In our opinion, the reasons for the disagreements are due to the fact that we did not establish a common ground. Emotions were the ones that controlled. We tried to lay foundations in the past. For example: A meeting took place between a delegation from the organization headed by Abu Al-Abd Al-Fahoum on behalf of the Palestinian delegation and Abdullah Al-Ahmad on the Syrian side. A paper was presented by The Palestinian side is suitable for a joint statement with Japan
• The other experience was the strategic agreement that was disrupted because of your view of Lebanon
• Then came the invasion...and the unfortunate developments
• We now intend to discuss with you the foundations to reach common ground. If we reach that, we will have taken good steps.
We are discussing some basic issues to form a common understanding with you about them. If you want to raise points for understanding as well, we will study them with each other as well.
We discussed these points presented by us in the leadership, and we present them before you to see how we think about them and how you think about them, because we have a common cause. If we unite our understanding, and this is what we desire and what you desire, and we move away from politeness, we will have laid the firm foundations.
The points raised by us are:
1- The issue of the Arab-Israeli conflict; Its dimensions, components, dealing with it
2- Evaluation of the dealings that took place in the previous stage with this conflict, both Arab and Palestinian
3- The relationship with Egypt in light of the Egyptian-Israeli treaty, Egypt’s role, and the existing possibilities for Egypt and this role
4- What is the political or intellectual basis that you have established for the communication process with the Israelis?
5- We believe that we need to develop a common understanding of Palestinian national rights... understanding the Palestinian issue strategically and tactically and achieving these rights.
6- The political settlement, its concept - its components - its elements so that it is acceptable... and the prospects for the settlement as you see it
7- There is still a problem in the Palestinian arena, and we appreciate the importance of fully restoring the unity of the organization. In your opinion, how can we address this issue?
In Arab conferences and at the United Nations, a single Palestinian-Syrian paper was presented based on a common understanding of the issues. Currently, issues are presented as if each of us has a different opinion on them.
Abu Al-Lutf: Thank you for the reception. The beginning of a dialogue is the beginning of arriving at a common understanding of the issues
• In our opinion, the confrontation countries bear the greatest burden in this conflict, and other countries have a supportive role
• The “Arab-Israeli” conflict is based on the national character of the Palestinian people, which is the legitimate alternative to the Israeli presence
• Our conflict with the Zionists is similar to the conflict with the Franks
• The responsibility of liberating the entire Arab land is borne by the Palestinian people first and the confrontation countries, the “ring states” which are (Syria - Jordan - Lebanon - Egypt).
• Our long experiences in 1948 were the disappearance of the Palestinian role... Palestinian resistance... the clash with the idea of Palestinian representation
• Rejection of the Palestinian presence
• This does not mean that the struggle falls on the shoulders of the Palestinian people. T. F. The national character of the Palestinian people alone
• As for Jordan, we do not want to take away its role, but we do not want it to take our role. “A detailed explanation of the Palestinian-Jordanian relationship historically.”
• Arab solidarity is important
Coordination is important... An Arab support front is important.
• We are convinced that the United States was only with (Israel)... and Europe could change its position.. but we do not hope to reach the support of the West (to reach) the conviction to remove (Israel), and the same is the case for our friends.
• The front of steadfastness and confrontation and its importance, provided that it does not constitute an axis in the Arab arena
• The Lebanon War and its dangers
• The Iraqi-Iranian war and its dangers
Then the brothers Abu Maher, Hani, and Hail spoke by explaining the position on the independent Palestinian decision... on contacts with Egypt... on Israeli contacts... and the danger of the Arab alignment against us and the position of the Kings Club (Hani).
It has been said that the reason for the return of the Arabs and their relations with Egypt was due to the Gulf War and not Palestinian contacts, as Abu Jamal mentioned
As for Israeli contacts and the possibility of the right taking advantage of these contacts in order to establish relations with Arab officials... it was mentioned before us that these contacts have existed since the establishment of the State of Israel until today with many Arab regimes, and they are secret contacts.Our contacts aim to establish a new front of struggle whose slogan is the dismantling of Israeli society from
within
Abu Jamal: Hani said that we want to prevent Arab alignment against us, and we ask which “Arabs” you mean, governments or peoples. The interests of America’s Arabs are with the West, and they implement America’s policy [...] They cannot stand with you, so we must form a Mass pressure on these governments to amend their policies, and this can only be achieved through mass struggle, despite the difficulties we will endure.
• Why was the Arab position in the past against reconciliation with (Israel)? Isn’t it due to the pressing public position? Therefore, the more the Palestinian revolution adhered to its principles, the clearer the issue became in the minds of the masses, and they supported you.
- Let's make a comparison between 1973 and now
Didn't the Arab governments contribute with us as a result of the public pressure that is stronger than the Americans in our war against the Zionist enemy? In the correct principled position, no Arab country can and does not dare to stand against the foundations. Therefore, we must return the issue to the correct position.. and we must not maneuver. With the case itself
Hence the issue of Egypt. Egypt’s exit played a negative role in the life of the Arab nation. The issue is not related to our love or hatred for Egypt. But Egypt has no decision and its decisions are in the hands of the American-Israeli.
We are talking about contacts with the Egyptian people... but we are talking about contacts with Egyptian officials. The Arab countries took Palestinian contacts as justification for restoring their relations with Egypt.
These contacts did not take into account Egypt's exclusion from Camp David. Negotiations took place between us and the Egyptians through Mr. Muhammad Fayek and Brother Ahmed Sedqi Al-Dajjani. They told us that canceling Camp David would mean war. We turned to them, so let us compare Lebanon and Egypt. Lebanon. It canceled the May 17 agreement and no war occurred. We told them that even if there was a war, Syria was ready to stand by Egypt with all its capabilities in this war. They sent us another message inviting us to hold negotiations with (Israel).
Our assessment is that Mubarak is not convinced about Camp David, but he is surrounded by forces that prevent him from taking a position, especially in the face of embarrassing nationalist positions. The current regime must abolish Camp David in order for Egypt to regain its leadership role
I also tell Hani that the international conference that America and Israel are contemplating and Egypt has a fundamental role in it. This is what the Americans told us.
We cannot recognize Israel even if we enter the international conference, and this is what we must impose on everyone. Recognizing Resolution 242 is recognizing in advance that the largest part of Palestinian land belongs to Israel.
We do not see that there will be a settlement that gives us our rights in the near future. We are convinced that we cannot take our rights unless there is a balance with Israel, and this balance will come. Balance does not mean tank versus tank, given the importance of the tank, but balance is achieved by the uprising inside the occupied territory, by operations of attrition, by Egypt’s exit from the Camp David Accords, and by a cohesive Arab position that stops the Gulf War.
In this context, we believe that no one can isolate Syria and the revolution, and in this regard we say: “Communications with the Egyptian government weakened the internal front. Chirac informed some Arab friends that Mubarak told him that the Arabs wanted me at Camp David.”
We consider this issue to be major and linked to the conflict cycle. If all Arab countries restored their relations with Egypt, and even with Israel, we would continue to struggle to stop this collapse.
We are now in the stage of steadfastness and exhausting the enemy. The Americans offered us that Israel was ready to withdraw from southern Lebanon, provided that Syria would guarantee the security of the south, and we rejected that. Our firm and supportive position will not change.
A- We are with the Palestine Liberation Organization. The only legitimate representative
B- The Palestine Liberation Organization is essential in any international conference
C- The international conference must be effective
E- We must not impose standard positions on us, such as recognizing Israel and rejecting violence
* Communications with the Israelis
- There are several phenomena in this matter. People under occupation, people outside occupation
- In our opinion, the move that could be discussed in this regard to destroy Israeli society should not be based on a political basis, but rather on a security basis.
* Multiple statements
The more we become rigid in our positions, the more we can achieve our goals. As for concessions in statements, they are harmful, an example of this
A - We are ready to meet with Shamir or Peres, and we have no conditions other than meeting at the United Nations
B- We are ready to mutually recognize Israel
C- We are ready to establish a confederation with Jordan and Israel...etc
These statements deviate from the Palestinian Charter and the decisions of the National Councils, and these contradict our line and we cannot establish healthy relations with you in light of them.
The uprising and its protection is a principled position
- Schultz's project and its resistance, this is a fundamental issue
We are ready for coordination in the Arab Summit Conference
- In Lebanon, we agree with you and your point of view
- In the end, the organization's issue is essential
- We do not accept compromise or division
We must fight the Phalangist tendency that has begun to appear in the Arab arena, especially in the Palestinian arena
