In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, PFLP-GC representative in Lebanon lists the reasons why resistance factions reject PA president’s UN bid

Abu Imad Ramez to Al-Manar Website:
This is Why We Reject Abbas’ Move

Israelis Will Escape Ethical Responsibility
Refugees’ File Will Go with The Wind
International Community Will Be Relieved
Reconciliation Did Not Actually See Light
Abbas Should Have Coordinated with Us
PA Pushes Us towards Abandoning Land
Palestine Will Get Supervising Membership
Conflict with Enemy Will Turn to Dispute!

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) representative in Lebanon Abu Imad Ramez declared his refusal to the move to be taken by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to seek Palestinian statehood at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Abu Imad Ramez explained that such individual move, adopted by the PA without coordination with the various factions, could cause damage to the Palestinian cause in general and to the Palestinian refugees’ in particular. He warned that seeking a Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders would put an end to the people and nation’s rights in historic Palestine, and would turn the conflict with the enemy to a dispute over the land between two ‘states’ and not between an occupation force and a nation under occupation. He cautioned that such Palestinian ‘state’ would have to apply international law, and therefore Israel itself would find itself free from its legal and historic responsibilities towards the Palestinians.

Abu Imad Ramez said such an important and historic move should have required from Abbas to hold a meeting with all Palestinian factions, in light of the reconciliation accord which was signed more than three months ago in Cairo, without practically seeing light until now. He spoke of international pressure facing the PA head to withdraw his demands, and noted a deal might give Palestinians a “supervising membership” within the UNSC, just like the Vatican. He expressed concerns over the possibility to exploit the situation to pass a recognition of the state’s Judaization, an Israeli famous condition.

STATE’S FACTORS NOT AVAILABLE
The PFLP-GC representative in Lebanon told Al-Manar Website that the Palestinian people, just like all world’s nations, seek a state with a true sovereignty and applicable laws. Yet, he said the issue was totally different for Palestinians, who have no sovereignty over their own land, and therefore all necessary factors for a state are not available for them.

Hence, Abu Imad Ramez declares that he refuses the move to be taken by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to seek Palestinian statehood at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He rejected betting the American administration, European countries and the so-called international community for getting this membership, and warned that such a step would cause damage for the Palestinian cause as a whole and, of course, for the Palestinians. He highlighted that such a state, in case it sees light, a hypothesis already rejected by him, would be subordinated to Washington and its allies.

ISRAELI DREAM WILL BECOME TRUE…
Answering a question about the reasons preventing the Palestinians from being united even in the face of such sensitive and important cause related to their statehood, Abu Imad Ramez said Palestinians wish they have been united. However, he pointed out that the Palestinian reconciliation accord, which was signed three months ago in Cairo, was never achieved and that it practically did not see light, unfortunately. He held PA President Mahmud Abbas responsible for this illness, and noted that Abbas’ conditions made the reconciliation impossible.

The PFLP-GC representative in Lebanon criticized Abbas’ move to seek Palestinian statehood within the UNSC, and described the step as individual. He wondered why Abbas did not communicate and coordinate with other Palestinian factions over such a historic issue, which might lead to furthermore crises and dangers for the Palestinian people. He said that refugees would have to face a serious danger in case such state was recognized, and explained that in this case, the Palestinian state would be obliged to abide by the international law, and therefore the Israeli dream would be fulfilled and the Israeli enemy would be freed of its historic and legal responsibilities towards the Palestinian refugees.

FROM CONFLICT TO… DISPUTE!
While stressing that recognizing such a Palestinian state would turn the conflict with the Israeli enemy to a simple dispute over the land and borders which constitutes a real danger for the Palestinian cause and refugees, Abu Imad Ramez warned that following such trend would mean abandoning more than 78% of the historic land of Palestine.

He also highlighted that proceeding with this project would free the Israeli enemy of its legal, historic and ethical obligations towards the Palestinian refugees and people after all the crimes and atrocities committed by this enemy throughout the previous years. He said that the international community would also be freed of its responsibilities towards Palestinians. He said that he doesn’t recognize the division of Palestine, and cautioned against the possibility of overthrowing all the basic rights of the Palestinian nation for a state without borders and without sovereignty until the moment.

WHAT ABOUT JUDAIZATION?
Answering a question about the possible scenarios following Friday’s expected challenge, Abu Imad Ramez said that the American administration was still committed to the veto power to reject the Palestinian statehood. He reported, meanwhile, that efforts were ongoing to find possible exits for the crisis, and pointed to pressure exerted on Mahmud Abbas in this regard. He spoke of a deal in the offing, which could give Palestinians a “supervising membership” within the UNSC, just like the Vatican.

Yet, he expressed worries over the possibility to exploit the situation to pass a recognition of the state’s Judaization, an Israeli famous condition. But, answering a question whether it was possible for Abbas to accept such condition, Abu Imad Ramez said that the circumstances are not ready for such an option. “Yet, we must raise the voice to delete this option, whatever was the price we have to pay,” he said.

FEELINGS ARE NOT THE ESSENCE
At the end of his interview with Al-Manar Website, the PFLP-GC representative in Lebanon admitted that the Palestinian scene was divided between two major camps: one related to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and another to the Resistance factions, which recently held a meeting in Damascus and declared a unified stance towards this development.

While expressing his appreciation for the Palestinian nation’s feelings and its sincere will to get a statehood, he stressed that the Palestinian people should be patient in order for them not to be frustrated and depressed, something they have already experienced following the Oslo accords. “Feelings are not important in such historic moments,” he concluded.