab and Muslim countries recognized that State. What is being attempted is a reaffirmation, and full recognition of that State on the specified border of the 4th of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its Capital by the UN and other Countries that have not recognized that State yet. Most of these states are in Europe, North America and the Pacific Region. They are important countries, and their recognition will strengthen our case against Israel’s occupation of our land.

The action sought is based on the Two State Solution, and the body of international law and UN resolutions that supported the ongoing peace process. It is also based on statements of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama of the US, and other European statements and the Berlin Summit resolution.

We recognize that such resolution will not, on its own, liberate the Occupied Palestinian Territories from Israeli occupation, and change matters on the ground there, but, it would pose a real challenge to that illegal occupation that lasted too long. It would also end, once and for all, the Israeli claim that the Palestinian Territories occupied in 1967 are “Disputed Territories”. They are Occupied Territories that must be liberated from occupation if a real, fair and lasting peace is to be achieved in the Middle East.

The Israeli Netaniahu Government labeled the decision a Unilateral Declaration. There is nothing that Israel has done, particularly in the last nine years that is not unilateral: Its reoccupation of the West Bank, its withdrawal from Gaza, its building of walls and settlements, its dearibization measures in Jerusalem, its barriers and barricades in the West Bank, its aggression against Gaza, and its draconian siege of the Gaza Strip. All are unilateral aggressive actions that have almost destroyed the Peace Process.

By contrast, the Security Council’s desired Arab action seeks the acceptance of the international community, and its recognition of Palestinian rights under international law, and earlier UNSC decisions. But, that is another glaring example of the Israeli spin of political actions. Palestinian insistence on Israel’s compliance with the Road Map commitments and obligations, as a minimal attempt to regain minimal credibility for the peace process is labeled by Israel as “preconditions”, whereas Israel’s requirement that we recognize Israel as a “Jewish state for the Jews”, that Jerusalem and Refugees be dropped from the agenda of permanent status negotiations, and that we start these negotiations from point zero, destroying all its accomplishments of 18 years are not preconditions.

We urge our friends, the supporters of Peace, freedom, and justice, to support the UNSC resolution we and our Arab brethren are seeking. This is an urgent call to support non violent means, based on international law, and a two state solution, to achieve peace, and justice in the Middle East.