Saturday 18 October 2008

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PFLP (POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE) ?

October 16, 2008 at 1:00 pm (Associate Post, Corrupt Politics, Israel, Palestine)

By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank


The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is not what it used to be. Today the organization which sired Laila Khalid, George Habash and many other luminaries in the skies of the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice is functioning very much like a hanger-on vis-à-vis the American backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

The continuing affinity between de-facto PFLP leader Abdel Rahim Mallouh and his namesake, the Chairman of the PA and Fatah Chief Mahmoud Abbas seems to suggest that the leftist group is effectively abandoning its erstwhile principles. What is even more shocking is that the scandalous misdeeds of the Ramallah regime is having little bearing if any on the marriage of convenience between the PFLP and the PA leadership.

Not too long ago, the PFLP didn’t hesitate to physically eliminate any Palestinian figure that would “cross the red lines” with regard to dealing with the colonialist Israeli occupiers. The assassination by a PFLP cadre more than two decades ago of the Israeli-appointed by PLO-accepted former mayor of Nablus, Thafer al Masri, can be viewed as a classical example in this regard.

Now, however, with virtually all Palestinian red-lines being crossed in broad daylight by the PA leadership, the PFLP is not only silent and submissive but is also providing a certain cover of “national consensus” to legitimize policies and practices that George Habash, Abu Ali Mustafa, Wadee’ Haddad and Ghassan Kanafani would have viewed as representing ultimate national treason.

Since the inauspicious Oslo Accords more than 15 years ago, the PFLP has been projecting itself as representing the conscience of Palestinian secular nationalism.

However, the past few years witnessed a serious deterioration in PFLP commitment to upholding and safeguarding Palestinian national goals and interests.

At the theoretical level, the PFLP leadership continues to recite the same old rhetorical rituals about the evils of Zionism of the American-led imperialistic camp.

However, in a sharp contrast to the high-sounding rhetoric, the PFLP leadership has been quietly and obediently walking, side by side with the Ramallah-based regime, in the path of sacrificing national interests for the sake of obtaining American and Israeli acceptance.

In fact, the PFLP has committed more than just forgivable mistakes. It has committed grave sins which really dishonor and disfigure the history of an organization that always judged individuals, entities and regimes in accordance with the level of their subservience to American imperialism.

Let us examine some of the national and moral blunders recently made by the PFLP, which I am sure make many of the group’s members and supporters seethe with anger.

The current PFLP leadership ( I am talking about Mallouh, not Ahmed Sadaat who is languishing in Israeli dungeons) has effectively allowed Abbas to manipulate the PFLP as a cheap and readily-available propaganda pawn in the enduring showdown between Fatah and Hamas. This is a fact that many honest PFLP leaders, such as Khalida Jarrar, readily acknowledge.

Moreover, whenever Abbas wants to advance his own approach toward ceding Palestinian national rights, such as the paramount right of return, or gain propaganda points in the crisis with Hamas, he simply invokes the old boring mantra that the PLO is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Interestingly, this is done despite the fact that the policies pursued and the goals sought by Abbas and his regime, which survives on handouts from the US, Europe and some oil-rich Arab states, constitute the exact antithesis of the very goals and aspirations the PLO was founded to achieve.

In addition, the PFLP leadership said nothing and did nothing during all these years when the Fatah group was steadily eroding, corrupting and eviscerating the PLO of its national substance and even relevance until the organization eventually became a mere pale ghost of it once was.

A few months ago, I asked Mr. Mallouh during a Ramallah conference if his faction would still cling to the PLO if the Abbas regime compromised on the inviolable Palestinian national constants such as Jerusalem, the right of return for the refugees and Jewish colonies on the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Mallouh refrained from giving a straightforward answer. In stead, he said that “we shall cross the bridge when we reach it.”

But Mallouh and all the Palestinians have already reached the bridged as Mr. Abbas has been saying in no unmistakable terms that he won’t demand the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homes and ancestral motherland in what is now Israel.

