[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PALESTINIAN CHARTER?

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on January 15, 1997, Israel and the 
Palestinian authority reached an agreement on a protocol for the 
redeployment of Israeli forces in Hebron. Accompanying the protocol is 
a note for the record, prepared by the U.S. Special Middle East 
Coordinator, Ambassador Dennis Ross, which specifies reciprocal actions 
that must be taken by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority. U.S. 
officials have described this note for the Record as a road map for 
further progress in the peace process.
  Among its various provisions, the Note stipulates that the 
Palestinian side must ``complete the process of revising the 
Palestinian National Charter'' to expunge from it all clauses 
inimicable to Israel. Previously, both the Clinton administration and 
the PLO claimed that the charter had been changed by a vote taken by 
the Palestinian National Council [PNC] in April 1996. That vote claimed 
to have canceled all clauses in the charter which contradict the 
letters exchanged between the PLO and the Israeli Government.
  But at the same time, the PNC ordered the adoption of a new charter, 
which would demonstrate to the world the exact textual changes made 
with regard to Israel. It referred the matter to a legal committee that 
was charged with submitting a new draft charter by October 24. Nothing 
happened then, and Yasir Arafat failed to meet this obligation in 
violation of the PLO's stated commitment. Moreover, the fact that the 
charter revision is included in the note drafted by Ambassador Ross is 
evidence that the Clinton administration know acknowledges that the 
Palestinian side is not in compliance.
  Several weeks ago, the PNC delegated to another special legal 
committee the authority to draft a new charter. However, many questions 
still remain unanswered. In delegating authority, the PNC once again 
did not specify which clauses in the charter require amendment, nor did 
it specify a deadline for the revised text.
  More recently, Chairman Arafat reportedly told two French 
publications that the Palestinians have already fulfilled their 
commitments, and that he does not intend to adopt a new charter because 
the Israelis do not have a constitution. ``When they will have one,'' 
Mr. Arafat said, ``we will do the same.''
  Mr. Speaker, such utterances from Mr. Arafat are not helpful to 
progress in the peace process. Mr. Arafat knows what he had to do. 
There is no reason for further delay.
  Mr. Speaker, the PLO's failure to amend the Palestinian Charter is a 
violation of the peace agreements with Israel. That failure, along with 
continued hostile rhetoric toward Israel, indicates a lack of sustained 
commitment by Yasir Arafat to the peace process. Accordingly, I call on 
Chairman Arafat to demonstrate his commitment to peace by leading the 
effect to amend the Palestinian National Charter at the earliest 
possible opportunity. That is his responsibility. We will be watching 
his actions closely. The time has come and gone for prompt compliance. 
Further delay is additional evidence that Chairman Arafat and the PLO 
are not willing to meet.

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