———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Michael Letwin <mletwin@comcast.net>
Date: Tue, Dec 2, 2003 at 9:42 PM
Subject: RE: [ufpj-news] Israeli Left praises Geneva
To: Awaskow@aol.com, ufpj-news@yahoogroups.com, ufpj-pal@yahoogroups.com, ufpj-disc@yahoogroups.com
UFPJ should *not* support the Geneva Initiative, which is premised on maintaining Israeli apartheid.
As the Palestinian American Congress stated yesterday: “the right of return of Palestinian refugees is a natural individual right, and that this right can not be part of any concessions by any party. . . . We urge the Palestinian Authority not to endorse the Geneva Accord.” (Full text below.)
Michael Letwin
New York City Labor Against the War (NYCLAW)
UFPJ Steering Committee
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Palestinian American Congress Nixes Geneva Accord
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate release
December 1, 2003
Media Contact: Marwan ElMasri
1-888-PACUSA1
The Geneva Accord was launched today in Switzerland at a ceremony in the presence of former American President Jimmy Carter. While it is an unofficial document, it proved to be of considerable controversy.
In response to the launching if this document, the Palestinian American Congress categorically rejects this document. The Geneva Accord contradicts with our principle of adhering to the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their land as emphasized by international law, in particular UN resolution #194.
According to the Geneva accord, Palestinians would give up the right of return for the millions of refugees who were forced to leave their lands. It is worth noting that a few might be allowed back, that number will be determined by Israel, while the rest would be allowed to live in a Palestinian State and host countries mainly Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Also, a few will be entitled to some form of compensation.
We at the Palestinian American Congress, feel that the right of return of Palestinian refugees is a natural individual right, and that this right can not be part of any concessions by any party.
We urge the Palestinian Authority not to endorse the Geneva Accord.
We urge the US administration to pursue a peaceful solution to the Middle East based on UN resolutions, particularly #242, and #194.
END
For the full text of the Geneva Accord, please visit our web site
<http://www.pac-national.org/>
The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans
