Resistance...The road to restoring the rights of the Palestinian people

The Palestinian cause is going through a crucial time in history due to the successive events in the region and the results of the Arab Spring and, more importantly, due to Israel’s acts of organised terrorism against the Palestinian people and the massacres it has and continues to commit, against the Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps, in addition to the unjust siege imposed on our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip.

However, despite the fact that the resistance has made prominent political achievements that have influenced Israeli society, it has also raised anxiety and fear amid the Israelis. The resistance has also proven to the world, through the Palestinian people’s Intifada and valiant resistance, that their rightful homeland is Palestine and that they have the potential to defend their land with all their power, making the Zionist enemy give up the idea that the land belongs to Israel and that it has the right to seize it.

The resistance has also caused the international public opinion to stress its absolute support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state due to the Palestinians’ insistence on their rights and their resistance.

The European Union issued the Berlin Declaration in 1999, which called for “the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state that coexists with Israel”. This was followed by the former US President George W. Bush’s Road Map, although the essence of his vision was removed by his archenemy Ariel Sharon, the Road map was lost through procrastination and stalling.

The Arabs made their initiative in 2002 but Sharon buried it after destroying the Jenin refugee camp. Despite this, the Arab governments and the Arab League continue to stick to it.

The Palestinian people, as well as some of its leaders, never believed negotiations alone would restore their national rights and impose the return of refugees to their homes and property. They believe armed resistance is required and this was the basis of the Fatah movement, and it began its armed struggle from day one, in addition to announcing its existence as an armed resistance. Therefore, we have adopted the idea of stages throughout which we reclaim our national rights.

Shortly after the June 1967 Naksa, the Arab Summit conference was held in Khartoum, the Arabs called for the removal of the remains of the aggression, because we lost may parts of the neighbouring Arab areas. Today, we are fighting for the reclamation of the land and the imposition of our sovereignty over it, because the idea of Zionism is based on the confiscation of land and the construction of more settlements in order to bring in more immigrants to reside on our seized land usurped peacefully and securely.

Therefore, we will deprive Israel of peace and security until it withdraws from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and until the Palestinian refugees return to their homes and all the prisoners are released from the Israeli jails and prisons. Hence, the resistance has been able to realise political achievements during the current conflict, which has been recorded by the world public opinion, and which has been recognised by the UN Security Council, including the US. All have recognised the inevitability of establishing a Palestinian state and the Arabs acknowledge their initiative for the establishment of a just peace and forming an Arab group to protect their national rights.

The Palestinian cause will not be liquidated as long as the Palestinian people continue to resist; the popular resistance is proof of the existence of the Palestinian people, as well as proof of their rights. It is also a loud call for the restoration of their inalienable rights.

The Palestinian resistance is a resistance in which the people are characterised with high spirits and firm convictions. We are resisting a violent enemy; it is the highest level of a popular war, not governed by restrictions, concessions and futile negotiation. The ultimate physical achievement is the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem.

We have lived through 20 years of futile negotiations, signed several agreements and accepted many initiatives, but we still have not realised our goals due to Israel’s lack of commitment to the agreements reached, as well as the United States’ hesitancy to put any pressure on Israel. Instead, the US pressures the Palestinian side and accepts the justifications and excuses put forth by the Israeli negotiator as to why Israel has failed to fulfil the obligations it agreed to.

In addition to this, the United States is a biased sponsor for the negotiations and we need other sponsors to join the US in formulating effective solutions in accordance with international laws and legitimacy.

Therefore, our resistance, in all its forms, is a sacred right and the Palestinian people have had enough of Israel’s lies and procrastination, as well as its injustice, oppression, and occupation. Surprises are undoubtedly coming, our rights will be restored and the new invaders will have no place in Palestine.

This is a translation of a piece that appeared on Raialyoum on April 8, 2014

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.