Palestinian resistance factions expressed dismay and surprise over a security role for certain Arab countries in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The statement said: "We are amazed by, and deplore, the talk of a 'security role' for some Arab parties in Gaza and the West Bank, because our people expect the Arab nation to act according to the logic of supporting the Palestinians and not the logic of 'security,' which cannot be used with regard to the Palestinian people defending its land and its holy places. The references [to security] turn things on their heads, making the problem the Palestinian people and not the occupation."
The statement attacks Egypt and Jordan and calls the role envisioned for the two "as an attempt to take over the Palestinian problem."
"The Palestinian people will not accept the logic of guardianship and turning the Palestinians into apprentices instead of adopting a combined Palestinian and Arab policy" based on solidarity and joint action.
The factions, in a joint communiqué issued Monday, said that the Palestinian people expected support and assistance from their Arab brethren rather than a security role that would not be accepted by a people "defending national soil and the honor and holy shrines of the Ummah."
The statement that followed a meeting aimed at discussing Israeli premier Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan said that it was meant to wipe out resistance and intifada and then impose a de facto situation liquidating the Palestine cause.
"Sharon's plan targets expanding settlement drive in the West Bank and neutralizing the Gaza Strip in the conflict in addition to complicating the internal Palestinian front," the statement charged.
It expressed confidence in the Palestinian people's ability to expose and to foil this "Zionist scheme."
The statement asked all Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and "honorable people of the world to expose the goals of the Zionist plan and to expose the unlimited American support to the Zionist occupation's aggressive policies against the Palestinian people."
Signatories to that agreement, grouping almost all resistance factions in the Palestinian territories including Hamas Movement, said that any Israeli withdrawal from the holy land was a victory for the people and their brave resistance.
They stressed that such a retreat should be unconditional with no commitments whatsoever to the enemy's security, and affirmed that resistance would continue until ejection of occupation.
The Palestinian factions further appealed to the Muslim Ummah to extend all assistance necessary to enable the Palestinian people maintain their steadfastness and resistance until final victory.
They said that the Palestinian people viewed the Muslim Ummah as their strategic depth and historical supporter.
The factions also advocated intensifying inter-Palestinian dialogue to ensure collective participation in the Palestinian national decision-making. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
