NCJ Number
63579
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST PARTICIPATION OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (PLO) IN THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ARE SUMMARIZED FROM THE 12TH PALESTINIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL TEXTS.
Abstract
PROPONENTS OF PARTICIPATION ARGUED THAT REFUSAL MIGHT LEAD TO JORDANIAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP AREAS AND SUBSEQUENT LIQUIDATION OF FEDAYEEN ORGANIZATIONS IN THESE AREAS; THAT FAILURE TO EXPLOIT CONSOLIDATION OF THE GAINS RESULTING FROM THE OCTOBER WAR WOULD CONSTITUTE A MAJOR DEFAULT; THAT EVEN IF ISRAEL DID DEMAND A SETTLEMENT TO SAFEGUARD ITS SECURITY, THE CONFLICT WOULD NOT END; THAT ACCEPTANCE OF A PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY ON THE WEST BANK WOULD ATTRACT THE POPULATION TO THE PLO; AND THAT PALESTINIANS SHOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF ARAB NATIONALISM. FURTHER, THE ARAB SIDE COULD CONTINUE ITS STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAEL BY DEMANDING AN END TO JEWISH IMMIGRATION, BY SUPPORTING THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS AND THE REVERSION OF ISRAEL TO 1947 PARTITION BOUNDARIES, AND BY NOT FORMULATING AN UNEQUIVOCAL RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GENEVA CONFERENCE. OPPONENTS OF PARTICIPATION ARGUED THAT PALESTINIANS MIGHT BE FORCED TO GIVE UP THEIR MILITARY STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAEL AND THAT AGREEMENT TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT, EVEN A TEMPORARY ONE, WOULD INVALIDATE THE VISION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE IN THE WHOLE AREA WEST OF THE JORDAN RIVER, WOULD LEAVE PALESTINIAN MASSES ABROAD IN EXILE, AND WOULD CREATE A LANDLOCKED STATE DEPENDENT UPON ISRAEL AND JORDAN. FURTHER, THE PALESTINIANS COULD ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS THROUGH ALLIANCE WITH INTERNAL OPPOSITION WITHIN DEVIANT STATES AND THROUGH THE ARAB SOCIAL REVOLUTION. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION IS GIVEN AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)