Students discuss solutions for Palestine

August 8, 2001
Issue 

BY KATHERINE BRADSTREET

SYDNEY — Undeterred by a strong Zionist presence on the campus, 40 activists and human rights supporters gathered for a forum at the University of New South Wales on August 2 to discuss "What solutions for Palestine?".

Khaldoun Hajaj, from the Friends of Palestine group, told the Resistance club forum that, despite its claims to the contrary, the Israeli government was not interested in peace with the Palestinians.

Israeli leaders have claimed that, during the July 2000 Camp David negotiations, the Palestinians rejected a peace offer of 94% of the West Bank, a rejection which has forced a hard-line response.

Not true, said Hajaj: the Palestinians were not offered immediate control of the area and there was no time-frame or procedure for the transfer given. All that was offered was the possibility of controlling 94%, he said.

Further, the Israeli government refused to even negotiate on the status of Jerusalem or the right of the 3.5 million Palestinians who have fled Israel since 1948 to return to their homeland.

"The issue at stake is the right of return", said Hajaj.

The Democratic Socialist Party's Melanie Sjoberg agreed, adding "until Israel ceases to expand its settlements, it will be almost impossible for the situation to move forward".

Drawing a parallel between the plight of the Palestinians and the plight of the East Timorese, Sjoberg appealed for solidarity action by people in Australia.

Debate was lively, both with Zionists opposed to the right of return and amongst supporters of Palestine about what immediately could be done. Most in the forum backed the call by the Palestinians for an international peacekeeping force to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied territories.

The UNSW Resistance Club is now considering plans for Palestinian solidarity actions later in the semester.

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