Speech of President Mahmoud Abbas to the Opening Session of the Second Palestinian Legislative Council

February 18, 2006

Ramallah, Palestine


In the Name of God, the Gracious and Merciful

Fellow members of the second PLC; Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Dear guests; Ladies and gentlemen; This is a great day in the life
of our Palestinian people, and of its national struggle. Today we
constitutionally inaugurate our second PLC, elected by our
Palestinian people in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem,
in free and fair elections, witnessed by the entire world, through
hundreds of observers, and carried out peacefully from the onset
till the end.

These elections would not have been possible should any political
faction or party have been excluded, or should our East Jerusalem
compatriots have been prohibited to participate. I have emphasized
this matter adamantly despite all pressures, and this is what
occurred in reality. I see amongst you now those who represent
Jerusalem, and who represent all Palestinian political factions. My
congratulations go to the brothers and sisters members of the
Council on the confidence bestowed upon them by the electorate,
with my wishes of success in carrying out the responsibilities
entrusted to them.

On this occasion, I would like to salute the Central Elections
Committee and express my appreciation for its achievement of this
task in a most responsible and capable manner. I would also like to
express my gratitude and appreciation to the Arab and foreign
election observers for their role in monitoring the elections, and
I would like to particularly mention President Jimmy Carter.

Our people have proven their maturity in spirit and democratic
performance through the conclusion of these legislative elections
and the preceding presidential and municipal elections. The entire
world should regard this fact as a certificate of eligibility to
build a present and a future for our people in the modern state
that our people deserve. This state will have a democratic
pluralistic system, governed by the rule of law, and the spirit and
ethos of this age, where each man and woman is entitled to the
rights and freedoms guaranteed them by the law.

Ladies and gentlemen, From this platform, I salute our Palestinian
people in the homeland and in the Diaspora. I stress to each
Palestinian that our real joy will only be complete upon the
attainment of our freedom; upon the establishment of our
independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital; upon the
liberation of our prisoners; the day the refugee question is
resolved in a just and agreed-upon manner, based on Resolution 194;
the day we achieve the dream of our revolution's leader, and the
builder of the first Palestinian Authority, President Yasser
Arafat.

I salute the members of your council who are sitting behind Israeli
bars and prisons, alongside thousands of our best. I assure them
all that we will spare no effort until they are released, and until
I see each member taking his place in this council, and each
prisoner obtaining his rightful place in society.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The results of our elections have led to the creation of a new
political reality, in which Hamas won the majority in the PLC.
Therefore, it will be tasked with the formation of the new
government. I expect the person forming the government to be
designated, and the usual consultations regarding this issue to
start. All of this will be accompanied with the election of the
PLC's presiding body and the establishment of its various
committees so as to be ready to receive the new government and its
program, leading to granting it confidence.

We are looking forward to the completion of this process in
according to procedures as soon as possible, because the tasks that
await you are large, very large indeed. You will find from my part
all the cooperation and encouragement you need, because the
national interest is our first and final goal, and is above any
individual or faction.

I seize this opportunity to salute our first PLC that has worked
under dire circumstances and has drafted a large number of laws. It
has followed up and monitored as much as possible the works of the
successive governments which, in turn, also deserve our
appreciation for all their initiatives and achievements. We hope
that the new government will continue this process and develop its
performance in a manner that achieves the interests and wishes of
the people who elected and who will monitor the performance of the
elected parliament and the government.

Sisters and brothers, Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, in front of the second PLC, and as per past practice, I
would like to address you: our people and the entire world, in the
spirit of responsibility, clarity and honesty, to elaborate on the
initial stages of our national experience with its difficulties,
complexities, and achievements. A process that has been conducted
by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) - the leader of this
people, and the highest political reference for its committees and
institutions. Our achievements would not have been possible,
without the insistence of the PLO on national unity, and its
adoption of the most effective forms of struggle based on carefully
examined and studied policies, governed by the national higher
interest for the Palestinian people, and in accordance with
international resolutions.

We have foiled plans aiming at the elimination of the political
identity of the Palestinian people and its national rights. The PLO
was able to carry our cause to the furthest reaches of the world,
to all its peoples, until the doors of the United Nations opened
for us. On that platform, President Yasser Arafat stood in our
name, holding an olive branch, asking the entire world not to drop
it. International and regional recognition of our people, the PLO,
and our rights followed.

This constituted a political reserve from which we still draw
strength and effective international presence. Likewise, we
launched political initiatives with our Arabs and Muslims brothers,
expressed through balanced decisions issued in Arab and Islamic
summits. These decisions have placed the national rights of the
Palestinian people as the central cause of both the Muslim and Arab
worlds, and in a manner that addresses the entire world with the
language of the modern age. This has provided us with indispensable
political and moral support at all stages of our national and
political struggle.

