Free Republic

Many observers are watching to see to what extent Fatah's Sixth General Congress will advance or retard the prospects for re-launching the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. In this regard, the crucial question is: Is Fatah going to waive its historical principle of "armed struggle" and devote itself to peace negotiations based on compromise? The two relevant documents to be discussed and approved by the Fatah Congress are the Political Program and Fatah's "Internal Order." The Political Program might be seen as reflecting progress in terms of accepting a political solution and rejecting violence - but it falls...

Oct. 23, 2003 Poll: Palestinians back terror even with state By JANINE ZACHARIA WASHINGTON Fifty-nine percent of Palestinians believe that Hamas and Islamic Jihad should continue their armed struggle against Israel even if Israel leaves all of the West Bank and Gaza, including east Jerusalem, and a Palestinian state is created, a new survey shows. Similarly, 80% of Palestinians say under those circumstances, the Palestinians should not give up the "right of return." The poll of 600 Palestinians, 600 Israeli Jews, and 400 Israeli Arabs was released in Washington on Wednesday by Itamar Marcus, founder of Palestinian Media Watch, and...

The Commission on Human Rights approved by roll-call votes this morning resolutions criticizing Israeli activities in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine, and opposing "defamation" of religions. In a resolution adopted by a vote of 40 in favour and 5 opposed, with 7 abstentions, the Commission among other things strongly condemned violations by Israeli occupation authorities of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories; strongly condemned the war launched by the Israeli army against Palestinian towns and camps, which had so far resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including women and children; strongly condemned the practice of...