Following is the statement issued by the National and Islamic Forces on December 29, 2000; 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):

At a time when the hostile Israeli aggression against our Palestinian people is escalating, our Intifada is continuing into its fourth month with determination and insistence towards liberation and independence by a will for struggle and with a confidence for victory. This is at a time when US President Bill Clinton has put forward proposals for a final solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

The national and Islamic forces have discussed the latest American proposals for a final solution, which are originally Israeli proposals. The forces have confirmed their absolute rejection of these proposals because they do not meet the minimum ceiling of the national and constant rights of the Palestinian people. They will lead to an elimination of the Palestinian refugee problem and to the division of Al Haram Al Qudsi (Al Aqsa Mosque compound), Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories between our people and the Israeli occupation authorities. It is an attempt to legitimize settlements and to reorganize and reinforce the Israeli occupation on our Palestinian land.

The national and Islamic forces valued the PLO’s executive committee decision in its last meeting, headed by President Yasser Arafat, which rejected the American proposals and adhered to the Palestinian national constants and the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic consensus.  The national and Islamic forces also confirmed their strong rejection of all pressures exerted upon the Palestinian people and its national leadership to force them to accept the American “surrendering” proposals. They are sure that the continuation of our people’s great Intifada and the solidarity of the Arab and Muslim peoples in the world will put an end to these pressures and will frustrate and bring down all solutions of surrender.

The national and Islamic forces confirm their constant stance in rejecting any proposals and solutions that do not lead to the dismantlement of all settlements, the liberation of all occupied Palestinian lands including Jerusalem and the guarantee of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties from which they were expelled during the years of Al Nakba. Any solution must also guarantee our people’s right to self determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The national and Islamic forces confirm that the option of the Intifada and resistance are guarantees for an end to the occupation and for achieving independence. We call on our people to escalate the Intifada and to strengthen its activities. We also appeal to the Arab and Islamic nations to support the Palestinian stance in rejecting the American-Israeli ideas and in confronting the American-Israeli pressure tactics in solidarity with our Palestinian rights.

Defeat to the occupation and solutions of surrender
Victory to our people and their national rights
May the Intifada continue until victory