DFLP welcomes pope's visit to Palestine

From the DFLP website;

The coming visit of the pope to Palestine during this particular period will be of "great spiritual and political significance" to people around the globe, announced the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) on Saturday.

Member of the party's central committee Nehad Abu Ghoush said the "pope's visit to Palestine will remind the whole world of the suffering of the Palestinians due to the Israeli occupation and their need for peace, freedom and independence like all other citizens around the world."

He expressed hope that the pope will mark the many Israeli violations of human rights in Palestine, of the attacks on civilians and the concrete separation wall as he visits the Ayda Refugee Camp on his way to the Nativity Church in Bethlehem Wednesday.

"We hope he notes the attacks on Christian and Muslim Holy Sites in Jerusalem when he visits there," Abu Ghoush said, and that he will pressure the Israeli government into respecting international resolutions and conventions and make peace in the region.

Read also: "Israel shuts down Palestinian press center ahead of pope's Jerusalem visit", from Maan

Newslinks on the Papal visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Blogs: Esbati, Forúm Palestina, Bröder

May Day in Palestine

This is a bit late, the blog haven't been updated the past week, but anyway here's a video (via ISM) of the massive May Day rally held in Gaza City.

The rally was organized by the Left Front (PFLP, DFLP, PPP)

Report at PPP website, May Day declaration of the Progressive Labour Bloc, report at PFLP website, May Day declaration of the United Labour Bloc.

Other International Workers Day meetings were held throughout Palestine. Below a video from the protests in Bil'in.

DFLP: Int'l community should take it responsibility towards the situation of Palestinian prisoners

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) has issued a statement in junction with Prisoners' Day this week. A translated excerpt (sketchy translation by GPF Blog);

"We appeal to the human rights NGOs around the world, which raise the banner of humanity, the principles of human rights and international human rights conventions, and we call on the UN Security Council to act immediately to stop the Israeli racist attacks on the prisoners, and to force the Israeli government to back down on the arbitrary decisions taken by them, including the recently decisions on deportation of six prisoners who have completed their "period of their sentences", and to force the Israeli government to abide by the rules of the trial of prisoners of war set forth in the Geneva Convention, and work to improve the conditions of their health and living, providing for the release of all of them without restriction or discrimination."

Nayaf Hawatme, DFLP General Secretary, visits Cuba

One of the most veteran leaders of the Palestian liberation movement, DFLP General Secretary Nayaf Hawatme, has visited Cuba. At a programe commemorating the 40th anniversary of the founding of DFLP, held at the Cuban Institute for Friendship between Peoples (ICAP), Hawatme presented the Martyrs' Order posthumously to the the late ICAP president Sergio Corrieri and the Order of Jerusalem to the current ICAP president Kenia Serrano. Full report (in Spanish) at DFLP website.

In Havana, Hawatme has also met with the Vice President of the Republic of Cuba José Ramón Machado, the Vice Speaker of the Cuban parliament Jaime Crombet Hernández-Baquero, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba Marcos Rodriguez Costa and representatives of the Arab community in Cuba. In his meetings, Hawatme has expressed his solidarity with Cuba and support for the process of socio-political changes occuring across Latin America.

DFLP: No peace talks with new Israeli govt

From Paltoday;

"The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) called Wednesday on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to stop peace negotiations with the new Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu.

DFLP, in a press release, said that this new Israeli government neglected decisions of the Arab Summit held lately in Doha, adding that Netanyahu's government completely disregarded international resolutions and results of previous Israeli cabinet negotiations, headed by Olmert, with President Abbas.

It added that Netanyahu announced the cabinet's political plan, of autonomy of Gaza Strip and West bank with no sovereignty over land, with no mention of Palestinians right to determine their fate and enjoy an independent state.

It called Abbas to stop negotiations with this cabinet, until it ends building further Jewish settlements, and recognize international resolutions decisions."

Thousands take to the streets in Rafah, calling on Palestinian politicians to put partisan interests aside for the sake of unity

Today a mass rally was organized by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, demanding that Palestinian factions put aside partisan squabbles in order to achieve national unity and the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Currently the Cairo talks are on hold, and DFLP leader Abed- Al-Hameed Abu Jayyab lambasted the lack of progress in the talks during his address to the crowds.

Source: Maan News Agency

Democratic Front outlines demands in negotations on Palestinian elections

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, DFLP, has outlined three central demands regarding the subject of Palestinian in the ongoing Cairo unity talks. The DFLP representative in the Elections thematic committee, Ramzi Rabah, stated yesterday that DFLP has put forward the following positions:

*Elections must be held in 2010. Postponing the elections to 2011 would deepen division between West Bank and Gaza.
*Elections should be held using Proportional Representation.
*There should be an independent and impartial Central Elections Committee

Source: Maan News Agency. See also: DFLP: No progress at Cairo; Egypt: Talks have not failed, Article in Público on prisoner exchange negotiations

Democratic Front holds mass rally at Rafah border crossing, demanding a end to the siege

On Sunday, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) held a mass rally at the Rafah border crossing. The manifestation, which was organized as part of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the DFLP, demanded that the siege on Gaza be lifted and that all Palestinian movements unite in national dialogue. In his speech Ziad Jargun, Central Committee member of DFLP and head of the party in Rafah, condemned the delays in the reconciliation process between Palestinian organizations in Cairo. Jargun also stressed the importance of the strengthening and re-activating the PLO. Moreover he reiterated the opposition of the DFLP to the Annapolis agreement.

40th anniversary celebrations have also been held in Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon.