6 „«.*-•

REVOLUTION UNTIL LIBERATION f

«:::::::

THE POLITICAL MANIFESTO

OF THE ARAB LIBERATION FRONT,

1969

RE

VO

LU

TIO

NU

NT

ILL

IBE

RA

TIO

N

TH

EP

OL

ITIC

AL

MA

NIF

EST

O

OFTHE

ARABLIBERATION

FiiONT

19

69

The

Ara

bL

iber

atio

nF

ront

,in

itsth

ough

t,or

gani

satio

nan

dw

ide

fron

tal

form

ula,

hold

sits

elf

open

toev

ery

rtatio

mal

grou

ipan

dto

ever

yst

rugg

ler

optin

gfo

rar

med

popu

lar

stru

ggl

eas

the

natio

n's

only

way

for

conf

ront

ing

the

hist

oric

chal

leng

efo

rced

upon

it,re

pelli

ngth

ein

vade

rsan

dli

bera

ting

both

land

and

man

.

19

ideas, puts to the test not only our nation'ssense of self-sacrifice but also its comprehensionof the power of* science and its indispansibilityto any revolutionary struggle, It also places thenation face to face with the challenge of usingscience for serving the revolution and for upgrading its thought, its organisational power,its planning and its instruments with the object of bringing them to the required scientific,technical, technological resourceful and evergrowing standards. The ambition to get tothese standards is a basic illustration of thetruthfulness of any revolutionary organisationand its sincerety to itself and to its mission.

A now force with the name of Arab Liberation Front now enters the field of struggleand hews for the revolution a new path to betreated under the banner of the revolutionaryArab creed based on a nationalist organisationincorporating Arab fighters from all parts ofthe Arab homeland — fighters who have vowedto their immortal nation to rega-in for it its"Palestine and soak the soil of the Holylandin revolutionary Arab blood.

18

"Masses of our Arab people! Thedefeat of June 5 has now awakened our nationwhich, in the welter of grappling with its problems and maladies, had come near to forge-all about the enemy who, in 1948, was the caus--of opening its eyes to these same ploblems andmaladies.

June 5 brought into being an atmosphereof objectivity and self-criticism and took oftfrom Arab life the pressures of ancient formulas such as factional fanatacism, party dogmatism, arbitrariness in views tending to assure •exclusive rights to truth, self-seeking trem-and mutual incongruity between revolutionarsystems. It also set the stage for soul-searchingand for rethinking both concepts and institutions. Such an atmosphere is most accommodating to the needs of commando action, to itsspirit and its nature, as it negates selfishness,narrow mindedness and discord.

In the face of world imperialism, zionismand reaction, the arab nation stands threatened.Its only way of salvation is the way of cones-

ion between the revolutionary forces-and themobilization of the full potentialities of the nation so as to commit them all to the battle.

Two years from the June defeat have underlined the need of commando action for anew leap complementing the glorious marchstarted by the heroes of this nation when theyopted for armed struggle, and for making ofthe commando work a stronger and more, impervious bulwark in the face.of the danger ofencirclement to which the Arab revolution inPalestine is exposed. This danger is especiallyrepresented by the attempt made to isolate therevolution within its limited territorial scopeand cut the lifeline that connects-it witn thesources of power, energy and support that areto be found among the masses of the Arab revolution —all in anticipation of the day whenit might be possible to. strike at the revolutioninside Palestine itself.

The conspiring enemy forces have, put toadvantage the need felt by the commando organisations, especially at the outset, to stress thePalestinian identity of the movement •so as

and the imperialistic facts about Israel, willfree the Jews themselves from the dominanceof the Zionist movement and will open theireyes to the justice and equity of the Arab cause.

The democracy of this struggle will further enhance its links with the mind and thespirit of the people. It will also protect it fromthe disorders of tutelage, arrogance and-individualistic streaks as well as from the perilsof deviationism, renouncement of revolutionaryprinciples and values, bureaucratic petrificationand organisational inflation. At the same time,democracy will inspire a spirit of soundness andfrankness in relations between leaderships andbases and will assign to every individual aplace in the battle where he can discharge hisduties and release his energies in full.

The revolutionary pulse with which thespirit of our nation has been throbbing sinceJune 5 and which is holding the nation tightlyto its. major. trauma in Palestine making ofarmed•confrontation with the enemy the realtouchstone of the Arab man's association tohis homeland and his loyalty to values and

17

qualified to represent fully the presence of theArab nation in Palestine — a presence whichwill ihiave to prove itself a match for the tremendous forces which imperialism, Zionismand reaction are committing to the battle — isthe popular armed struggle that is endowedwith the qualities of nationalism socialism anddemocracy.

