April 9, 2001

Mr. Faisal Husseini, member of the PLO’s executive committee in charge of the Jerusalem portfolio, held a press conference, Monday April 9, 2001 at the Palestine Media Center premises.  The press conference dealt with the Palestinian position regarding political developments, especially on the issue of Jerusalem.

 
Following is a briefing of the main points addressed by Mr. Husseini:

On the Palestinian Israeli conflict:

“Many taboos have fallen throughout the past years on both sides. Golda Meir said once that there is no Palestinian people. I once also refused to say the word Israel or recognize it. But over the years things have changed, now we recognize Israel, and they recognize and deal with the PLO.”

 
On Israeli offers presented at Camp David:
“What was presented did not meet the minimum requirements stated in resolutions of international legitimacy.”

“ If we allow the Israelis to claim territorial rights to the east of the 1967 border line, then it also opens the way for territorial claims from our side to the west of the green line. Where then would it stop? Who can tell us that Talbieh in West Jerusalem, or Ramle, Lod, or Jaffa are not Arab towns? And who can tell the Israelis that the West Bank is not Judea and Samaria? Both sides claim a homeland that is larger than realties, therefore both sides must respect each other’s dreams and aspirations, but more importantly, respect realties. A state can be built and accepted on part of the claimed homeland.”

“There is no problem with the principle of swapping land. But first Israel must recognize Palestinian rights according to U.N resolutions and international legitimacy. Once this is achieved, then we can discuss any problem. When they spoke about land swap, they said 5% {in reality it was 8%}. But even if we take the 5%, then it must be clear, that any swap must be equal in percentage, so if we agree to 5% of the West Bank (22% of Historic Palestine), then they must exchange it with 5% of Israel (78% of historic Palestine)."

“We were very close to reaching an agreement in Taba, but then the elections took place and a new leadership came into power in Israel and the negotiations stopped.”

On the New government in Israel:

“Sharon came to power with a security agenda camouflaged by a political agenda, he came with an illusion that he can force a security solution on our people, this was expressed clearly by the statement made by Zeevi when he said that “we will keep hitting the Palestinians until they come to us crawling on their knees.” This will never happen. No Palestinian will go anywhere crawling on his knees. If they start re-building taboos, they will also cause re-building of taboos on our side, and this will take both of us no where.”

“The new Israeli government must understand that using the logic of power will only lead to no agreement, only by using the power of logic they can reach an agreement with us.”

On violence:

“Violence is not only throwing stones and shootings, the real violence is settlement building and by-pass roads using bulldozers.”

On Refugees:

“If I tell the Palestinian refugees, I have reached an agreement with Israel that allows the return of 3 million Palestinian refugees, but excludes 500,000, then 10 years later the 500,000 will create another problem and another new plight. The Israeli side must accept the right of return, and Palestinians must implement this right in a manner that neither raises nor materializes Israeli fears."