Palestinian Conference Endorses Violence And Antisemitic Language

The recent Ottawa Conference declaration by the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement has been met with controversy due to its endorsement of violent armed Palestinian resistance and its use of antisemitic language. 

The conference, which was held in Ottawa, Canada, brought together various organizations, including women’s organizations, labor organizations, academic activists, and legal activists. It aimed to discuss the Palestinian cause and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.

The conference’s political declaration, entitled “Palestine: Envisioning Liberation, Confronting Colonialism,” was made under the slogan and framework of “With the resistance until the liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea.” The declaration reaffirmed the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement’s absolute and unconditional loyalty to the Palestinian Arab people and their just cause, rights, and national goals.

The declaration endorsed the use of violent armed Palestinian resistance, including the support of resistance forces in occupied Palestine with all of their battalions, brigades, committees, and heroic armed forces. This is a dangerous and irresponsible stance that ignores the negative effects of violence and terrorism. Such actions only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence, deepen the divide between Israelis and Palestinians, and undermine the possibility of peaceful coexistence and a two-state solution.

Furthermore, the declaration used antisemitic language by referring to the “dismantling of the racist Zionist settler entity, ‘Israel.'” This language is deeply offensive and ignores the reality of Israel as a sovereign state that has the right to exist in peace and security, just like any other country in the world. It is also worth noting that Israel is a diverse country, with a significant Arab and Muslim population, who enjoy equal rights and freedoms under the law.