"NGOs" call for a comprehensive national dialogue that strengthens unity and rebuilds the political system

Ramallah - Ofoq News - The Palestinian NGO Network welcomed the call to initiate a comprehensive national dialogue, calling for it to be transformed into a serious and responsible path with the participation of all political forces and societal components, to reach national consensuses that rebuild internal unity and enhance the ability of the Palestinian people to confront the challenges and risks that threaten their cause and their existence on their land, most notably the ongoing war of genocide on the Gaza Strip, and the escalation of settler attacks and plans for annexation and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.

The network stressed, in a press statement, that the exceptional circumstances that the Palestinian people are going through, in light of the continuing aggression on the Gaza Strip and its catastrophic humanitarian repercussions, the escalation of settlement, land confiscation, and settler attacks in the West Bank, in addition to the worsening economic and social crisis, call for a national dialogue that goes beyond addressing immediate political differences, and establishes a unified national vision and strategy and a comprehensive program of action that strengthens the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and protects their national and democratic rights.

The network stressed the need for the dialogue to be based on a set of foundations, foremost among which are democratic elections, stressing that they are a democratic entitlement and an inherent right of citizens, and postponing them should not turn into an open situation or an alternative to renewing legitimacy and institutions.

She added that if objective circumstances force the postponement of the elections, this must be linked to the immediate initiation of a comprehensive national dialogue that includes all Palestinian forces and factions without exception, within a clear time frame, with the aim of agreeing on the requirements for holding free, fair and comprehensive elections that respect political pluralism, the will of voters and the results of the vote, and combine legislative and presidential elections.

The network called for the dialogue to include various national issues, and not be limited to election arrangements and the restructuring of institutions, but rather address political, economic and social issues, including confronting occupation policies, addressing economic and financial crises, protecting public rights and freedoms, promoting social justice, and setting common national priorities for recovery, reconstruction, development and strengthening resilience.

She stressed the importance of ensuring the effective and influential participation of civil society institutions, unions, popular and professional federations, and representatives of women, youth, farmers, workers and the private sector, noting that the dialogue cannot achieve its goals if it is limited to political forces and factions, but rather it should reflect the various components of Palestinian society, and make societal issues and needs an essential part of its agenda and outcomes.

The network stressed the need for ending the division and restoring the unity of the Palestinian political system to be a basic priority for the dialogue, ensuring the unity of political, legal and administrative jurisdiction over the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, under a unified Palestinian national framework, and rejecting any arrangements or procedures that would perpetuate the separation between the two parts of the country or prejudice the unity of the people, land and institutions.

It also called for halting the ongoing procedures related to the formation of the Palestinian National Council until a comprehensive national agreement is reached on the foundations and mechanisms for its formation, ensuring the broadest democratic and pluralistic representation of the Palestinian people in the homeland and the diaspora, strengthening the position of the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and ensuring the development of its institutions on the foundations of national partnership, accountability, and democratic representation.

The network stressed the need for the dialogue to lead to an agreement on a practical national program to strengthen the steadfastness of Palestinians, especially in areas targeted by settlement and forced displacement, while giving priority to protecting farmers, agricultural lands, rural communities, areas classified as (C) and the Jordan Valley.

She explained that the program should include developing joint national mechanisms to support farmers affected by occupation and settler attacks, protect their sources of livelihood, enhance their ability to access and invest their lands, and provide the elements for agricultural production, in addition to supporting local communities and the most vulnerable groups and enhancing their economic and social resilience.

It also stressed the need to give priority to responding to urgent humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip, recovery and reconstruction, and ensuring the participation of civil society institutions and local communities in setting priorities, implementing programs, and following up on their results.

At the conclusion of its statement, the Palestinian NGO Network stressed that the required national dialogue must be serious and productive, based on partnership, pluralism and respect for public rights and freedoms, and lead to clear consensuses and specific mechanisms for implementation and follow-up, far from exclusion, exclusivity and reproducing division.

The network expressed the readiness of civil society institutions to contribute to the success of the dialogue from their independent national and societal position, and to work with various parties to strengthen the unity and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, preserve their national rights, and restore respect for democratic participation, accountability, and the rule of law.

She stressed that the challenges facing the Palestinian people require moving from managing division to building national partnership, and from simply declaring positions to agreeing on practical steps that protect the land and people, and enhance the steadfastness of Palestinian society and its ability to confront the occupation and achieve its aspirations for freedom, independence, and self-determination.