Habash: Resistance is Basic

The General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, George Habash, has told
the Beirut daily "as-Safir" tha the PFLP Congress would wind up its work within the next few days,
electing deputy General Secretary Abu Ali Mustafa as General Secretary, and successor to Habash.
The rest of a new PFLP leadership is also to be elected.

Habash said that after his resignation becomes final, he will devote himself to the task of setting
up a National Research Center concerned with the history, present and future of the patriotic and
Arab National movement.

Habash described his meeting with President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon as "excellent" and "of great
moment."  He quoted Lahoud as saying, "I am one hundred percent in support of your right to
return to your homeland of Palestine."

In reply to a question, Habash said, We are for a Palestinian state that has complete sovereignty.
Not a state such as is proposed by the Americans in return for which we are supposed to renounce
our claim to Jerusalem, the right of return, our borders, and water rights.

On July 3, Habash paid a met with the Lebanese president and also visited the Headquarters of
Hizb Allah in the Harik district where he met the deputy general secretary of Hizb Allah, shaykh
Na`im Qasim.

Habash said after meeting Qasim: "We discussed the subject of the great victory achieved by the
resistance in Lebanon.  We consider this a unique victory.  I have in mind the victory (over
the Israeli incursion in) 1973, the steadfastness of the Palestinians in 1982, and the intifada.
But what happened in Lebanon has its own specificity in all meanings of the word.  There are
several points here: Affirming the path of the resistance and the regime.  I am very pleased
to hear the Hizb Allah leadership point to this fact, and the need to take the position of the
regime into account.  There is also the factor of national and popular unity.  I am pleased when
I hear from the Hizb Allah leadership itself that it is not alone and that there are other forces
too that must be taken into account."

A reporter addressed the PFLP General Secretary saying, "You spoke about the uniqueness of the
Lebanese resistance.  So do you believe that there is a model there that can be repeated in the
occupied Palestinian territories?"

Habash answered: "As basic points, one hundred percent.  That is, we take into account the fact that
the path of the resistance is the sole basis on the basis of which we can attain our goals.  But
after that we must take into account the specificity of the West Bank and Gaza district.  But in
general we must affirm the path of the resistance."

In response to a question, Habash said that the American-Zionist plan has been drawn up on the basis
that Yasir Arafat be given a state in return for giving up Jerusalem, and the four million Palestinian
refugees in exile, and giving up the areas where there are Zionist settlements, our borders, and
our water rights.


"as-Safir" Tuesday, 4 July 2000