We Support Palestinian Secularism and Renounce the Godfathers of Oslo, A Statement By the Canada Palestine Association

For many years, we were hoping that the Palestinian secular movement would seize the initiative and confront the conspiracies that have been directed against the Palestinian struggle.

We thought that this movement will reflect the sentiments and the aspirations of the Palestinian people and call en masse to burry the Oslo Process and its godfathers. We were disappointed so far, and hence the following statement.

In no way do we claim to know all the concrete steps to get us out of this quagmire. We simply wanted to start the dialogue and interactions amongst Palestinian secularists and our supporters.

We thank all those who endorsed the statement and we know that their involvement and support will make a difference.

We are certain that the Palestinian people will chart the correct course, sooner or later, that will lead to liberation, equality and a secular democratic state.

We say enough is enough.

We call on Palestinian leaders, intellectuals and organizations to reclaim the proud history of the democratic, secular and independent Palestinian national movement and to:

Call on our Palestinian masses under occupation to renounce the Oslo agreements and its manifestations resulting in the division of the Palestinian territories into Gaza and the West Bank, into areas A, B and C, and the stillborn “PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY”; and to start re-building the popular committees to confront Israeli occupation on the same principles as during the first intifada.
Call on all other Palestinian secular organizations to admit their mistake in supporting the Oslo process, and to start mobilization for the convening of the Palestine National Council (PNC), with the understanding that the original charter is the basis for any convening. Any changes to it must take place in a democratic atmosphere and not under the dictates of the Israeli gun and U.S. tutelage
Call on Mahmoud Abbas to resign immediately, as he no longer has the confidence of the Palestinian people, and further, call on the PNC to convene an independent Palestinian tribunal outside the occupied Palestinian territories to decide his political future.
Call on Farouq al-Kadoumi as a leader for Fateh to take steps to dismiss all senior officials who are hurting the Palestinian struggle and destroying Fateh, and to implement the recommendation of Marwan Bargouthi, West Bank MP and Fateh leader, issued from his Israeli jail cell, to “dismiss all the leaders of the security services and appoint new leaders capable of reforming and developing the security institutions, relying on professionalism.”

We call on individuals and organizations to support this statement by sending their endorsements to info@cpavancouver.org and we will update our website regularly with further endorsers.

In Solidarity,

Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver, Canada www.cpavancouver.org

Voice of Palestine, Vancouver www.voiceofpalestine.ca

Endorsed by the following groups:

Canada Palestine Association, Halifax, Canada
One Democratic State Association - Gaza Chapter
Siraat, Vancouver
The National Campaign for the Boycott of Apartheid Israel - Gaza
The Palestinian Association of Hamilton, Canada
The Victoria Central America Support Committee, Canada
Vancouver Peace Committee
International Solidarity Movement-Vancouver

Endorsed by the following individuals (organizations listed for identification purposes only):

Anne-Marie Brun, Kelowna, Canada
Belal Fallah, PhD student, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Chris Leadbeater, Ashford, Kent, UK
Dorinda Moreno, elders of 4 colors 4 directions, USA West Coast
Dr Bucker Dangor, Emeritus Reader in Physics, Imperial College, London, UK
Dr. Abdullah Shaban, Vancouver
Elizabeth Block, Toronto
Lawrence Boxall, Jews for a Just Peace, Vancouver
Lawrence Davidson, Professor of History, West Chester University Pa, USA
Les Levidow, Jews Against Zionism (JAZ), London UK
Magid Shihade, Palestinian, Galilee, University of California, Davis, USA
Martha Roth, Jews for a Just Peace, Vancouver
Martin Roth, Jews for a Just Peace, Vancouver
Meria Heller, Producer/Host of The Meria Show www.Meria.net, New York
Mohammed Abu Assi, Montreal, Canada
Mona Baker, Professor of Translation Studies, Manchester, UK http://www.monabaker.com/tsresources/
Noah Lepawsky, ISM-Vancouver
Roland Rance, Jews Against Zionism, London
Ron Benner, Independent Visual Artist, London, On.
Sami Joseph, UK
Tony and Stephanie Ali, Vancouver

Hanna Kawas

Chairperson,

Canada Palestine Association