Haneyya stressed the importance of five important elements for building the national project, mainly to reconsider the national project, to agree upon national constants and goals, to rebuild the PLO, and agree on a political program for the current stage.

“We are in need of all the Palestinian factions,” explained Ismail Haneyya. “All of us have the same view regarding the necessity to rearrange the Palestinian political system.”

Everyone who works for the liberation of Palestine is an important part of the process, he insisted. “The principle of the partnership must be reinforced by every faction.”

The Palestinian national project, said Haneyya, a former prime minister, is built around “liberation, the right of return and the creation of the Palestinian state on all Palestinian land through comprehensive resistance.” He described the 1993 Oslo Accords as “the seed of bitter fruit”.

Haneyya reminded those taking part in the discussion that the people of Palestine are under occupation, so must adopt the strategy of resistance for the liberation of their land. 

“The [Israeli] occupation is based on it being a Jewish state, annexation, the expulsion of Palestinians and no recognition of any other people in Palestine except Jews.”

Criticizing the “fruitless negotiations” pursued by the Palestine Liberation Organization — of which Hamas is not a member — he blamed this for the lack of progress and ongoing paralysis of the Palestinian leadership.

“Nevertheless, although there are many reasons for our strength, the foremost is the persistence of the Palestinian people who are the reserves of the revolution and resistance.”

In conclusion, Haneyya called for the Palestinian national project to be reconsidered as a “liberation project” and the reformation of the Palestinian leadership to make sure that it represents all Palestinians within and beyond the historic land of Palestine.” (ILKHA)