Al-Awda New York, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition

Action Alert: PALESTINIAN RIGHT OF RETURN UNDER GRAVE NEW THREAT OF LIQUIDATION

DECEMBER 22--The rights of Palestinian refugees are under a serious new threat as negotiations resume between Israelis and Palestinians. The United States is standing with Israel to pressure Palestinian negotiators to relinquish the refugees' right of return in the effort to secure an agreement before President Clinton leaves office.

In any deal, Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak will insist on the "explicit renunciation of all Palestinian claims--including a 'right of return' by refugees," according to The Washington Post (December 20). Barak faces a tough re-election battle and is anxious for a deal that will help him survive in office.

Israeli cabinet minister Yael Tamir recently stated that "What is vital for us is to obtain the most important thing, the renunciation by the Palestinians of the right of return of refugees" (AFP, December 19).

The United States is reportedly backing these outrageous proposals as a "compromise." According to Israel's foreign minister, President Clinton himself has personally reaffirmed to Yasir Arafat that Israel "cannot accept" the right of return and Clinton has instead suggested Palestinian refugees accept compensation and resettlement in other countries (AFP, December 21).

IT IS VITAL THAT WE RAISE OUR VOICES NOW TO MAKE CLEAR TO ALL INVOLVED THAT THE REFUGEES' RIGHT OF RETURN IS AN INALIENABLE RIGHT AND CANNOT BE BARGAINED AWAY IN ANY AGREEMENT.

We urge you to immediately write brief letters to the United States Department of State, to Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasir Arafat and to European Union President Romano Prodi stressing the following points:

• The Palestinian right of return is an inalienable right, guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN resolution 194.

• Implementation of the right of return as spelled out in UN resolutions is the core to a just resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

• The United States and the international community must fulfill their moral obligation to support Palestinian refugees' rights in all forums, and must oppose proposals which undermine, dilute or cancel the right of return.

• No agreement, negotiations or parties which purport to trade away the right of return as a mere bargaining chip can have any legal basis or legitimacy and cannot bind Palestinian refugees.

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

Madeleine Albright, United States Secretary of State
Email: secretary@state.gov

Mr. Yasir Arafat, Chairman
Palestine Liberation Organization
c/o PLO Office in Washington, DC
Email: palwash1@aol.com

Mr. Romano Prodi, President
European Union
Email: romano.prodi@cec.eu.int

Please cc your letters to: Al-Awda-Alerts@mail.com

Al-Awda Alerts Committee:
Ali Abunimah, USA
Arjan El Fassed, Netherlands
Zahi Damuni, USA

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