|
Back to
Opinions Page
Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine,
Ahmed Saadat, and tens of other Palestinian freedom fighters were
extracted from Palestine Authority jail in Jericho and driven to the
Israeli prisons on Tuesday 14th March 2006 to join their fellow
Palestinian prisoners after spending three years in detention guarded by
Palestinian security forces and under British American joint
supervision.
The kidnap of these people was conducted by the Israeli forces that used
tanks and aircrafts launching a devastating attack on the prison minutes
after the departure of the British-American supervisors which clearly
indicates the coordination and collaboration of these supervisors with
the Israeli highest security and political authorities.
This
dramatic scene which is full of Palestinian suffering and anger was
reflective of the Zionist bloody attitude against the Palestinian
people. But this time the scene was different as it was shared by
international parties who have been trying to market themselves as
neutral mediators, peace preachers and democracy supporters in the
region.
This
event carries long term indications and far reaching effects as it took
place in the wake of Hamas’s victory in the legislative elections and
amidst consultations that Hamas was conducting with all Palestinian
factions including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine for
the formation of the government and at the eve of Israeli parliamentary
elections. This aims at confusing and distorting realities in the
service of the occupation agenda and Ehud Olmert’s agenda in particular
for purposes that include:
1. Punishing the Palestinian people and the resistance oriented forces
in particular for voting for Hamas. In this regard, the invasion of
Jerico prison aimed at spreading frustration among Palestinians and
attempting to destroy the symbols of resistance and steadfastness
through arresting Ahmed Saadat and his comrades. This invasion was
carried out amidst strange Arab and international silence and explicit
British and American collusion; the two countries who always threatened
to stop international support to Palestinian people for electing Hamas.
2.
Delivering a message to Hamas indicating that the Israeli occupation is
in control of the situation even if the Palestinian leadership is
changed and that everyone should give in to the policy of power and de
facto that the Israeli occupation has always tried to impose since its
establishment.
3. Trying to spread confusion in the Palestinian arena by inviting
Palestinian reactions to be followed by violent Israeli reactions that
would affect the internal Palestinian scene and abort the formation of
the Palestinian government lead by Hamas and prevent Palestinian
coordination and joint work at this turning point in the Palestinian
history.
4. The Israeli occupation arrested the secretary general of PFLP Ahmed
Saadat and Fouad Al-Shoubaki from Fatah to try them in Israeli courts
and detain them at Israeli jails punishing the first for being allegedly
involved in the assassination of the Israeli tourism minister and the
second for alleged involvement in financing the arms carrying ship Carin
A in an attempt to abort any possibility for freeing them by a Hamas led
government.
5.
Enhancing the position of Kadima party under the leadership of Ehud
Olmert in the Israeli elections to be held late this month and to
present Kadima as a strong party who can harm the Palestinians and Arabs
and satiate the lust for Palestinian blood amongst the Israeli
electorate.
The
timing of this invasion indicates the intention of Israel under the
leadership of Olmert to complete the phases of its plan of unilateral
separation and settlement that was started by Sharon.
Facts and indications:
•
Israel is not ready for peace or committed to its agreements with the
Palestinians.
• The demand on the part of some Palestinian factions and Arab parties
from Hamas to adhere to political agreements signed with Israel can only
be described as political futility and undermining to the Palestinian
people who chose the path of resistance. Otherwise, how would anyone
expect Hamas to honour such agreements while Israel has never honoured
these agreements and refused to recognize any rights of the Palestinian
people?
• The Fatah led authority’s allegation that the detention of Palestinian
leaders and freedom fighters in the authority’s jails is meant to
protect them is a mere illusion.
•
The humiliating scene of the Palestinian police forces, holding their
hands up and almost naked calls Palestinians and Hamas to re-consider
the role of police and security forces who are supposed to protect the
Palestinians and their institutions.
•
The British and American participation in the carrying out of this
invasion has shed a lot of doubt and suspicion about the European and
American role which was supposed to be neutral and supervisory to the
signed agreements. This calls Palestinians to reconsider the methods of
dealing with these parties in a way that does not comply to pressure and
blackmail practiced by these parties.
Based on these indications, all Palestinians of different factions,
affiliations and orientations are required to come together and discuss
a new realistic strategy that is able to protect the Palestinian rights
according to the Cairo agreement. |
