Palestinian leaders share Arafat's vision

Yasser Arafat - the Palestinian dream beckons

The Palestinian Central Council has endorsed PLO leader Yasser Arafat's intention to declare an independent state this year whether or not a peace agreement is reached with Israel.

The following are excerpts of the Council's statement issued in Gaza City.

On the basis of our people's natural and historical right to establish their state, the relevant international legitimacy resolutions, and the declaration of independence in 1988, the PLO Central Council [PCC] has decided to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital within the 4 June 1967 borders by the end of the interim stage on 13 September.

Peace process on the brink

Palestinian demonstrators - a long struggle

Given the lack of real progress in the peace process, the PCC appeals to Egypt, its Arab brothers, the US and Russian sponsors, the EU, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the UN secretary general, and the Security Council states to move immediately to prevent the peace process from collapsing.

The PCC appeals to them to stand by the Palestinian people in their efforts to establish their state on Palestinian territory by the end of the interim stage as scheduled.

The PCC calls on the international community and the co-sponsors of the peace process to force the Israeli Government to fulfil its signed obligations and pledges. The PCC reiterates its previous decisions on the issues of the final-status negotiations, which are:

International community must force Israel to meet its pledges

PLO central council

Adherence to the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homes in implementation of UN Resolution 198 and rejection of the attempts to resettle them and deprive them of the right to return.

Full adherence to a full Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, to the 4th June 1967 borders, to the land-for-peace principle, and the Madrid peace conference.

Yasser Arafat - on the way to Palestinian statehood

Adherence to the call for dismantling all Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land and ensuring the military and civilian withdrawal to 4th June 1967 borders.

Adherence to the status of Jerusalem as the capital of the independent Palestinian state. Peace will be achieved only with its liberation from Israeli occupation and with the protection of holy places from the threats of Judaization and settlements.

Israel stands condemned

The PCC condemns the Israeli attempts to issue a law banning the return of the Palestinian refugees and maintaining the decision to annex Jerusalem. Both objectives are null and void.

The PCC declares this historic decision with full national responsibility for the future of security, peace, and stability in the Middle East.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.