At first, I thought the statement I received via email, issued by the meeting of the Palestinian national factions in Germany, which condemns the national event titled 'The First Palestinian Diaspora Conference,' was a forged statement. But it was soon confirmed to me that the statement is genuine and contains what the attendees agreed upon!
Literally, the statement issued on November 16, 2015, contained the following paragraph:
'The meeting paused before what is called the "First Diaspora Conference - Europe" scheduled to be held in Berlin at the end of November. The attendees affirmed that the diaspora issue is a purely national matter and must not be manipulated; it belongs to all Palestinian national factions and political forces and civil society organizations (non-governmental). It must not be monopolized by any single party or individual. It was also affirmed that the PLO factions and their supporters have no relation to this conference.'
I truly do not know whether this statement provokes anger or laughter. In any case, we are facing a dramatic scene in the general Palestinian political situation, casting its shadow on modest national events like the one to be held in Berlin next week. Therefore, I can only respond to this statement with a brief clarification:
The reaction of the faction delegates in this manner and with this text would have been correct and appropriate if the organizers and supporters of the event from Palestinian civil institutions or a few of them denied the fact that the PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, or if the organizers and those with them from civil society institutions neglected to send an official invitation to the PLO representation in Germany, or if the national faction representatives were not informed about the course of events from the beginning and encouraged to participate.
None of this happened; on the contrary, the organizers of the event affirm the exclusive representation of the PLO. The honorable ambassador was invited to attend the celebration and deliver the PLO's speech, and the faction representatives were informed about the event's concept. Personally, as the head of the Palestinian community in Germany, I responded positively to the request to support the event a few days ago after confirming the above steps related to the national Palestinian work and its constants. We support the event with reservations about the name being circulated for the event, but we do not condemn a national event aimed at gathering the Palestinian diaspora and consolidating Palestinian identity among its members in Europe, simply because we were not the originators of the idea! Therefore, I do not understand at all the hysterical reaction of the national factions... I ask them all why they did not respond with such severity when Hamas usurped the right of return and held its annual festival under this slogan??? Hamas is the only Palestinian party that not only does not recognize the PLO's representation but also questions its legitimacy!!!
Brothers and comrades in the Palestinian national factions in Germany
Your position on the event to be held next week in Berlin is wrong, and its impact on national unity is very negative, especially at this stage that requires us to unite ranks, not divide them. Your position will deepen the rift we have been monitoring for years between civil society and political forces and will increase public dissatisfaction with your already modest political performance and their distancing from joining your ranks. I also urge you to seriously consider the reasons for your inability as political forces for many years to control the reins of the national movement, not only here in Germany but in all locations, especially in the occupied homeland.
National work and organizing national events are not exclusive to Palestinian political forces. The Palestine Liberation Organization is not only, as you understand it, 'a gathering of Palestinian national political forces.' The PLO is the identity of every Palestinian, and every individual has the right to express their identity in the manner they see fit. You, my brothers, defend an institution that was destroyed by its own leadership, and what civil society institutions are doing is rebuilding what you and your leaders destroyed and preserving the sole unifying entity for our Palestinian people. The Palestinian identity is represented by the PLO... Political wisdom is not about putting a stick in the wheel that moves the masses, but about thinking how to keep the wheel moving steadily forward...
I hope you reconsider your decision and reconcile with your masses before it is too late... Peoples can live without political movements... Political movements cannot live without masses!
