Most Palestinians say "No" to the Geneva Accord

Most Palestinians say "No" to the Geneva Accord
Dec 3, 2003, 00:05


Occupied Jerusalem - As Israeli and Palestinian politicians were launching
the so-called "Geneva Accord" in the Swiss city Monday, thousands of
Palestinians took to the streets in the occupied territories to protest and
condemn the "treacherous document."

In the Gaza Strip, home to more than 700 refugees, thousands of people,
including many refugees, fulminated against the Accords, calling Palestinian
signatories to the document "traitors" and "striving to please the Americans
and the Zionists at our people's expense."

" I want to know who gave (PA official Yasser) Abed Rabbo and his group the
right sell out the right of return," asked Islamic Jihad leader Muhammed
Hindi. "Indeed, who gave them the right to speak on behalf of more than 4
million Palestinian refugees aspiring to return to their homes and towns
from which they were uprooted by force?"

In Gaza City itself, hundreds of political leaders representing major
Palestinian political orientations, including key PLO figures, denounced the
Geneva Accord and called on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to
reject it "publicly and clearly."

"Let it be known to all and sundry that those participating in the 'Geneva
party' don't represent us, and if they claim that they do, don't you believe
them," said Abdullah al Hourani, Head of the PLO Refugees Department.

Likewise, Rafik Natshe, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council,
reminded "the Geneva people" that the Palestinian question started with the
refugees and would only end "with the refugees returning to their hometowns
and villages."

The strongest attack on the document and its Palestinian signatories came
from Fatah official Dr. Asa'ad Abu Sharkh who labeled the signers "a handful
of pigs."

The brazenly harsh criticism, say Palestinian pundits, could portend a more
serious contention within the Palestinian society if the accord was
officially adopted by the Palestinian Authority.

Earlier on Sunday at the Rafah border crossing, dozens of Palestinian
activists tried to block the 50-member strong Palestinian delegation to the
Geneva ceremony from leaving Gaza.

However, delegates eventually managed to elbow their way through the crowd,
amid shouts of "no to treason, no to treason."

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