Report: Fatah to propose updated platform

Fatah plans to use its general congress taking place in Bethlehem next week as a stage to present and vote on its political platform that opposes Israel's definition as a Jewish state, Saudi daily al-Watan reported on Saturday.

Details leaked to the paper of the proposed draft indicate that Fatah is interested in "Boosting the fight against the settlements, the separation fence and the Judaization of Jerusalem, through civil means and restrained violence".

The draft includes new clauses aimed at ending the standstill in negotiations with Israel. The draft supports the establishment of a united democratic Palestinian state and is also in favor of the option of unilaterally declaring a state within the 1967 borders – if talks fail.

In hopes of avoiding a situation of "neither war, nor peace", the draft also calls for tasking the United Nations and its Security Council with the handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Regarding the problem of Palestinian refugees, the draft proposes that "the issue should be resolved according to the UN Resolution 194", and it rejects calls for the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

Resolution 194 was passed in December 1948 and it deals with various matters regarding the establishment of the State of Israel. Its main article, Article 11, deals with the problem of the Palestinian refugees created consequently.

Article 11 reads: "The refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the governments or authorities responsible.

"Instructs the Conciliation Commission to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensation."

'No postponing talks on core issues'

Also according to the draft, "We must insist upon setting a timetable for negotiations, and an end to settlements as a precondition for the renewal of talks. We must refuse to postpone talks on Jerusalem and the refugee problem or any one of the core issues that will lead to a permanent agreement."

The document also mentions Iran, saying, "We must work towards opening a strategic channel against Iran," and calls for intensifying international efforts to boycott Israel and prevent normalization with it as long as the occupation continues.

Meanwhile, Fatah operatives living in Gaza continue to seek ways to leave the Strip to attend the congress set for August 4. Fatah sources said that 27 of their colleagues have managed to flee the Strip in recent days.

The Hamas movement has declared that it will not allow the 450 Fatah members living in Gaza to leave, unless Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas releases the 900 Hamas prisoners held in PA prisons.

As a result, there have been calls from within Fatah to postpone the congress.

On Saturday, the Hamas Justice Ministry in Gaza released a statement vowing to prosecute any Fatah activists who left the Strip to attend the congress: "All those who violated the ban and went to the congress in Bethlehem will be prosecuted as soon as they return to the Strip".

An Egyptian official said some two weeks ago that the tension has had a bad impact on reconciliation talks between the two Palestinians factions.

The source told Ynet that the mediators arriving in the Palestinian territories from Cairo were met with obstinacy on both sides, and mainly from the Fatah representatives.

With regards to the internal Palestinian strife, the draft says, "We must jumpstart comprehensive national dialogue around the Palestinian struggle, its strategy and the tools at its disposal, and take a stand preventing internal conflict."