The nationalist character of the populararmed struggle ha's the effect of spreadingthroughout the nation consciousness of the danger posed to its existence by the Zionist-imperialistic invasion and emphasizing the necessityof having to repel this danger. The Arabsshould address themselves as one to the'Pales-;tine issue; it is this -act which makes unityand liberates Palestine. In much the same wayn<s unity regain* for Palestine its freedom,:Palestine regains for the Arabs their unity.Palestine is the road of unity and unity is theroad of Palestine. Any attempt to separate thetwo slogans or to pit the. one of them againstthe other is an act of weakening the battle ofliberation and the cause of unity as well.

14

being, they have been the common target toquite a number of quarters which arc. unitedby their endeavour to prevent the revolution ofPalestine from being publicly and ideologicallyassociated with Arab unity.

The enemies can clearly see the dangerpoted to their interests by the principle of association between the liberation of Palestineand Arab unity. They are undoubtedly awareof the vitality of this principle and its responsiveness to Arab realities and to the state,of preparedness of Arab masses everywhere.Accordingly, the enemies are prepared to oifeiconcessions, sometimes even help, all for thepake of resisting this association. They havedone so with every Arab revolution anywherein the Arab homeland and are today tryingthe same on the Palestine revolution.

The quarters opposed to the associationbetween the liberation of Palestine and Arabunity are to be found not only in the imperialistic powers which naturally are all toohappy to -see Arab issues treated independently

7

the one from the other and which particularlyinsist on not recognising any relationship ofthe Palestine issue with the Arab nation, itsunity and its resurgence. These quarters alsoinclude most of the traditional leftist (non-communist) movements in the West and Arabreactionary institutions. Not even some leftistfactions in the Arab homeland werespared thesetrends.

It is to be recalled that the traditionalleftist movements in the West were vying intheir support of the Algerian revolution on thecondition that the revolution Should remainof «crely Algerian character. Some of thesemovements are prescribing the same conditionfor supporting commando activities in Palestine. This attitude can be interpreted only interms of the continued Zionist influence insidethese movements — an influence which neverpermits any support to any Arab action undertaken on pan-nationalistic level. Besides, themovements in question are not completelydisengaged from the imperialistic vested interests. To be sure, thev can assume attitudes of

as such, abound in bravery, high spirits anddeep faith. This all should stem from the premise that the battle needs the participationin it by every Arab.

The Arab war of liberation, constituting,as it does, the tide of holy struggle against theimperialist-Zionist enemy and his interests across the Arab homeland, represents one of themain world fronts in the strife against theU.S.-led imperialism and lays down the un-shakeable -foundations' for a human societypermeated with freedom and peace and void ofall forms of exploitation.

The Arab revolutionary movement hasnot been up to expectations in building up therevolution. That was because it failed to givethat revolution the outlook of popular armedstruggle. Unless it comes to establish linkswith the principles of the Arab revolutionaryideology, popular armed struggle will continueto fall short of attaining to the level of nationalliberation war. .

The commando action that ifc properly

13

the one from the other and which particularlyinsist on not recognising any relationship ofthe Palestine issue with the Arab nation, itsunity and its resurgence. These quarters alsoinclude most of the traditional leftist (non-communist) movements in the West and Arabreactionary institutions. Not even some leftistfactions in the Arab homeland werespared thesetrends.

It is to be recalled that the traditionalleftist movements in the West were vying intheir support of the Algerian revolution on thecondition that the revolution Should remainof «crely Algerian character. Some of thesemovements are prescribing the same conditionfor supporting commando activities in Palestine. This attitude can be interpreted only interms of the continued Zionist influence insidethese movements — an influence which neverpermits any support to any Arab action undertaken on pan-nationalistic level. Besides, themovements in question are not completelydisengaged from the imperialistic vested interests. To be sure, thev can assume attitudes of

as such, abound in bravery, high spirits anddeep faith. This all should stem from the premise that the battle needs the participationin it by every Arab.

The Arab war of liberation, constituting,as it does, the tide of holy struggle against theimperialist-Zionist enemy and his interests across the Arab homeland, represents one of themain world fronts in the strife against theU.S.-led imperialism and lays down the un-shakeable -foundations' for a human societypermeated with freedom and peace and void ofall forms of exploitation.

The Arab revolutionary movement hasnot been up to expectations in building up therevolution. That was because it failed to givethat revolution the outlook of popular armedstruggle. Unless it comes to establish linkswith the principles of the Arab revolutionaryideology, popular armed struggle will continueto fall short of attaining to the level of nationalliberation war. .

The commando action that ifc properly

13

qualified to represent fully the presence of theArab nation in Palestine — a presence whichwill ihiave to prove itself a match for the tremendous forces which imperialism, Zionismand reaction are committing to the battle — isthe popular armed struggle that is endowedwith the qualities of nationalism socialism anddemocracy.