The PLO has led this important historic era despite the presence of
its leader, institutions and frameworks in exile. It has confronted
many harsh battles to maintain its presence, its mission, and the
rights of the Palestinian people. The PLO and the Palestinian
revolution could not have stayed alive nor overcome the attempts of
elimination without - in addition to its obstinate military
struggle -courageous political initiatives. These added momentum to
the Palestinian cause and received large support both
internationally and regionally. This has led to the recognition of
the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people, and
the capable spokesman of its national rights.

From this platform, which is a part of our Palestinian National
Council (PNC), I emphasize the necessity of completing the dialogue
among all factions and parties to activate our organization, renew
its structures and frameworks, and improve its performance at all
levels. We have started this dialogue a long time ago, and it is
time to reach the results hoped for.

In this context, I would like to remind you of another important
milestone in our national struggle: our courageous historic
initiative in the 1988 session of the PNC in Algiers. This
initiative entailed the declaration of the establishment of the
State of Palestine in exile, and the Declaration of Independence
that accompanied our recognition of Resolutions 242 and 338. This
laid the foundation of our future state and defined its contours
and content, and upgraded the level of international recognition.
This coincided with the outbreak of the first popular uprising
(Intifada) in the year 1987, which decisively contributed to the
adoption of our initiative. The world started to deal with our
people, our cause, and our leadership, as one state to another
state. This gave the Palestinian peace offensive at that time a
political depth that went beyond a unilateral declaration to become
an international commitment for all of those that recognized it and
established full relations with the state of Palestine accordingly.

This political struggle bore fruit when there was an important
imbalance in the international arena as a result of the fall of the
Soviet Union and the start of the second Gulf War. These events
necessitated a rethinking and reformulation of new equations for
stability in our region. Had Palestine not been present as a
recognized state, and as a PLO that embodies a strong
representative political body, the world, with its new powers,
would have bypassed us. No-one would have thought of us in the
framework of any international or regional arrangements. Seizing
the opportunity of this presence, a political process was started
and the American-Palestinian dialogue, which was a taboo for many
decades, was launched. The peace process was started in Madrid, and
we are all aware of its chapters and developments. At the same
time, there were secret channels working which led to the Oslo
Accords, and the mutual recognition of the PLO and Israel.

There were many unfounded rumors regarding these Accords, all of
which aim at putting them in question. Most important of these was
that the Oslo Accords were signed behind the backs of the
Palestinian people, since the negotiations were managed in utmost
secrecy. Here I would like to repeat what I said on many occasions,
namely that political action in secrecy is a familiar process in
all or most negotiations carried out between two conflicting
parties. As for the results of the negotiations, they are
definitely public and are legitimate as they were presented to
representative political institutions for approval. This happened
when we submitted the Accords to the legislative and executive
institutions of the PLO, which discussed, voted upon, and endorsed
them.

Since then, we have accepted and respected the right of any
individual, group or political faction to voice its objection on
the Oslo Accords. But we have not and will not accept any
questioning of the Accords' legitimacy. Indeed, from the hour they
were endorsed, they became a political reality to which we remain
committed.

Objectively speaking, while we do not consider Oslo to have
incorporated all what we want, the Accords have led to the
establishment of the first Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on
parts of our homeland. They have permitted the return of thousands
of our people from the Diaspora and exile. They have established
this Council. While Israel wanted the PLC in the beginning to be
merely an administrative council devoid of any legislative,
representative, or political content, we managed imposed it as a
body similar in nature to a state's parliament. We have imposed
elections as the means to choosing members, and we have developed
its responsibility and mandate to reach what we have reached today
in the Basic Law - our temporary constitution pending the
endorsement of the permanent constitution of our country.

Although the achievements at the beginning of the Oslo Accords seem
to be modest for some - since the Israeli pullout at the early
stages did not exceed 1% - Israel has pulled out in the subsequent
phases from all our cities. The peace process was expected to end
the occupation from all of the occupied territories in 1967, and
solve all issues of permanent status, as per the Oslo Accords,
through negotiations.

I would like to remind you how the extremists' in Israel mobilized,
leading to the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin when we were
still at the beginning of the path. In reality, it was not a mere
political assassination, but an intentional attempt to halt the
peace process that was spearing ahead. It was an attempt to
substitute it with a different process consisting of denying the
Palestinian partner, imposing unilateral solutions that are based
on the logic of force, and imposing a reality with arms while
continuing the expansion of settlements.

