Official Translation - Minister's Cabinet

The Palestinian Central Council (PCC) General Session, Gaza, 2-3 July 2000
Final Statement

Having met in Gaza for two successive days, and on the basis of our people’s natural and historical right to establish its own state, on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, especially 242, 338 and 181, as well as on the basis of the Declaration of Independence of 1988, the Central Council announces to the Palestinian people, the Arab world and all the peoples of the world its will and determination to materialize the declaration of independence issued by the Palestinian National Council in its November 1988 session through the establishment of an Independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and through the restoration of its sovereignty over the Palestinian territories within the 4th of July 1967 borders at the end of the interim period, on September 13th, 2000.

In view of the lack of any substantial progress in the peace process, whether on the track dealing with the implementation of the interim agreement or in final-status negotiations, the PCC appeals to The Arab Republic of Egypt and to its president, to all Arab leaders, to both sponsors of the peace process, namely the USA and the Russian Federation, to the European union, China, Japan, the Organization of African Unity and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Non-Aligned countries, the UN Secretary General and the members of the UN Security Council, to move immediately on all fronts and at all levels to salvage the peace process and to support the Palestinian people in their determination to realize their sovereignty over all the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 by the end of the agreed upon interim period.

The PCC also calls upon the international community and both sponsors of the peace process to exert pressure upon the Israeli government to fulfil all its commitments and obligations previously approved and signed, especially the third phase of redeployment, the release of the Palestinian detainees and the return of all displaced persons.

To this effect, the PCC has taken its decision to materialize effective statehood and sovereignty. It has therefore decided to re-activate the committees previously formed in order to finalize the political, economic, social and legal plans and prepare all the necessary legislation.The PCC entitles the Executive committee, the Presidency of the Council and the PNA to follow up the activities of these committees.

The PCC reiterates its previous decisions considering permanent status issues:

- The adherence to the Palestinian refugees right of return to their land and property in accordance with UN resolution 194, and the rejection of all attempts aiming at resettling these refugees, depriving them of their inalienable right to return to their homeland.
- The insistence on the complete and comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem, to the 1967 borders, noting that the peace process initiated in Madrid stipulated the need to implement Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and affirmed the principle of Land for Peace.
- The insistence on the removal and dismantling of all Israeli settlements from the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the implementation of the Israeli military and civil withdrawal to the June 4th, 1967 borders.
- The insistence on having Jerusalem - occupied in 1967- as the capital of the independent Palestinian state. For peace won’t be achieved without its return and liberation from Israeli occupation and the protection of all religious sites, Islamic and Christian, from the continuous onslaught of settlement colonization. The PCC condemns the Israeli attempts to adopt a new law which forbidss Palestinian refugees from returning to their homeland and reasserts its annexation of Jerusalem, both of which are null and void, as they contradict relevant UN resolutions, particularly 252,465 and 478.

Upon the approach of the interim agreement deadline on September 13th, the PCC entitles the Executive committee of the PLO, during this period, to take the appropriate measures for the proclamation of the Independent Palestinian state as well as the realization of its sovereignty over the Palestinian territory, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Announcing this historical decision with full national responsibility towards a future of security, peace, and stability in the Middle East, the PCC appeals to all peace-loving countries and peoples to stand by international legality and resolutions, to insist on the implementation of those resolutions and to support the Palestinian people in the exercise of their legitimate right to self-determination and to establish their own independent state.This state should constitute the actual guarantee for comprehensive, just and secure peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

The PCC calls upon the Palestinian people to join efforts, to unite and stand together. In this regard, the Council also reviewed its decisions pertaining to the activation of all PLO institutions and departments here and in the Diaspora. The PCC, moreover, expresses its appreciation for the activities of the Executive committee and the convening of this session of the PCC, and entitles the Executive committee and the presidency of the Council to present a proposal for the formation of the new Palestine National Council in conformity with the provisions of the Basic Law and the relevant Resolutions of the PNC.

The PCC also hails the steadfastness of our Palestinian masses in the Diaspora, especially those in Lebanon , their attachment to their right of return to their homeland from which they were displaced from in 1948 and their complete rejection of all resettlement and displacement schemes. The PCC hails the Palestinian masses who expressed, through their sacrifices on the day of the Naqba, and through their demonstrations, the extent of their attachment to their right to independence and their solidarity with the detainees.

The PCC reiterates that democracy, equality and the principle of separation of powers are the sole choice for the Palestinian people to build its national authority and establish its independent state. In this regard, the PCC calls upon the executive committee and the PNA to reinforce democratic life and political pluralism, to respect the independence of justice, to develop the judicial system, to strengthen the principle of accountability and transparency, to ensure the rule of law, to preserve public liberties for citizens and to conduct municipal and local elections in a way that reinforces national responsibility and democratic life.

Considering the importance of the participation of all factions and forces, and in order to reinforce Palestinian negotiators so as to accomplish our national mission to achieve independence and sovereignty, the PCC entitles the Executive committee to reinforce the Higher National Steering Committee for Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. In this context, some of the PCC representatives suggested to make a comprehensive review of the peace process with the Israeli side and to rebuild it on new basis. Furthermore, the Council addresses the Palestinian detainees, hails their patience and steadfastness and assures them that freedom is very close, for national independence will mean both liberation of land and release of all Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.

The PCC also hails the great sacrifices made by the Lebanese people to liberate Lebanon from Israeli occupation and stresses that the implementation of UN resolution 425 in Southern Lebanon - a complete and comprehensive withdrawal - underlines the inevitability of Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, as it is committed to implement UN resolutions 242 and 338. It also emphasizes the importance of convening an Arab summit to restore and reinforce Arab solidarity.

The PCC also stood for a minute of silence in honor of the late Syrian president Hafez Al-Asad and wished success and stability to the new Syrian leadership headed by Dr. Bashar Al-Asad and to his people.

The PCC hailed the steadfastness of the Palestinian refugees in the refugee camps in Lebanon and reiterates its total attachment to the right of return of all the Exiles according to UN resolution 194. It also discussed the continuation of the Iraqi people’s suffering as a result of unjust sanctions, hailed the endurance of the great Iraqi people and demanded that sanctions be lifted. Finally, the Central Council glorified the martyrs of our people who sacrificed their souls for the liberation of Palestine and assures their pure souls that their sacrifices will not have been in vain, for the independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital is about to become a reality.

Long live Palestine as a free Arab State.
Long live the Independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.
Long live our Eternal Arab Nation.
Long live international solidarity with our people and its just struggle.