The nationalist character of the populararmed struggle ha's the effect of spreadingthroughout the nation consciousness of the danger posed to its existence by the Zionist-imperialistic invasion and emphasizing the necessityof having to repel this danger. The Arabsshould address themselves as one to the'Pales-;tine issue; it is this -act which makes unityand liberates Palestine. In much the same wayn<s unity regain* for Palestine its freedom,:Palestine regains for the Arabs their unity.Palestine is the road of unity and unity is theroad of Palestine. Any attempt to separate thetwo slogans or to pit the. one of them againstthe other is an act of weakening the battle ofliberation and the cause of unity as well.

14

being, they have been the common target toquite a number of quarters which arc. unitedby their endeavour to prevent the revolution ofPalestine from being publicly and ideologicallyassociated with Arab unity.

The enemies can clearly see the dangerpoted to their interests by the principle of association between the liberation of Palestineand Arab unity. They are undoubtedly awareof the vitality of this principle and its responsiveness to Arab realities and to the state,of preparedness of Arab masses everywhere.Accordingly, the enemies are prepared to oifeiconcessions, sometimes even help, all for thepake of resisting this association. They havedone so with every Arab revolution anywherein the Arab homeland and are today tryingthe same on the Palestine revolution.

The quarters opposed to the associationbetween the liberation of Palestine and Arabunity are to be found not only in the imperialistic powers which naturally are all toohappy to -see Arab issues treated independently

7

ratednbyoarmed

strugglein

Palestineand

thatare

proneto

falloff

atlinem

erestchange

dictated

bjrthe

need.to

upliftthe

degreeof

support

forthis

struggle.T

heseclasses

arem

ovingagainst

there

volutioneither

bydirect

confrontationor

byengaging

themselves

with

itandw

ithits

establishm

entsas

means

ofsapping

its'originally,preventing

itsexpansion

anddisrupting

itsd

rawn

-ou

tm

arch.

Socialismis

the.surety'

ofkeeping

thereins

ofleadership

inthe

handsof

thetoiling

masses

which

are"possessed

of.the

greateststaying

powerand

ofthehigheststake

inbring

ingthis

struggleup

tothe

levelofthepopular

liberationw

ar.B

eside,the

socialistand

progressive

characteristicsot

thisstruggle

havethe

effectof

weakening

..theeffectiveness

ofthe

Zionistandim

perialisticpropagandain

deceiving

thepeople

andii*'plating

Israelas!ahaven

foran

oppressed':y#.refined

andadvanced

people.Thesame,cli^w^teristics

willexposeto

every,freeco»6ieitekto

theV^orid

&e

racialist1(5:

tofree

thepopular

willfromthe

custodianshipof

variousinstitutions

andbring

upa

clearpicture

ofthedespoiledrightsand

thedisplacedpeople

ofPalestine.

Thehostile

conspiratorialforces

pretendedto

sympathise

withthis

Pales-tinian

identity,recognise

itand

provideprac

ticalaid

toit

toassert

itself.The

ultmate

purpose

ofthehostile

forceshas

beento

givethe

identityin

questiona

characterindependent

fromand,

where

possible,conflicting

with

thepan-Arab

identity.The

sameforces

havebeen

tryingto

makefair-seem

ingto

thecommando

organisatonisthe

possibilityof

evolvinginto

yetanotheradditionto

theexisting

Arabinsti

tutions—

onein

which

thePalestinian

identityw

ouldallegedly

findfull

expression.D

eliberately,the

above-mentioned

forceshave

beenm

agnifyingthe

abilityof

thePales

tinianidentity

—asbeing

independentfromthe

pan-Arabpersonality

—to

fighton,andachieve

fullliberation.

Thepurpose

ofcourse

isto

getto

theultim

ateend"offinally

invitingthe

Palestinians

togive

upfighting

forfull

liberationon

thegrouncis<fchatthey

cannotdothe.job

all5

.

ion

betw

een

the

revo

lutio

nary

forc

es-a

ndth

em

obili

zatio

nof

the

full

pote

ntia

litie

sof

the

nati

onso

asto

com

mit

them

allt

oth

eba

ttle

.T

wo

year

sfr

omth

eJu

nede

feat

have

unde

rlin

edth

ene

edof

.com

man

doac

tion

for

ane

wle

apco

mpl

emen

ting

the

glor

ious

mar

chsta

rted

byth

ehe

roes

ofth

isna

tion

when

they

opted

forar

med

strug

gle,

and

form

akin

gof

the

com

man

dow

ork

astr

onge

ran

dm

ore,

impe

rvio

usbu

lwar

kin

the

face

.of

the.

dang

erof

enci

rcle

men

tto

whi

chth

eAr

abre

volu

tion

inPa

lestin

eis

expo

sed.

