W ith the murof Front for the Liberation of the Palestine (PFLP) leader Abu Ali Mustafa, and the creep. ing reoccupation of parts of West Bank Gaza, intensified onslaught the Palestinian people to a state In other acts of aggression over the past week, Israel has attempted of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of when (DFL.P), threatened to shoot a bishop and a key civilians hostage as human shields WIlCH family homes and orphanage command Jala, door Bethlehem. T smel's latest escalation has embarrassed its western backers. Foreign actions are "excessive, disto so, and be less cite lence", and US State Department has also been this has not stopped Israel's ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land, destrucОЛУМ groves, expansion of illegal sraeli settlements, and siege ties, which continue in full political, force.
A t the same time, the unwavering support of the USA, •is aisrupting toe UN racism in Durban, in order territories, mourners to prevent delegates criticis ing Israeli policies and pracAbu elected head of the PFLP nation of its ailing leader Dr George Habash. Together with Habash, he had established the PFLP after the 190/ war, when Israck those parts of Palestine it had not occupied in 1948. For the next twenty years, PFLP second was importance tinian organisations only to Yassir Aratat's Fatah, It was famed for its militancy, its hijackings, and its rejection Palestinian right of return or the establishment of a uniIt played a significant role during the earlier Intifada, was centrally leading the Unified National Leadership which directed the struggle - in effect, a sovier-type body, similar to Areas up during many revolutionary struggles.
some PFLP declined in sig- in others. nificance with the growth of Hamas and Muhammad Islamist organisations, when Masheikheh, Arafat turned to open dialogue and compromise. it commands the support of tary command post.
'hey about 8% of the Palestinian population, though this support is believed to be growThe assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa marks the first Israel has targeted a clearly rather than who held the keys. V878 Since his election, Abu Ali had reinvigorated the PFLP, the UN and was regarded as second in importance only to Arafat the Rafah within tac rau icadetsnipThis convoy back. movement in the occupied some reported to U have attended his funeral.
Wer the simmerse has also continyed its policy which it had earlier withdrawn as part of the Oslo Routine repression of Palestinians (above) has escalated soith Imael's military reoccupation of the West Bank town of Beit Jala (top) and renetoed seizures of houses and land of Jerusalem, occupied territories. Hebron, Bethlehem, Gaza While this and Jenin have all been reoc- standabic, it is not one that only briefly, we can support. Indeed, we would warn that, while such a presence might provide a In Beit Jala, Isracli troops short-term easing of the situin the Hassan would prove refusing the struggle for Palestinian allow the 20 family members to leave, while they used the Troops home as a sniper and milt- tries would clearly not have the emotional commitment also occupied the biblical larly holding the 45 children might initially be more even. there as human shieids; they handed than israeli forces were only able to gain access to the building after threat- to provide tion to a situation which it Bishop to the Holy Land, has created, and to bring to an end an occupation which Isracli it has always supported, 1s a refused to allow the head of dangerous illusion.
Relief and Works The powers which imposed Agency (UNKWA) to enter "order" in Irag and Serbia refugee camp. can be no allies of people fighting for their freedom. did turn While we oppose such a HUL call, it nder this relent- endorsed it. This reflects a attack, deep and growing alienation Palestinians are However, this call is still a retreat from the unequivocal calling for an international peacekeeping force to replace ate and unconditional Isracli the Isracht presence in the withdrawal from all the territories occupied in 1967call is under- the only interim demand Opposition to this however, does not opposition| for international action. In particular, disastrous call for a boycott of Isracli goods and of tourism to from third coun A ctivists across the world are increasborders of ingly coming KOONUSS similarities between Zionist Israel and apartacia sout Alrica. a military solu- To mark the racism Palestine Solidarity Committee recently issued a state"We, South Africans who have lived through apartheid cannot be silent as another entire people are treated as non-human beings; people significant that without rights or human digNation. "We cannot permit a ruthhelicopter gunships tanks on civilians. tions of activists, the tofture of political prisoners, the murder of children and col"Israel simply, an Apartheid state... We support tac demand to isolate Apartheid Israel, the right of millions Palestinian refugees and the dismantling of racist settle"We pledge ourselves to be part of a new International against Isracl". A further development in the international campaign against MP Soren Sondergaard, a member of the Danish section of the Fourth International, to arrest Israel's new ambasGilon. call, Gilon, a former head of the mean Shin Ber (israel's security countless the Proness has justified using torture. In a more almost as embarrassing for Denmark as for Isracl, the Danish foreign to Gilon cannot be arrested because he enjoys diplomatic the immunity. This campaign, and the a Belgian court against Israel's Prime anti- Minister Sharon for his role Shatilla massacres have caused great difficulties for is apparently also concerned at the possibility of similar action in London. The anniversary of the marked by a rally in London 15 Uctober organised jointly by Right to Return Coalition), and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. and We canFurther details are avaiable at www.al-awa.org.uk or www.palestinecampaign.org
Outlook