an interview with Marwan Barghouti
Bitterlemons - June 20, 2006
bitterlemons: The Prisoners` Document was an initiative started by representatives of all the Palestinian factions in Israeli prisons. How did it come about?
Barghouti: The document came as a response to the deterioration witnessed in the Palestinian arena and the dangerous signs of internal tensions. It came from a deep sense of concern that matters should not get out of hand. It also came because of the tightening of the siege on the Palestinian people.
The idea was to devise a document that constituted a common denominator for all the political forces; a difficult job in the Palestinian context because the majority of these forces are entrenched behind their programs and are not used to a common program. We felt it was high time that a joint Palestinian strategy was formulated. It took weeks of discussions before we agreed on this initiative and its present form.
We believe this is a historic document that will assist everybody, if it is adopted, to unify their political programs and rhetoric and push away the ghost of civil war that threatens our people. We hope it will also be a breakthrough in the wall of the oppressive siege under which we suffer.
bitterlemons: Much has been made of the fact that the document calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, that this is an implicit recognition of Israel and that is why Hamas is opposing it. Is this how the document is meant to be read?
Barghouti: The Palestinian forces have for many years, but especially after the eruption of the Aqsa Intifada, agreed that the goal of the Palestinian people is to establish a Palestinian state with full sovereignty over all territories occupied by Israel in 1967. Recognition between the PLO and Israel happened 16 years ago and this document has nothing to do with that.
The Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaderships in the prisons participated effectively in drafting this document. They signed it and they still support it despite the opposition from some leaders in Hamas and Islamic Jihad outside. I believe this opposition is hasty and has come without due consideration.
A close reading of the document should make clear that this is a document of national constants, national unity and political partnership. It concerns common denominators and does not promote any one party`s positions. This is not the program President Mahmoud Abbas was elected on, and it is not the Hamas program.
It is a unified program and a strategic plan for everybody. All sides have to learn to coexist in light of their various programs, but they should do so within the context of one unified strategic plan and vision. I am confident that the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaderships will eventually agree to this document.
bitterlemons: But the Hamas and Islamic signatories withdrew their support. What happened?
Barghouti: The Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaderships in the prisons participated effectively in this document and we are in constant, permanent and daily contact. Hadarim Prison includes several leading figures from the various Palestinian forces and we are also in continuous contact and consultation with leaders in other prisons. This continuous dialogue and consultation made the task of drafting this document easier because we have mutual understanding and absolute confidence in each other.
We are gathered together in the trenches of struggle and resistance. This is not a frivolous or Byzantine debate; it is a responsible dialogue. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders who signed the document are well known symbols of the struggle. They refused the referendum but they still adhere to the document.
bitterlemons: Did prisoners expect the document to take on the importance it has?
Barghouti: The prisoners were hoping to see the document enjoy support and be welcomed, but the support the document got was beyond their expectations.
bitterlemons: Do you support the decision of President Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, to take the document to a popular referendum regardless of the position of Hamas and the Palestinian government?
Barghouti: The document is meant to achieve conciliation. We called it The National Conciliation Document and conciliation occurs through dialogue, which should be the basis for adopting the document. We believe that the national dialogue conference was wise to adopt the document; moreover, President Abu Mazen`s decision to adopt and support the document was highly appreciated by prisoners in all prisons who praised this principled position. We trust there is still a good chance that agreement over the document can be reached through dialogue, which is everyone`s priority.
bitterlemons: Some factions, including Hamas and the PFLP, say any referendum should include all Palestinians, including those outside Palestine. Do you agree?
Barghouti: We have always called for this. In fact, it is mentioned in one of the clauses of the document that any critical decisions should be made with the participation of all our people, whether in the homeland or in exile.
bitterlemons: The document was meant to foster national reconciliation but it seems to have sowed more discord. What do you think of this development, and how can Palestinians avoid further division?
Barghouti: This document can launch a unified Palestinian process. It can activate unified institutions to protect the democratic experience and consolidate the rule of law and offer solutions to important strategic issues. The document opens the door to settle matters in the PLO institutions and allow Hamas and Islamic Jihad to join on the basis that the PLO is the legitimate and sole representative of our people wherever they are. Reinforcing and restructuring the PLO is a national necessity. This document also opens the door to form a national unity government.- Published 19/6/2006 © bitterlemons.org
Marwan Barghouti is an elected Fateh member of the Palestinian parliament. Since 2002 he has been imprisoned in an Israeli jail.
