:: ABOUT US ::

  1. INTRODUCTION

Towards the end of 2006, there was a general concern regarding the Palestinian National cause.  A great many Palestinians, in the Occupied Territories and in the Diaspora, felt an urgency to take action to salvage the situation.  Many meetings and conferences were summoned by patriotic forces and were held in many different places.  Among those, one small group of Palestinians from inside the West Bank and Gaza as well as from abroad, men and women of no affiliation to organized political organizations met and deliberated.

Meetings took place before the concluding of the Mecca Accords and the formation of a National Unity Government.  Central to the group’s discussions was the figuring out of an outlet from the dark tunnel of the status quo.

The deliberators reached a consensus that the best could be done to come out of the dark tunnel is to respond to the power of public opinion, inside and outside of Palestine. This was to be achieved through a public Forum that would provide a framework to muster the energies of the Palestinians inside and outside Palestine.  Deliberators agreed to invite the following categories of Palestinians to join in the Forum:

·         Those who share the view that the current status quo represents a setback in the Palestinian National Program as formulated by the Palestinian National Council in its repeated meetings, and especially during its 19th convention in 1988 in Algiers that was coronated with the Declaration of Independence.

·          Those who feel the urgency of resisting and defeating the Zionist Colonialist Program before it is too late, and compel Israel to accept a just and lasting peace in accordance with International Law, hence according the Palestinian people the right to self-determination, the creation of its independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution to the Palestinian refugees problem.

·         Those who have the wisdom and good judgment to realize that the best chance for the deliverance of the Palestinian people is the adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative that all the Arab countries consented to during the Beirut and Riyadh Arab Summit Conferences.

·         Those who realize that the existing political forces in the Palestinian arena have their priorities mixed up and thus lost the vision on helping our people to come out from the current quagmire.

·         Those who never lost hope and staunchly held on their strong beliefs of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

·         Those who see in the tireless work for a free independent Palestine and the Declaration of Independence an unshakable goal to which they wholeheartedly aspire.

  1. BACKGROUND

In the light of the narration in the Introduction above, the initiators of the Palestine Forum began contacting Palestinians of different professional affiliations and age groups of those who appeared to share the initiators thinking and concerns.  Meetings were held in all cities, districts and villages in the West Bank including Jerusalem, Gaza and Amman.

All participated in the formulation of a Founding Statement of the Forum whereas they agreed to the core principles despite the difference in semantics. 

The founding participants agreed that paramount among what is needed to be achieved, is instituting the Modus Operandi of the work of the Forum and organize it in a manner that is reflective of its vision, mission and objectives.

Accordingly, this Statement represents the founding document that combines a brief report of what has been achieved thus far and the vision, mission, principles, objectives and goals, and the methods to follow in order to achieve  the objectives including the Modus Operandi of the Forum and its founding framework, organizational structure and membership. 

Accordingly this Statement will become the founding document to which members are required to subscribe, and thus it represents the consensus of those eligible to become members in the Forum.  

  1. THE VISION

In the face of the difficult existential challenges that our Palestinian people are experiencing, with a premeditated aggressive Zionist and colonialist scheme that aim at  uprooting the indigenous Palestinian population; and that is succeeding in the systematic implementation of its plans; and contriving new creative devious methods to achieving that;

As the world community constantly devises new terminology and definitions to prescribe problems in our region while labeling the Palestine Question as one of the many complex issues the world community is concerned with, rather than emphasizing its centrality and the priority that it ought to have on the international agenda, the Palestinian people remain exposed to a vicious occupation that does not refrain from deploying brutal force and oppressive methods and knows no respect for human rights;  

Under such circumstances, the oppressed seek means for their salvation, and thus if they succeed then they are saved and resurrected anew.  However, if, God forbids, they fail, they bound to face a dreadful destiny.

Thus, all the democratic, patriotic and independent Palestinians that harbor no personal gains, especially the youth, are called upon to develop and achieve a multi-dimensional national agenda covering the full political, social, cultural and economic spheres that is inspired by the PLO’s Declaration of Independence.  Such a plan is essential to cease the deterioration facing our national cause and hence salvage it.

The Palestine Forum is confident that the Palestinian People who gave an example to the whole world in sacrifices, national consciousness and relentless determination, are capable with a piercing vision and strong will to thwart all schemes contrived by the Israeli colonialist occupation.  Besides, the Palestine Forum is quite confident that the Palestinian people are bound to unite and reconcile all differences among themselves and in restoring and consolidating Arab and Islamic solidarity.

  1. THE MISSION

The Palestine Forum envisages its mission as contributing effectively to restoring the high reverence reserved the just Palestinian cause among the Arab population and much of the world public, as well as regaining the vitality to the Palestinian national program in all its political, economic, social and cultural dimensions guided all along by the principles contained in the PLO’s document of the Declaration of Independence that’s herewith attached.  The Principles of the Document of the Declaration of Independence are central to the Palestine Forum’s mission.

