PLO Chief Negotiator: Ending the Israeli occupation will bring security and peace to the region
Headline: “Erekat: Security and peace will begin with the end of the occupation”
“PLO Executive Committee Secretary, [Fatah Central Committee member, and PLO Chief Negotiator] Saeb Erekat… emphasized that the key to security, peace, and stability in the region will begin with the end of the Israeli occupation and the implementation of the sovereignty of the State of Palestine whose capital is East Jerusalem within the June 4, 1967 borders; a solution of all of the permanent status issues – and prime among them the refugees – based on UN Resolution 194; and the release of the prisoners.”
UN Resolution 194 (Chapter 11, Dec. 11, 1948) states that "the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return." Palestinian leaders argue this means that all Arabs who left Israel during the war (hundreds of thousands) and their descendants (a few million) have a "right of return" to Israel. Israel argues that the resolution only calls for a limited return and only under certain conditions, especially focusing on the words "wishing to return... and live at peace with their neighbors."
“PLO Executive Committee Secretary, [Fatah Central Committee member, and PLO Chief Negotiator] Saeb Erekat… emphasized that the key to security, peace, and stability in the region will begin with the end of the Israeli occupation and the implementation of the sovereignty of the State of Palestine whose capital is East Jerusalem within the June 4, 1967 borders; a solution of all of the permanent status issues – and prime among them the refugees – based on UN Resolution 194; and the release of the prisoners.”
UN Resolution 194 (Chapter 11, Dec. 11, 1948) states that "the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return." Palestinian leaders argue this means that all Arabs who left Israel during the war (hundreds of thousands) and their descendants (a few million) have a "right of return" to Israel. Israel argues that the resolution only calls for a limited return and only under certain conditions, especially focusing on the words "wishing to return... and live at peace with their neighbors."