Ramallah – Ma’an – Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine – Majida Al-Masri, presented a comprehensive analytical and future vision of the Palestinian situation and the prospects for action within a national, democratic, and liberation framework.

This vision was presented within the framework of a workshop called for by the Arab World Center for Research and Development (AWRAD) on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. It is the second workshop of the initiative launched in July 2024 entitled: ‘Towards Tomorrow: For a More Resilient and Prepared Cause and People.’

Atwa Matar, the initiative coordinator at Awrad, explained that the initiative works with multiple Palestinian parties in an attempt to answer fundamental questions such as: What is the future of Palestinian society and its political system in its comprehensive concept? What are the implications for the areas of economic, social, cultural, and legal planning? Matar stressed that Awrad is undertaking this self-initiat
ive in order to support and provide Palestinian parties with strategic directions to confront external pressures not only in the political field, but also in the economic, legal, social, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid fields.

Al-Masry’s vision of the Palestinian reality and the future of the Palestinian political system was based on the vision of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine within the framework of three axes, which are:

First: The Democratic Front’s reading of the Al-Aqsa Flood: The events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, constituted many seismic geopolitical and historical changes at the international, regional, Israeli, and local levels. At the local Palestinian level, it affirmed the right and capabilities of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation with all forms of resistance by legitimate means stipulated by international law, and armed means in particular, which have become a constant phenomenon of comprehensive
popular resistance in the face of the encroachment of the occupation authorities and their acceleration of the implementation of decisive measures, and is embraced by a motivated popular state, eager for more clashes with the occupation, but it certainly lacks a single guidance center, forms of field framing, and standing in the face of the authority’s attempts to suppress or contain it. Despite this, our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip and their valiant resistance continued to confront the occupation, resist it in the field, and inflict heavy losses on its ranks (according to its leadership).

In addition, the events confirmed that there is no security or stability without a just solution to the Palestinian issue. On the Israeli level, the events of October 7 denied the narrative of the ‘invincible army’ and demonstrated the racist nature of the Israeli occupation, thus dispelling the narrative that Israel is ‘an oasis of democracy in the Middle East.’ On the regional level, the events of October 7 thwart
ed Israel’s attempt to legitimize its presence in the region by normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia under the Abraham Accords. In addition, the Israeli war on Gaza strengthened cooperation between the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’ to defend the Palestinian cause by ‘resistance movements’ in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Finally, on the international level, these events revived the Palestinian cause and increased official and popular solidarity with the Palestinians.

Second: The Democratic Front’s political vision for dealing with current challenges: On 11/5/2023, the Front launched a political initiative entitled ‘A Political Vision for Dealing with Current Challenges,’ the essence of which is the call for a comprehensive and binding national dialogue for all parties, the results of which will lead to the formation of a unified leadership framework under the umbrella of the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, which constitutes an entry point for rebuilding the political system
on the basis of a new and alternative struggle strategy. The Front conducted broad national dialogues about it within the framework of the PLO and the national forces.

The vision included, in addition to the measures related to the ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, prisoner exchange, and reconstruction, opening a political track, in coordination with international allies, by holding an international conference under the supervision of the United Nations and on the basis of relevant international legitimacy resolutions, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive political solution that guarantees ending the occupation, achieving the independence of the State of Palestine, establishing a sovereign state on the borders of June 4, 1967, and resolving the refugee issue in accordance with Resolution 194.

In the same context, Al-Masry presented the ideas that were included in the Palestinian factions’ dialogue in Beijing in July 2024 as a roadmap to confront the so-called ‘day after’ for the Gaza Strip in particular, a
nd the Palestinian political system in general. These ideas include the following:

the division

Forming a unified and temporary national leadership framework.

Forming a national consensus government to manage the situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, under the authority of the PLO

Forming a unified Palestinian delegation to manage negotiations with the occupation, linking the issue of the Gaza Strip with the political process to resolve the conflict with the occupation, within the framework of an international conference sponsored by the Security Council, and seeking to implement the resolutions of international legitimacy related to the established national rights of our people.

Reforming and rebuilding the Palestinian political system.

Third: The Democratic Front’s vision for rebuilding the Palestinian political system: The Democratic Front presented an initiative on 1/16/2022 to rebuild the Palestinian political system, in which it called for consensus, at the table of comprehensive national di
alogue, on an integrated national plan that translates time-scheduled steps to be implemented, ensuring parallelism and synchronization in moving on two intertwined tracks: the track of ensuring comprehensive representation and national partnership in all PLO institutions, and the track of ending the division in the Palestinian Authority institutions, culminating in the stage of legislative and presidential elections and completing the formation of the National Council. In this context, the following mechanism is adopted:

Calling for a special session of the PLO Central Council, in which all components of the Palestinian national movement participate, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and a wide spectrum of trade union and independent community activities, reflecting the societal scene in its various political aspects, while emphasizing that the Central Council (until the formation of the next National Council) enjoys the powers of the National Council in accordance with the Council’s delegation to it in th
e 23rd session of 2018.

The Central Council shall elect, on the basis of the comprehensive national coalition, and with the participation of all active forces, a new Executive Committee and the Presidency of the National Council, which shall exercise their powers in accordance with the work of the National Council, and in a manner that ensures that the Executive Committee constitutes the daily leadership of the Palestinian people, and that the Presidency of the Council shall regularly call for sessions of the Central Council.

On the basis of the national coalition, a national consensus government will be formed, which will be concerned with providing the necessary conditions for managing public affairs in the Palestinian Authority areas, including services and others, and on the basis that political affairs are the sole responsibility of the Executive Committee, which requires a review of government positions, to prevent duplication with the departments of the Executive Committee in the PLO.

In cooperation
and coordination between the Executive Committee and the Government of the Palestinian Authority, and taking into account the emerging circumstances, general elections shall be organized, in conjunction and successively, for the presidential, and for the Legislative and National Councils, using a system of full proportional representation, where possible, and with national consensus where this is not possible.

After the elections, the government resigns and a new government is formed, under the supervision and accountability of the Legislative Council.

The Executive Committee also submits its resignation to the elected National Council, which formulates a program for the next stage, in order to achieve the national goals of self-determination, an independent state, and the right of return. It also elects a new Executive Committee, which exercises its powers in accordance with the internal regulations of the PLO.

Al-Masry stressed that the strength of the Palestinians lies in their history, their struggle e
xperience, and the depth of their civil acumen, and that involving the people and taking them into consideration is the only way that enables the Palestinians to confront this Zionist machine and its supporters. She called on the factions and figures to put the national interest above all other interests, and to adopt national unity as a tangible and long-term approach.

Source: Maan News Agency