Yes lower-ranking PFLP operatives did condemn Abbas’s remarks, which should be commended and appreciated.

But the deafening silence of Mallouh and his close associates can’t be forgiven. This is not the same PFLP that we grew with and respected.

It is really sad that the PFLP, along with other Palestinian groups and organizations that claim to adhere to the leftist traditions of siding with the worker-class and upholding the principles of justice, is surrendering to the American hegemony, either for the sake of money or out of despair of the possibility of defeating the imperialistic schemes.

These organizations seem to have preferred to appease the PA, the Israelis and Americans rather than speaking up and loudly protesting some of the manifestly criminal acts that Israel and the PA have been carrying out in the West Bank, including the destruction or closure of boarding schools, orphanages, charities and other civil institutions serving poor Palestinians and enhancing their ability to withstand the Nazi-like Israeli occupation.

More to the point, the PFLP stood silent while the American-backed regime in Ramallah refused to pay regular salaries to some 6000 teachers whose dossiers and files continued to be withheld in the Mukhabarat (General Intelligence) offices in Ramallah.

So, why did the PFLP not speak up on behalf of these wronged people? Why did Mallouh not urge his close friend Abbas to treat these unfortunate working men and women with the respect and dignity they deserve?

Another serious behavioral flaw undermining the image and reputation of the PFLP is the continued companionship of Mallouh and Abbas, which suggests that the leftist group has no serious objections to the full-fledged conversion of the PA regime to the American-Zionist camp. Is the PFLP leadership too gullible to realize that the PA has become an integral part of the overall American scheme against the forces of resistance and steadfastness in the Middle East?

Finally, the PFLP silence in the face of the police-state regime being consolidated in the West Bank, thanks to the active intervention by the CIA and Israel, is more than telling. It reflects a high level of complacency and moral bankruptcy on the part of the PFLP leadership which watches all these blasphemous acts being committed while keeping its mouth shut.

In fact, the PFLP seems to follow the old adage: “if speech is silver, silence is gold,” but in an obviously pathetic manner. Maybe the real adage the PFLP leadership is adopting these days is that which was coined by Saadi Shirazi, “when money appears, heads bow.”

Unfortunately, this seems to be the most plausible explanation of PFLP behavior vis-à-vis the PA in recent years.

To be sure, no one expects the PFLP to assume the role of a mighty rectifier or leveler on the Palestinian arena.

However, the PFLP is expected to be at the very least faithful to its own principles, especially those pertaining to the sanctity of Palestinian rights and honor and dignity of the Palestinian struggle, both of which are being clearly compromised by the very entity the PFLP leadership is now pandering to.

Palestinian "Left"- Selling their souls for 30 coins, miserably failed their people.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Habbash Message on the 38th Anniversary of PFLP

On the 38th anniversary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine and the 18th anniversary of First Intifada, Dr. George
Habbash, the founder of the Arab Nationalist Movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, addressed a message to the
Palestinian People at home or in exile and the Masses of the Arab Nation.

To the Palestinian Struggling PeopleTo the masses of glorious Arab Nation Female and male Comrades

In the beginning, I would like to start this message by sending my
regards to Patriots of Resistance in Palestine and to the Committees
of the National Action for the Intifada. I send my regards to our
people in Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, Beit Lahham, Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus,Hebron and all cities, towns and camps of West Bank. My best regards are for those daily confronting the Zionist Occupation, who confiscated the lands in order to construct the Discrimination Wall,by their naked bodies. I send my regards to the souls of the virtuous Martyrs, Martyrs of freedom, independence, Intifada and Resistance. My regards to be sent to their families and children. I send my best regards to my brothers and comrades who are detained in the Israeli Occupation prisons, and Jericho jail, and my highest regards will be sent to the Patient Leader Comrade Ahmad Sa'adat – Secretary General
of PFLP, deputy Secretary General of PFLP leader Abdul Rahim Mallouh,
his comrades, Brother Marwan al-Barghoutti and Hassan Youssef,
Struggler Samir Qintar and his comrades, as well as all Arab prisoners in Zionist prisons. Again, I send my regards to all Resistants and Strugglers in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and all Arab Countries. This glorious anniversary of PFLP comes in hard circumstances witnessed by the Arab Territories and the Palestinian cause, as well
as our Front whose Secretary General Ahmad Sa'adat is still in Prison along with his Deputy Comrade Abdul Rahim Mallouh, their comrades and a large number of the PFLP cadres due to their firm stands towards the National causes.