This

dang

eris

espe

cially

repr

esen

ted

byth

eat

tem

pt,m

ade

tois

olat

eth

ere

volu

tion

with

inits

limite

dte

rrito

rial

scop

ean

dcu

t.the

lifel

ine

that

conn

ects

-it

wit

hth

eso

urce

sof

pow

er,

ener

gyan

dsu

ppor

tth

atar

eto

befo

und

amon

gth

em

asse

sof

the

Ara

bre

volu

tion

—al

lin

antic

ipat

ion

ofth

eda

y.whe

nit

mig

htbe

poss

ible

to.s

trik

eat

the

revo

lutio

nin

side

Pal

esti

neit

self

.Th

eco

nspi

ring

enem

yfo

rces

have

put

toad

vant

age

the

need

feltb

yth

eco

mm

ando

orga

nisa

tions

,es

pecia

lly;a

tthe

outse

t,to

stres

sth

eP

ales

tinia

nid

entit

yof

the

mov

emen

tso

as

4"

and

the

impe

rial

istic

fact

sab

out

Isra

el,

wil

lfr

eeth

eJe

ws

them

selv

esfr

omth

edo

min

ance

ofth

eZi

onis

tm

ovem

ent

and

will

open

thei

rey

esto

the

just

ice

and

equi

tyof

the

Ara

bca

use.

The

dem

ocra

cyof

this

stru

ggle

will

fur

ther

enha

nce

its

link

sw

ith

the

min

dan

dth

esp

irit

ofth

epe

ople

.It

wil

lalso

prot

ect

itfro

mth

edi

sord

ers

oftu

tela

ge,

arro

ganc

ean

din

divi

dual

istic

strea

ksas

wel

las

from

the

peril

sof

devi

atio

nism

,re

noun

cem

ent

ofre

volu

tiona

rypr

inci

ples

and

valu

es,

bure

aucr

atic

petr

ifica

tion

and

orga

nisa

tiona

lin

flatio

n.A

tth

e'sa

me,

tim

e,de

moc

racy

wil

lins

pire

asp

irit

ofso

undn

ess

and

fran

knes

sin

rela

tions

betw

een

lead

ersh

ips

and

base

san

dw

ill

assi

gnto

ever

y,in

divi

dual

apl

ace

inth

eba

ttle

whe

rehe

can

disc

harg

ehi

sdu

ties

and

rele

ase

his

ener

gies

infu

ll.T

here

volu

tiona

rypu

lse

wit

hw

hich

the

spir

itof

our

natio

nha

sbe

enth

robb

ing1

sinc

eJu

ne5

and

whi

chis

hold

ing

the

natio

ntig

htly

toit

s.m

ajor

,trau

ma

in,Pa

lesti

nem

akin

gof

iarme

ct.:c

onfr

onta

tion

wit

hth

een

emy

the

real

touc

hsto

neof

the

Ara

bm

an-s

asso

ciat

ion

tohi

sho

mel

and

and

his

loya

ltyto

valu

esan

dIt

ideas, puts to the test not only our nation'ssense of self-sacrifice but also its comprehensionof the power of* science and its indispansibilityto any revolutionary struggle, It also places thenation face to face with the challenge of usingscience for serving the revolution and for upgrading its thought, its organisational power,its planning and its instruments with the object of bringing them to the required scientific,technical, technological resourceful and evergrowing standards. The ambition to get tothese standards is a basic illustration of thetruthfulness of any revolutionary organisationand its sincerety to itself and to its mission.

A now force with the name of Arab Liberation Front now enters the field of struggleand hews for the revolution a new path to betreated under the banner of the revolutionaryArab creed based on a nationalist organisationincorporating Arab fighters from all parts ofthe Arab homeland — fighters who have vowedto their immortal nation to rega-in for it its"Palestine and soak the soil of the Holylandin revolutionary Arab blood.

18

"Masses of our Arab people! Thedefeat of June 5 has now awakened our nationwhich, in the welter of grappling with its problems and maladies, had come near to forge-all about the enemy who, in 1948, was the caus--of opening its eyes to these same ploblems andmaladies.

June 5 brought into being an atmosphereof objectivity and self-criticism and took oftfrom Arab life the pressures of ancient formulas such as factional fanatacism, party dogmatism, arbitrariness in views tending to assure •exclusive rights to truth, self-seeking trem-and mutual incongruity between revolutionarsystems. It also set the stage for soul-searchingand for rethinking both concepts and institutions. Such an atmosphere is most accommodating to the needs of commando action, to itsspirit and its nature, as it negates selfishness,narrow mindedness and discord.

In the face of world imperialism, zionismand reaction, the arab nation stands threatened.Its only way of salvation is the way of cones-