The subsequent Israeli policies followed a program and implemented
measures aiming at the cancellation of the Oslo Accords. This froze
the peace process, unleashed extremism, and destroyed all efforts
to create a new atmosphere between the Palestinians and the
Israelis. This all paved the way for the era of Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon, who declared an open battle against the Palestinian
people, and proceeded to systematically destroy the PA's
institutions and frameworks.

During this period, the racist separation Wall was built and
settlement activities in the West Bank were doubled. He introduced
an iron fist policy against the Palestinian people everywhere,
besieging them and their President until the latter's death.

I would like here to emphasize that we are pursuing, with our
friends all over the world, the reasons of the late President, our
historic leader Yasser Arafat's death. We will not close this file.
The issue of his passing away will remain open until the truth is
out.

Ladies and gentlemen; The Israeli government has adopted
unilaterlism as a substitute for negotiations. I would like to
remind you that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's step to unilaterally
pull out from Gaza was interpreted from our side as a surgical
procedure aimed at canceling the Road Map. We accepted the Road Map
as an international initiative incorporating Palestinian and
Israeli commitments on the security level, and Israeli commitments
regarding halting the settlement expansion; the military pullout;
the convening of an international conference; the return to the
negotiation table to resolve all issues of the permanent status,
namely the refugees, Jerusalem, settlements, borders and water,
reaching the end of the occupation; the establishment of the
desired Palestinian State, and reaching a fair and just peace.

I would like to draw your attention to an a objective reality that
characterized the period since the assassination of the PM Rabin:
namely that Israeli extremism has succeeded in drawing us to a
vicious cycle of bloody action and reaction, and has created an
environment in which politics and negotiation became difficult to
implement in managing the conflict.

On the other hand, we cannot ignore the serious attempts, at top
levels, of putting an end to the deteriorating situation as a
whole. These include the Sharm Sheikh Summits, the Camp David
Summit, and finally the Road Map, and US President George W. Bush's
vision of the establishment of an independent, democratic, thriving
Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in
peace and security. This is undoubtedly a historic development in
the US position.

In this context, and based on the highest interests of our
Palestinian people, a truce was reached which provided - for the
first time - an unprecedented period of calm for at least three
months. It was followed last year by another period of calm that we
strive together in all seriousness to maintain so as to provide the
proper environment to start the political process and the
negotiation table on the basis of international legitimacy and
signed agreements.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the PLC,

On another issue, there is much talk in an exaggerated manner
regarding the size of the administrative body of the PA, and its
high financial cost. However, can we ignore that the Israeli
aggression during the years of the Intifada has left devastating
effects on our internal situation, both economically and
administratively? It has led to queues of tens of thousands of
unemployed, who were forbidden to enter Israel. The Israeli policy
of collective punishment, closures, checkpoints, destruction of
infrastructure, uprooting of trees and many other measures that
have turned Palestinians' life into hell has led to the reduction
of private sector investment in Palestine, leading to the
destruction and loss of the various economic institutions.

The previously described situation has led to the PNA alone having
to carry this burden. It has become, due to these circumstances,
responsible for solving endless problems. Foremost among these was
the absorption of the unemployed, especially the thousands of new
university graduates who are unable to find employment
opportunities in view of the weakness of the private sector and its
incapacity to absorb them. This matter has turned the PNA,
irrespective of its intentions, into the largest employer. This has
led by necessity to the large bureaucracy, with ministries and
institutions bloated with civil servants.

As you are all aware, this situation has burdened the budget, and
we have increasingly become dependent on foreign aid. This made
fulfilling the public sector requirements, in terms of salaries and
other running expenses, a process that requires from every
Palestinian government to constantly mobilize so as to secure
funding from our Arab brothers and the international community.

While there were mistakes and excesses in the past, we still must
remember the achievements in terms of institution building, and
reconstruction in all fields, particularly education and health.
The previous governments started - under the direction and
supervision of the PLC - a comprehensive reform process aimed at
correcting this exceptional situation financially through
rationalizing the public sector, and lightening the burden on the
budget. Despite the challenges that face this process, especially
the continuation of the Israeli measures and the resulting
difficult economic situation, considerable progress has been
recorded. The upcoming government has - out of a sense of national
responsibility - to continue this effort.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

From my position as elected President of the PNA and as President
of the PLO, and based on my program on which I was elected, I would
like to emphasize the following:

Firstly, we, as presidency and government, will continue our
commitment to the negotiation process as the sole political,
pragmatic, and strategic choice through which we reap the fruit of
our struggle and sacrifices over the long decades. We will find
practical opportunities as we wisely manage the negotiations so as
to achieve our national aims that are supported by international
resolutions. As we depend on the negotiation process as a political
choice, we should continue to develop other forms of peaceful
popular struggle. We are all required to continue activating and
strengthening the role of the PLO as the sole legitimate
representative of our people, to lead and oversee all matters
relating to its destiny including the negotiations with the Israeli
side.

