Dr Mustafa Barghouti outlines the goals of Al Mubadara

in a talk at the Bahrain National Museum, in Manama

(Democracy push for Palestinians)

June 23^rd 2003 - Published at "Gulf Daily News"

By ROBERT SMITH

 

A LEADING activist has spent the past two days in Bahrain to promote the vision of a democratic opposition movement in Palestine.

The Palestinian National Initiative was formed last year and aims to establish a democratic, unified leadership to negotiate a peace settlement on behalf of all Palestinians.

Dr Mustafa Barghouti outlined the goals of the movement last night in a talk at the Bahrain National Museum, in Manama.

In an interview with the GDN yesterday he revealed growing support for reform of the Palestinian leadership.

"This is a democratic opposition movement which aims to achieve reform in the Palestinian leadership," said Dr Barghouti, who is secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative.

"It aims to advance the democratic movement and help build a true democratic state in Palestine.

"We think there is huge potential support - the vast majority of Palestinians.

"Over 50 per cent do not want to have to choose between the existing authority or Hamas fundamentalists.

"They want a third alternative - a true democratic alternative."

Dr Barghouti, 49, is also president of Palestinian Medical Relief - one of the largest non-government organisations in the country.

He has recently travelled to the US, where he met with Secretary of State Colin Powell and is leaving today to take his message to Italy.

"We believe it is crucial to sustain the unity of Palestine and a unified Palestinian leadership," he said.

"But also preserving the goals of the Palestinian struggle, which are threatened."

The Palestinian National Initiative believes any agreements signed with Israel should be decided collectively.

It aims to open up the decision-making process to the public by introducing democratic elections from the top down.

That would mean holding new elections for top positions such as president and prime minister, as well as at the local council level.

"The Palestinian Authority should be accountable to the whole national movement in its agreements with Israel," said Dr Barghouti, who criticised the 1993 Oslo Agreement.

"Oslo made big mistakes - it did not consider the issue of democracy in Palestine or public support for the agreement.

"True and real peace will only last if there is popular support for it."

The movement is calling for the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state with boundaries set down in 1967.

It also wants to see Jerusalem as the capital and recognition of the right of return for refugees.

"We hear things about an interim state, provisional state, interim agreement, the settlement issue and the Jerusalem issue," said Dr Barghouti, who was invited to the country by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Palestinian People Support Fund.

"There is not sufficient attention to the fact that a true, just and lasting peace can only happen if the minimum Palestinian needs are met."

However, he acknowledges that the issue of right of return is a complex one which cannot be resolved overnight.

"Implementation of the right of return is a matter which has to be negotiated between the two sides," he said.

"It is a very sensitive matter which should be done in two steps.

"First there must be recognition of that right. Secondly there has to be negotiation over its implementation.

"There are many creative ways which could guarantee the rights of Palestinians."

The new opposition group believes the establishment of a unified national leadership would pave the way for long-term democratic government in Palestine.

By encompassing all groups in the election process, it anticipates that paramilitary organisations such as Hamas would be bound to accept the decision of the people.

"We believe a unified national leadership is a interim solution," said Dr Barghouti.

"It will allow us to stay unified in the face of real risks.

"But the leadership could also start preparing for free and democratic elections.

"The structure of this leadership would mean all groups, such as Hamas, would accept the principle of democracy.

"What people decide in the elections must be respected and this is one of the best ways of organising Palestinian internal affairs.

The appointment of Mahmoud Abbas as Prime Minister is seen as a big step forward in decentralising the power of the Palestinian Authority.

But his position is seriously undermined by the fact that he has not been elected by the Palestinian people.

"We believe the establishment of a Prime Minister is a good thing," said Dr Barghouti.

"Decentralising power of the Palestinian Authority is very good - we want these steps to be made in any way.

"But the prime minister must be elected. Abbas cannot conclude an agreement without the support of the public.

"He has to expose his position to free democratic elections. What the people decide must be respected.