I, hereby, say:«Blessed be the PFLP in its strong continuation of
Struggle giving a shining example of solidarity by the Struggling
comrades inside the Israeli Jails. Blessed be the Strugglers comrades
on Palestinian Lands in Brigades of Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa, in Gaza
Strip, cities, villages and camps of the West Bank.

On this glorious anniversary, we have to evaluate our line since the
last anniversary. However, we would find that it was a year full of events and political developmenst all over our beloved Homeland and the whole Arab Area. On the Palestinian Internal level, we should ask the following question: «What was achieved?».

The important achievement fulfilled is the withdrawal by the Zionist Occupation from Gaza Strip and Dislocation of its Settlements, which was an outcome of Resistance and Intifada as well. If not the Resistance and its operations were not found, the withdrawal shall be a fact, but such national victory remains imperfect with the Israeli
oppressive measures, which transformed Gaza Strip into a large Prison. This act is one the goals of Sharon's Plan in order to keep the Zionist control over the Borders, Crossings, Air Passages and Sea Ports. This situation requires the choice of Resistance in its consideration as the sole road to guarantee the achievement of Freedom and Independence.

Thereby, the Israeli Strategy became well known through partition of Palestinian lands into cantons and the attempts of separating West Bank from Gaza Strip as well as keeping Gaza away of the conflict. Such policy aims at swallowing and confiscating more pieces of the Palestinian lands, continuing the construction of the Discrimination Wall and isolating Jerusalem, the capital of Palestinian State, from the rest of the West Bank cities by building such wall, in order to
prevent the establishment of the Palestinian National Independent
State and not to provide any constituents of establishing the
Palestinian Independent State.

Thus, there is an Israeli Strategy supported by the American
Administration. In return, we can ask: «Is there a Palestinian
Strategy on which we may rely to struggle on its basis?» Yet, any Palestinian Strategy on which we may talk should include our known Palestinian invariables: Right of Return of the Palestinian Refugees to their lands from which they were pulled away, Jerusalem is
the capital of the Palestinian State and Evacuation and Dislocation of Settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.

Nevertheless, the construction of the Discrimination Wall means the
continuation of confiscation plan and settlement. The Wall that
condemned by the world, constructed to destroy basement and the constituents of any Palestinian State and to hit the true meaning of the Independence and sought freedom, which is the slogan adopted by the Intifada.

Therefore, the Zionist enemy is going on its policy of swallowing more lands and oppressing our Palestinian People, despite the existence of an internal Israeli party conflict. In conclusion, such parties are, in their essence, all agreed upon Zionist invariables. It's mistakably to bet on such conflicts and presume that there is a change in the
Israeli Political Thought.

Concerning the Arab situation, dangers are increasing more than
before, accompanied by the existence of the American Strategy which aims at arranging the Arab Area situation to dominating and
controlling its wealth. This Strategy is proceeding fast particularly after the American Invasion to Iraq. We may notice how the chains of such Strategy is connected through the American influence on Lebanon and its attempts to impose an international mandate over Lebanon with all consequences of the American and international demands to execute the second crack related to decision No. (1559) and to target the Islamic Resistance of Lebanon as well as the rumors about disarming the Palestinian camps and the American Zionist attempt to cross out the Palestinian and to prevents breathing from the Arab lungs.
On the other hand, American Strategy is practicing more pressures on Syria and targeting its National stances by imposing economic penalties on it. This is because Syria represents the National firm stances in the Arab World. These developments proceed side by side with the existence of an official Arab deterioration and Arab jogging towards Normalization with the Zionist Entity. On the other side, there is an Arab popular rejection of Normalization despite all attempts. Would the plans set by the American Administration and its strategy for the Arab World succeed?!