Secondly, the obstruction of the negotiation process and its
replacement with the iron fist policy, unilateral adventures, and
the continuation of the separation wall, settlement expansion, and
assassinations will only lead to further deterioration, leaving
peace and stability behind. Anybody who thinks that these kinds of
policies would force our people to hoist the white flag and to give
up is mistaken. He does not know the reality of this people, its
faith, determination and perseverance towards obtaining its full
rights. Here, I would like to emphasize our full rejection of
unilateralism. I urge the world, eager as it is to see peace and
stability in the Middle East, and especially the Quartet and the US
Administration, to immediately start serious efforts towards
re-activating the negotiation process. This in turn should be
conducted on the basis of international legitimacy and President
Bush's vision; the Arab Peace Initiative, and the agreements and
understandings signed since Oslo to the Road Map.

Thirdly, the internal changes - which occurred in the aftermath of
the second PLC elections- and which led to Hamas members having the
majority in the PLC, should not be used to justify further
aggression against our people, or as a pretext for blackmailing it.
The Palestinian people should not be punished for its democratic
choice that was expressed through the ballot box. The leadership of
this people, and I personally, refuse this blackmail. I ask
everyone to abandon it.

Fourth, the process of reform within the PNA should not stop. I
will continue to sponsor all reform initiatives, whether carried
out by the Palestinian judiciary, as an implementation of a
decision from our part, or any new initiatives in the same
direction. I am determined to carry out my program, on which I was
elected and mandated, and to apply the main tenets that I have
hoisted to reach a stable, unified, strong, effective authority
that provides security and safety to all its citizens; an Authority
which has the ability to keep its commitments and protect the
interests of its people; an Authority that respects the law, and
commits to implementing it; an Authority whose institutions are
committed to the separation of powers, particularly in terms of
strengthening the judiciary, imposing the rule of law for all, with
one legitimate arm, with a pluralistic system; an Authority that
lays the foundations for the establishment of our independent
Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. We hope to see
this state as a qualitative addition to the list of countries in
the region; an addition that carries out its commitments in a
credible manner, and which enjoys its rights based on justice. We
do not want more than what we are entitled to by international law.
As we have carried out free and transparent elections, we yearn
towards seeing a government that faces the challenges and performs
its tasks efficiently and capably. As we are speaking of our
government, I would like to remind the members of the PLC - and
members of the future government - of the need to respect all
signed agreements, and to work according to the national interest
to end the chaos of arms. Since everybody is participating
currently in the structure and framework of a national authority
with all its institutions, everybody should honor the presence of
one arm, i.e. the arm of legitimacy.

Fifth, I would like to reiterate a fact which has always been the
protective shield of our revolution, the PLO, and the PNA. Namely,
we will not be led into any axis of any sort. As Palestinians, we
are proud of the depth of our Arab and Muslim belonging; we are
proud of our uniting and unifying role therein, just as we are
proud of everybody standing by us, by our rights, by the justice of
our cause, while respecting our independent national decision.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to dwell on one of the most important aspects of our
experience within the PA, namely security. As experience in the
last ten years has shown, our performance on security is the
backbone on which depends the future of national project. Security
means securing the citizens and the entire community, securing life
in all its aspects. It means the security of all those who live on
our land, and the implementation of our international commitments.
We all have the responsibility of confronting the aspects of chaos
that reign in some of our cities, such as looting, armed attacks,
kidnapping of our foreign friends and Arab brothers who live on our
land and who are among us to offer support and cooperation.

I will not permit, and the government should not permit it either,
the continuation of this disgraceful phenomenon. Firm and effective
measures should be taken to put an end to it. No irresponsible
person will be allowed to manipulate the highest of ideals to
justify the most deplorable attacks against citizens and their
property or against guests and diplomatic missions.

