Following is the statement issued by the National and Islamic Forces on March 31, 2001; signatories are: Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fateh); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas); Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP); Palestinian People’s Party (PPP); Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA); Palestinian Popular Struggle Front; Palestinian Liberation Front; Islamic Jihad Movement; Arab Liberation Front; Palestinian Arab Front; Popular Front—General Command; Islamic National Salvation Party; and Popular Liberation War Pioneers (Sa’iqa):

Our great Palestinian masses
Our Arab and Islamic Masses
Our heroes of the Intifada of the Aqsa, Al-Quds, Independence, and Return

Your blessed Intifada, the Intifada of the Aqsa, Al-Quds, Independence, and Return enters its seventh month in light of escalating confrontations and critical changes at the local, regional and international levels. The Arab summit did convene and the US Veto was issued to protect the occupation and give the green light to the government of Sharon and Peres to escalate the aggression. The Land Day and the unity of the Palestinian people wherever they are and their solidarity with our people in the lands occupied since 1948. The blessed Intifada and the courageous resistance are escalating through broadening the mass participation in the decision-making and in the activities in which all popular institutions and official PNA institutions participated.

The results of the Arab Summit came below the level of the expectations of our masses and nation. Their decisions did not rise to the level that can confront the challenges and protect the Arab dignity. Concluding the Arab summit without taking practical steps to lift the oppressive siege and stop the US-British aggression on Iraq shows and reveals the fact that some Arab regimes give in to the US pressure while the US is still using Arab lands to launch criminal raids on Iraq and its steadfast people. The issue of the Intifada and supporting the Palestinian people have gained a rhetoric consensus, but we look forward to see mechanisms to implement the political decisions and secure the arrival of the support without evading the decisions with false justifications or listen to the US decision to reduce the financial resources of the PNA, just like what happened in the previous summit.

The US indifference to the Arab summit to the point of using the Veto revealed the US biased policy more than ever. The administration of Bush-Cheney-Powell is reinforcing its political and military support to the government of Sharon-Peres. The US Veto came to protect the Israeli occupation and give the green light to escalate aggression against our heroic people and their Intifada and resistance. The National and Islamic Forces condemn the Israeli-US blatant aggression against our people. The forces are looking towards the Arab and Islamic masses for organizing mass movements to condemn the Israeli aggression and refuse all kinds of pressure on their governments and secure international protection to the Palestinian people who are facing the Zionist war machine.

The National and Islamic forces extend appreciation to the Palestinian masses in the homeland and in the Diaspora which was expressed in the solidarity with our people in the lands occupied in 1948 on the 25th anniversary of the Land Day. The marches that were organized in the Arab and Palestinian camps and communities in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan affirmed their support to our people and their blessed Intifada and resistance.

The bloody confrontations in the districts of the homeland express the challenge and the confrontation against the Israeli aggression which is equipped by the US fatal and international banned weapons against our people and PNA institutions and in particular against Force 17. Our masses expressed their condemnation to the continuous aggression by the occupation army and settlers in the city of Hebron. There are attempts in Hebron to evict residents from Abu Sneineh and Sheikh Takrouri Quarters in order to create a buffer zone in implementation of the Sharon-Peres security plan.

The conspiracy of eviction and transfer requires challenge, confrontation, and steadfastness with all components and requirements of sustainability. There must be specific activities to force the settlers to leave in preparation for eliminating settlements from their roots.

The National and Islamic Forces are following up the trend and policies led by Sharon, mainly his plan to impose security. The forces affirm that all Arab and international initiatives to return to negotiations are nothing but a waste of time, and open the Arab and international doors in front of Sharon's government. We must continue in isolating the government of Sharon-Peres in order to make it collapse and join the governments of Barak and Netanyahu.

The National and Islamic Forces call upon our masses to participate in the following activities:

1- Tuesday, April 3, 2001, a day of popular rage to be expressed in massive marches against the Israeli aggression and the US position that is biased towards Israel, through using the Veto in the Security Council and the recent statements issued by senior officials in the US administration that justified the aggression and granted it a cover.
2- Friday, April 6, 2001, a day of challenge and steadfastness to confront the aggression and the attempts of eviction and head to the Aqsa Mosque and observe the Prophet Musa Season to be expressed in marches and activities as appropriate in each district and region.

The National and Islamic Forces stress on the importance of challenge and confrontation; the forces affirm that the battle is more comprehensive and that there is a need for the participation of all sectors in the Palestinian society and its civil, military and security institutions along with the civil society institutions. This is important for victory and for defeating the enemy. Activating the boycott of Israeli goods and resisting normalization is an important part in the task of our people in isolating the government of Sharon-Peres.

The National and Islamic Forces appreciate the experience of the popular conference held in Ramallah and the conference of national and Islamic forces in Hebron. The forces call on all districts to make use and benefit from those two experiences and reinforce their positive aspects in preparation for holding popular conferences all over the homeland to confirm the grassroots of the Intifada which will continue until victory.
 

Long live the blessed Intifada
Glory and eternity for our martyrs
Fast recovery to the injured and freedom for our heroic prisoners
It is an Intifada until victory