Replying to these questions could be found in the future of Resistance in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria as well as the beginning of the Popular Movement in Egypt and all Arab Countries. However, the Iraqi Resistance gave a new hope, and has great achievements on land. It
shall also impose the agenda of the American withdrawal, which shall be considered as a defeat to America after Vietnam. Look at the
influence of the Iraqi Resistance against the American Occupation
Forces. Look at the American and World public opinion and listen to
the strong voices opposing the American Administration's plan in its war and occupation of Iraq.

As for the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon leaded by Hizbullah, it is
always ready to attack all conspiracies made against Lebanon. Such Resistance is capable of liberating the remaining parts of the Lebanese Occupied Lands (Shaba'a Farms).

In Palestine, our people is still adhering to its brave Resistance
until achieving its freedom and independence, establishing the
Independent Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital.
Yet, the American Zionist Strategy is working hard to targeting and
crossing out the Palestinian Resistance in Palestine. But Syria is still adhering to its choice of resisting American pressures or
penalties imposed on it to keep its firm National stances and to
liberate the Golan Heights from the Zionist Occupation. Facing such facts, we find ourselves within a second round of conflict
with the American Zionist Plans.

On the 38th anniversary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine, we confirm the following:
1-Confirming the choice of Resistance by confronting the
Zionist occupation Plans on land, which means the legitimacy of
Resistance with the existence of clear strategy.
2-Deepening the concept of freedom and independence as well as
protecting the achievements of the Intifada and the Resistance through
activating PLO Institutions, confirming the principle of Democratic
Dialogue and working for the achievement of a free and impartial
Legislative Elections on the basis of Democracy, Reform Programme and
combating corruption and internal building.
3- Activating the National and Public action in order to return
to the popular features of the Intifada and resisting the construction
of the Discrimination Wall, which is confiscating more parts of land
in West Bank and Jerusalem.
4- Making efforts to consider the cause of the Wall as one of
the world's Struggle causes in order to remove it, particularly that we rely on the Convention and the Decision made by Lahai International Court, which provides that the Wall should be removed as it's illegal,to provoke the World's Public Opinion, the Forces of confronting Globalization, the World's Solidarity Forces that support the
Palestinian Struggle and resist the Discrimination Wall as well as all forms of Apartheid and Racial Discrimination.
5- Supporting our people in the Occupied Territories of 1948,
who are facing the Zionist racism, standing side by side with their
fair struggle, evaluating their brave stand beside their people and
brothers in Gaza and West Bank. This shall give the impression that
our Palestinian People everywhere is unified in its struggle and that
it can't be divided.
6- On the Arab level and within these hard situations in the Area, it is necessary to stand firm in front of the crisis of the Arab Liberation Movement, putting solutions to its problem through
renewing its Arab National speech, defining its contemporary goals and
thinking of a National Arab Islamic Resistance Front in coordination with the Islamic Enlightenment Movement. This would result in crystallizing a resisting front to confront all plans of the American
Zionist hegemony of the Area. We should also coordinate with the Arab Party Forces supporting and consolidating our people and its Intifada in Palestine, and we should put these forces before their historic responsibilities and to set a work mechanism to combat Normalization in order to make such forces fight for democracy and Arab National goals.
On this anniversary, I send my regards to the National Lighthouses in the Arab Countries, to forces of peace loving, consolidating with the
struggle of the Palestinian People particularly those in Latin America
and those o the World's Consolidation Forces in Europe and America. Finally, I send my regards to our people in the Occupied Territories of 1948 or exile and to our people in the Occupied Golan. I also send my regards to the heroes of Resistance in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.

I send my regards to all prisoners in the Israeli jails particularly
those in Jericho, and to Iraqi strugglers in Abu Ghraib prison and all Iraqi American prisons.

Glory and immortality to our Faithful Martyrs Victory to Resistance

Dr. George Habbash
Founder of the Arab Nationalist Movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine