Following is the statement issued by the National and Islamic Forces on July 28, 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 glorious Arab and Islamic free masses
Our heroes of the Intifada and resistance

Your blessed Intifada, the Intifada of Al-Aqsa, Al-Quds, Independence and Return, enters its 11th month with rising determination and strong will that translates the will of god and the will of the people who will not be defeated. Your Intifada and resistance have transformed the lives of the settlers and occupation army into an unbearable hell. Despite the suffering of our people who are facing the continuous and escalating aggression in all its forms, the legendary steadfastness of our people and national authority under the blessed Intifada and in light of the strong national unity confirms the fact and inevitability of the victory of our cause and the regaining of our inalienable rights, including the right of refugees to return to their homes and properties from which they were evicted, and the right for self determination and the establishment of the independent and sovereign Palestinian state with the blessed al-Quds as its capital.

The continuous and escalating Zionist aggression, which is receiving unlimited support by the US administration and the US Congress, imposes on us more unity and readiness to defend ourselves. Military reinforcements around the PNA regions and the continuous aggressions, the assassination of leaders and activists in the Intifada and resistance do not exclude anyone; they assassinated martyr Salah Darwazeh, member in the Intifada Coordinating Committee in Nablus. This crime is considered an escalation in the policy of assassinations, which reached political leaders too.

There are currently steps to prepare the Israeli public opinion and the international public opinion to execute the central aggression crime; Peres stated that two martyrdom operations are enough to end the PNA. Mofaz considers the PNA as a terrorist authority. The Israeli public opinion polls show that the majority supports a large-scale operation against the PNA. There is also the religious ruling issued by Chief Rabbi in Israel who supported the assassination operations. Moreover, the Higher Court allowed the Zionist gangs to lay the cornerstone of the alleged temple in the Aqsa Mosque. All these statements require Palestinian, Arab, Islamic, and international confrontation at the highest levels.

As for the US Congress, which moves upon instructions from the Zionist Lobby, it requests from the US Administration to consider the Authority as a terrorist entity, according to a suggestion by Netanyahu. Sharon affirms that he is in agreement with the Administration regarding the military aggression, the assassinations and the incursions and that he briefs President Bush and Secretary of State Powell in advance about the steps he takes.

Sharon succeeded in blocking the path in front of any international monitoring although such a step do not represent the aspirations of our people. Sharon also seeks to limit this task to the CIA. We call on the PNA to reject such a formula, which is totally biased towards occupation.

The National and Islamic Forces are monitoring the course of regretful events in Gaza Strip; these events try to cause internal split and strike national unity. We extend a call to all sides to abide by the appeal issued by the Higher Follow up Committee of the National and Islamic Forces in order to strengthen the internal front in face of the aggression policies of Sharon who failed in striking the steadfastness of our people in the field.

Such internal disputes must be eradicated from their roots. The enemies are trying to instigate such disputes through encouraging tribal loyalties and calling for taking revenge from strugglers who killed collaborators during the greater Intifada. The Zionist attempts and involvement in such acts are exposed; the Zionist entity is threatening the PNA and the Palestinian judiciary system and Palestinian security services not to attack or harm those collaborators. The phenomenon of collaborators must be struck with an iron fist. Work must be intensified to dismantle the networks and cells of collaborators. We commend the efforts exerted by the security services that capture those involved in the assassination of Palestinian cadres. We demand taking preventive action and protection even before the assassination is committed, such as the cases of capturing several collaborators who have been transferred to trial.

The National and Islamic Forces extend salute to commissions and individuals who are taking the role of popular monitoring in the regions of Bethlehem, Bet Sahour and Bet Jala and other areas.

The National and Islamic Forces call on the Palestinian masses and the masses of the Arab and Islamic nation to participate in the following activities:
 

1- Sunday, July 29, 2001: A day to protect the Aqsa and Holy Sites in blessed al-Quds. A day to gather in the center of districts and organize marches that condemn the Zionist aggression and the attempt to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque through laying the cornerstone of the alleged temple. The National and Islamic Forces call on the masses in the Arab and Islamic nation and the government and organizations to stand form against the aggression step against the Aqsa and the holy sites and organize marches that support the Intifada and resistance and protect the Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem from any harm.

2- Friday, August 3, 2001: A day to affirm the protection of the Aqsa and call for prayers in the Aqsa Mosque and break the siege and organize marches in all districts in the homeland and in the Arab and Islamic Countries.

The National and Islamic Forces call for preparing for the activity of honoring the children martyrs of the Intifada next week.
 

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
The National and Islamic Forces
Palestine