Furthermore, and in the light of Palestinian determination and world consensus on the necessity and inevitability of the creation of an Independent Palestinian State, the Palestine Forum realizes that of the utmost importance in the building of a new independent Palestinian State the imperative edification of strong and effective institutions equipped with the highest capabilities at all levels; political, social, cultural and economic.  

  1. THE PRINCIPLES

The Palestine Forum;

  1. is a Democratic National Framework with political, economic, social and cultural dimensions intended for all Palestinians wherever they reside, in Palestine or in the Diaspora.  The Palestine Forum adheres to the political declaration of the Palestinian Liberation Organization henceforth the “PLO”, the establishment of the “Independent Palestinian State” on all the territories before 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the principles of International Law and the UN Resolutions;
     
  2. is committed to the Palestinian refugees’ inalienable right of return or compensation in accordance with UN Resolution 194;
     
  1. is committed to the inalienable rights of our Palestinian people and their right of return, self-determination and full sovereignty over all the State’s resources, possessions and national wealth
     
  1. confirms the unity of the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, inclusive of all their political and national groupings; and the Palestine Forum further confirms its strict commitment to the territorial integrity of the Palestinian State and to the just cause of the Palestinians for total liberation from the Israeli occupation;
     
  1. considers the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, and further confirms its respect of the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority and its legislative, executive and judicial powers;
     
  1. confirms that ending the Israeli Occupation is ultimately an all-encompassing objective that requires the development of the Palestinian being, the strengthening of his/her capabilities and resolve of resilience and steadfastness inside Palestine; and that investing  in education, health, cultural endeavors, social work, youth programs and general economic developments, is an essential element of the Palestinian National Program towards the establishment of an independent sovereign State of Palestine; a Palestinian State that will merit its rightful place among the world’s community of nations and effectively participate in the enhancement of World Peace and Security and the advancement of human civilization;
     
  1. confirms its commitment to the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation with all the means guaranteed under the international law and that are in congruence with our just and noble cause and the service of our higher national and Pan Arab interests;
     
  1. confirms its adherence to Democracy in its broadest meaning  as a permanent system governing all aspects of Palestinian social and political life, that foremost among its principles is the peaceful transfer of power, separation of powers;  freedom of expression; independence of the judiciary; respect of minority rights; respect of a pluralist society including intellectual, religious, political, multi-partisan forms, inside Palestine and as an overall political system.  The Palestine Forum rejects all that is in contradiction with the above principles, including policies of exclusion and resorting to force and violent means in resolving disputes and,
     
  1. will endeavor to deploy, for the furtherance of its message and realization of its objectives, all the necessary legitimate means to enhance public awareness as to the nature of the challenges and difficulties facing the Palestinian people and the fulfillment of our noble cause.  Besides, the Palestine Forum will put forward commensurate solutions to overcome these challenges and difficulties, all within the guidance and framework of the principles of the document of the Declaration of Independence that is unanimously approved by the PLO.    
  1. THE OBJECTIVES

The Palestine Forum;

  1. will endeavor to revive the PLO and end the state of paralysis and marginalization that currently is found in; this, along with effecting total reform and renewal, by democratic means, of all the PLO’s institutions so that the PLO would remain the most relevant framework uniting the Palestinians, individuals and political affiliations, in their struggle to achieve the legitimate Palestinian national goals;
  1. seeks to accomplish the unity of the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, and preserve their national identity; affirm the indivisibility and legitimacy of their political representation and the defense of a united national program. This, while affirming that the Palestinian struggle is an integral part of the universal struggle against violence, oppression, discrimination, exploitation and colonialism; to share in a world that enjoys stability and peace; a world that adheres to the principles of the universal declaration of human rights and a clean environment;
  1. seeks to build a modern democratic society that upholds human dignity, egalitarianism, equal opportunities for all, guarantee of personal and groups’ freedoms for all citizens without discrimination.  The Palestine Forum advocates peaceful dialogue and resolution of all disputes without resort to violence and exclusion of the others;
  1. will endeavor to preserve the roles of the peoples, labor unions and civil institutions, and shall oppose tribalism so as to ensure the widest public participation in the national struggle and unite all national efforts that combine steadfastness and social cohesion in accordance with a unifying agenda and a united national will;
  1. will strive to consolidate the social peace and deploy legitimate and legal means to resolve disputes and internal differences, all within the governing framework of Palestinian enshrined values and moral system, accommodation of dissident opinions and wide popular participation.  The Palestine Forum will further work to guarantee regular free elections of all representations at the PLO, the Palestinian Authority and local government levels, as well as with all the civil and public Authorities;
  1. will emphasize the role of education in the building of the Palestinian human character to foster independence and creativity and nurture critical thinking.  The Palestine Forum will play an active role in the formation of non-government agencies and the necessary organizational frameworks for labor syndicates, professional societies and public services agencies.  The Forum will further seek to put in place and make available to all citizens a good medical care system; encourage industrial production and innovation.  Women, according to the Palestine Forum’s plan, women will be a full partner in the Palestinian political, socio-economic and cultural life and thus will assume their rightful roles in the nation building process;
  1. will seek to strengthen the social and economic development roles and create an environment that is conducive to attracting investment capital and bolster the role of the economic institutions as principal levers for balanced development in all sectors of the economy and all regions of the Palestine territories, in tandem with solidifying the popular steadfastness in Palestine.
  1. will create especially targeted programs for the development and the building of Jerusalem and the strengthening of Jerusalem’s steadfastness in the face of the formidable dangers and challenges the Holy City is now facing.           
  1. MODUS OPERANDI (THE MECHANICS)THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

