Posted on 04/07/2008 4:04:28 PM PDT by Alouette
Jailed Fatah leader writes letter to Peace Now activists reading, 'We are ready for reconciliation that will grant ours and your own children a life devoid of the threats of war and bloodshed'
Attila Somfalvi Published: 04.08.08, 01:08 / Israel News
"The vast majority of the Palestinian people, myself included, are ready for a historic reconciliation based on international resolutions that will result in the establishment of two states, a Palestinian and an Israeli one, that will exist side by side in peace and security," jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti said in a letter addressed to Peace Now activists on the movement's 30th anniversary.
"We are ready for reconciliation that will grant ours and your own children a life devoid of the threats of war and bloodshed," he wrote, "to this end, we must reach a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible."
According to Barghouti, the former commander of the Tanzim in the West Bank and a leader of the Palestinian uprising, the Palestinian people are "longing to realize their dream of liberty, independence and peace and are awaiting the end of the Israeli occupation.
"To reach this goal (peace) the construction of settlements and the confiscation of (Palestinian) lands must cease immediately, the Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem must be reopened, the hundreds of roadblocks that have turned the Palestinian territories into a living hell and destroyed the Palestinian economy must be removed, and the policy of arrests and killings must stop, as must the siege on Gaza," he said.
"Israel must also open the border crossings and release thousands of Palestinian detainees," he added.
Barghouti continued: "I am writing to you from my small, dark cell in an Israeli prison, where I am being held along with 11,000 other Palestinian prisoners, including women and children; thousands of these prisoners are being held without a trial.
"From the Palestinian people who suffer, and have lived under military occupation for 40 years – I extend my blessings to you and empower you," he wrote to the Peace Now activists.
Hope for a Palestinian State
"The founding of Peace Now three decades ago gave us hope that there are those in Israel who oppose the occupation, the settlements and the enslavement of the Palestinian people. (It gave us hope) that there are those who call for peace between the nations and support the Palestinians' right to establish an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital beside Israel along the 1967 borders," he added.
Referring to the 'prisoners' document', which was drafted by leaders of various Palestinian factions currently being held in Israeli prisons, Barghouti said, "Our plan determines very clearly that the goal of the Palestinian nation is to bring about an end to the occupation of Palestinian lands conquered in 1967 and the establishment of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. It also presents a solution for the refugee problem based on international resolutions."
In his letter Barghouti claimed that the document grants Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the authority to conduct negotiations with Israel on a permanent agreement.
"This agreement will lead to a referendum. It paved the way for the launching of negotiations from a unified Palestinian stance," he said.
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