Palestinians drop vow to destroy Israel
Historic vote boosts chances for peace
April 25, 1996
Web posted at: 10:15 a.m. EDT (1415 GMT)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (CNN) -- The Palestinian National Council has declared it no longer seeks the destruction of Israel through an armed struggle.
Members voted 504-54 with 14 abstentions Wednesday to eliminate all such references in the 1964 charter. The council also vowed to begin writing a new charter.
The vote was pushed through by Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestine Liberation Organization who cajoled delegates and scattered his opponents.
"This is not only a success for our democracy, it is a success for the peace process," Arafat said. "I am very happy that I fulfilled my commitment, and we hope that our partners, the Israelis, will do the same."
Hebron's fate
Arafat also hopes that revoking the charter provisions will pave the way for a partial Israeli troop withdrawal from Hebron, the last West Bank city still under occupation.
Troops were to be withdrawn in late March, but Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres held off after four suicide bombings by Palestinian militants that killed 63 people, including the assailants.
Israeli cabinet member Shulamit Aloni praised the vote, saying it acknowledged that Israel was "a land of two peoples." Israel had long objected to the charter clauses, and Peres threatened to suspend peace talks with the PLO unless Arafat succeeded in removing the provisions by May 7.
Arafat supporters say Israel must now respond quickly to the Palestinian concession.
"We will implement our side, hoping the Israelis will take the same step and implement all their commitments," said Council member Faisal Husseini.
Not all back change
The change in the charter is unpopular with many Palestinians, who are suffering economically from Israel's decision to seal its borders with Gaza and the West Bank for security reasons. Israel took the action after the suicide attacks in February and March.
Many see the charter vote as caving in to Israeli pressure.
"This will be an added factor, where people will feel an added loss of heart and loss of faith and loss of hope, and these things are dangerous," said Hanan Ashrawi, longtime PLO spokesperson and a Council member.
"I don't like to see people pushed into a corner, I don't like to see people reach a state of despair, because these are conducive to desperate acts."
Political prize
However, Arafat was determined to give a political boost to his peace-process partner, Peres. "And if it helps the peace forces in Israel, including Mr. Peres, there is no problem with that," said the Council's Suleiman Najab.
By pushing through changes to the Palestinian charter, Arafat has offered a political prize to Peres, one that both men hope will help Peres achieve victory in next month's Israeli elections.
Despite the historic importance of the vote, Israel still faces threat of attack from Muslim rebel groups -- such as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas -- which oppose the PLO position and deny Israel's right to exist.
From Correspondent Rob Reynolds
Related story
- Key events in recent Palestinian history - April 25, 1996
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