Achieving security requires giving the security establishment all
the attention it needs to enable it to perform its role, including
equipping and training. The Israeli side, along with the Quartet
members, should facilitate the delivery of arms and equipment to
the security forces. It is also important to continue the process
of restructuring the forces in accordance with the Basic Law. In
this context, we will work in a serious and determined manner to
activate the work of the National Security Council, so that it can
play its role in drawing security policies and directing the work
of the security forces.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the PLC,

The tasks and burdens are many. The education sector requires rapid
development, by building schools, institutions, and universities
than are capable of keeping up with intellectual and social
progress. Modern education, based on the requirements of
development, the need to open up to the world, the tenets of free
thinking and creativity, and the ethos of resisting chauvinism is
the safety valve for raising new generations. It is necessary for
creating a healthy atmosphere that contributes to development,
progress and modernization for our society and people. In addition,
there are other sectors: health, economy, industry, agricultural,
commerce, culture, sports, tourism, and the environment, all of
which require the continuation and development of what we want
towards the creation of a free, advanced society and a new,
hopeful, forward looking Palestinian person. In addition, there is
the need to care for the disabled and injured, families of martyrs
and prisoners, the young unemployed and poor families. Indeed, we
cannot forget that the large majority of our people are living
under the poverty line.

Building a state and a society that qualify as modern and
progressive requires us all to safeguard the achievements obtained
by women in the Palestinian society, and to prevent any undermining
of their role. The Palestinian woman has struggled, resisted
occupation, and stood fast on her land alongside men. She was an
equal to men in martyrdom and imprisonment, and she must be an
equal to him in all rights, just as she was an equal in all duties.

I would like to emphasize the need to protect public and individual
freedoms in accordance with the law. These cannot be undermined
under any pretext. These include the freedom of expression,
belonging, and other freedoms, including the freedom of civil
society institutions.

Another issue that I would like to remind you all of relates to the
social and national fabric of our Palestinian people. Muslims and
Christians of Palestine are equal citizens in front of the law. We
are committed to provide, protect and care for all the Muslim and
Christian shrines. We will not allow any group to start ethnic
disturbances. Palestine is the cradle of monotheistic religions; it
is the land of Al Aqsa, and the land of the Nativity Church and the
Holy Sepulcher.

This leads me to the issue of Jerusalem, the beating heat of
Palestine. I would like to assert in front of you, and in front of
the entire world, especially the Israelis, that the current
measures undertaken to isolate the city, expel its citizens in what
is a form of ethnic cleansing of Palestinian Christians and Muslims
alike, and the insistence to Judaize the city, along with the other
Israeli measures that contradict international law, will not be
legitimate, and will not be a matter accepted by any Palestinian
citizen. The Israeli obstinacy regarding Jerusalem and its future
will prevent the achievement of our desired goal, namely a just
peace between the states of Palestine and Israel.

I realize, and so do you, the extent of the dangers that threaten
the city of Jerusalem and its residents. I urge the Muslim and Arab
worlds and the Christian world to lend a helping hand to
Palestinians in Jerusalem, to provide means for their steadfastness
so that they remain there. We will try our utmost to provide the
means for our people to remain in Jerusalem.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In your name, I would like to present my greetings, appreciation
and gratitude to all our brothers in the Arab countries, to our
brothers in the Muslim world, and to our friends in the entire
world, peoples and governments, for their support, help, and
recognition of our Palestinian people.

I address myself to the Israelis, especially that they are on the
verge of parliamentary elections. I guarantee to them that the path
to security can only pass through a just peace. We are confident
that there is no military solution to the conflict. Negotiations
between us as equal partners should put a long-due end to the cycle
of violence.

I tell them in all honesty and clarity that the continuation of
occupation and settlement expansion - with its latest attack
targeting the Jordan Valley area to isolate it from the remainder
of the Palestinian lands in the West Bank - that checkpoints,
arbitrary killings, the separation wall, and arrests will only lead
to hatred, despair and continued conflict.

Let us together make peace today before tomorrow. Let us live in
two neighboring states. Let us educate our children the culture of
life, not the culture of death. Let us teach them that the free man
is the one who defends the freedom of the other and that he who
loves God, loves mankind.

I would like to stress, in particular, that the era of a unilateral
solutions is over. Attempting to determine the future of our people
through cantonization, reservations, the tearing-up of the West
Bank, land grab in the Jordan Valley, the separation of Jerusalem,
and the consolidation of settlement blocks will close the window
for a solution between us.

There is a Palestinian partner who is ready to sit at the
negotiation table with an Israeli partner so as to reach a solution
that is based on international legitimacy, the Arab Peace
Initiative, and the Road Map. A solution that is based on
respecting all previous agreements and commitments.

We want a just solution that guarantees the fulfillment of peace,
not a unilateral, partial, or temporary solution that will kill the
chance for peace, nor a state with provisional borders. We are
awaiting the Israeli government to determine its direction and make
its decision in this regard. Our decision is to be completely ready
to start permanent status negotiations immediately.

I assure the world that we strongly believe that justice prevails
over force. We will have the same perseverance in attaining our
rights and desire for peace. The entire world should bear its
responsibility to make this dream come true. peace in the Holy
Land. Peace in the land of Peace.

Thank you.