The Palestine Forum will;

  1. work hand-in-hand with all the individuals that share the Forum’s aspirations and its social and political vision as well as ascribe to the Forum’s mission and respect for objective thinking and democratic principles;
  1. help crystallize policies and initiatives and formulate well thought-through stands on all important matters that impact lives and well beings of the Palestinian people, current and future, and articulate same to the public with the objective of building a public consensus and exert the necessary pressures on decision makers to abide by the public choices;
  1. endeavor to engage the Palestinian youth in all decisions affecting their future and the future of our Palestinian people by incorporating a system that would facilitate and permit the rise of young leaders and their assumption of leading roles in all aspects of Palestinian lives;
  1. espouse the causes of all factions of the Palestinian society, foremost those that are underrepresented, in their strive to overcome the challenges of day-to-day life, including the cause of wider participation of the Palestinian women in all decisions affecting Palestinian life;
  1. bring to notice all Palestinian grievances to international conferences and world forums;
  1. organize well studied campaigns to raise awareness and public consciousness of the pivotal role of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of all the Palestinian people wherever they reside, and of the significance and importance of the document of the Declaration of Independence and what it entails of principles;
  1. forge closer links with all the institutions of the civil society and private sector at all levels and through specialized public forums and sectoral organizations and,
  1. organize conferences, workshops and forums; and shall build think tank groups and deploy modern and scientific methods for monitoring public opinion and casting of public views and sentiments through organized Polls and independent media.
     

  1. ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK

The effectiveness of the Palestine Forum hinges on the size of membership inside and outside Palestine.  For, beside individual memberships, institutions and organizations connected or concerned with the Palestinian issues can as well benefit and share in the program of the Palestine Forum.  Members in the Palestine Forum will network among themselves in the different countries wherever they are found and with the Palestine Forum by all and any of the suitable and more convenient means that the place of their residence or their circumstances can afford them. Accordingly, the communication and networking means will include, beside personal contact, electronic mail and other methods of communication such as organization of workshops, periodical publication of newsletters and public forums.  Sharing members in the Palestine Forum are expected to actively support the Palestine Forum in the carrying out of its mission and in reaching out one to the other where they happened to be found.

The Palestine Forum, in line with the objective of facilitating effective communication among its members, shall adopt a simple flat organizational structure that facilitates direct communication and emphasize decentralization and the promotion of a democratic spirit in decision making.  In essence, the organizational structure of the Palestine Forum is closer to an assembly, a union of decentralized harmonious clusters of individuals.   The Palestine Forum shall endeavor to foster inter-linkages between networks and groups for the exchange of information and opinions that share same principles and general objectives.  Therefore, the Palestine Forum will represent a nexus of inter-linkage of regional networks whose operations and activities are spurred and coordinated by the various committees at the local and district levels whose members are constituted from various professional and civil sectors.

Coordination between the local and district committees and international organizations are carried out with the assistance of a General Co-ordination Committee comprised of members elected by the said local and district committees as well as in the Diaspora.  The General Co-ordination Committee also functions as a General Secretariat.     

The local and district committees and committees for Palestinians in the Diaspora, each elects, on regular annual basis, a general co-coordinator, as well as the members that each of the local and district committees and the committees of the Diaspora that they nominate for membership in the General Coordination Committee. Also, each of the local, district and Diaspora committees dispose of and Information Center with up-to-date relevant electronic data base and internet connections.

Work in the Palestine Forum is carried out voluntarily, and all costs and expenses are covered by membership dues and unconditional, no strings attached donations from Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and abroad.     

  1. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Palestine Forum is the inherent right of all the Palestinians who possess the following qualifications:

  1. 18 years old and above.
  1. is not a member of a political party or a political faction or a comparable forum to the Palestine Forum.
  1. Signs on the Founding Declaration.
  1. Adherence to and respect of the Palestine Forum’s resolutions and the Forum’s internal bylaws.
  1. Good conduct and a clean personal history.
  1. Commitment to payment of annual membership dues.
  1. Approval of the relevant local, provincial and Diaspora coordination committee o he force of original nomination of three members in the Palestine Forum. 

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