Palestinian National Initiative
Encyclopedia
Palestinian National Initiative is a Palestinian
political movement or party led by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti
.
Its formation was formally announced on June 17, 2002 in Ramallah
on the West Bank
, part of the Palestinian Territories
, by Dr. Haidar Abdel-Shafi
, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi and Ibrahim Dakkak
.
The PNI views itself as a "democratic
third force" in Palestinian politics, and opposes the dichotomy between Fatah
(which it views as corrupt and undemocratic) and Hamas
(which it views as extremist and fundamentalist).
"Only through the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable, and democratic Palestinian state on all of the territories occupied by Israel
in 1967, with East Jerusalem
as its capital, can a just peace be achieved.
The Initiative calls for the implementation of relevant United Nations
resolutions requiring the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the West Bank and Gaza and safeguarding the internationally-recognized right of Palestinian refugee
s to return to their homeland."
The PNI defines this as collective Palestinian goals, but sees as its own role to democratize and unite the Palestinian movement, with focus on the Palestinian National Authority
(PNA). It has campaigned extensively for democratic reform within the PNA, and advocates a national emergency government encompassing all factions (including the islamist Hamas) as a means of stopping autocracy and lawlessness in Palestinian politics. This is in part motivated by the desire for democracy, and in part by the inefficiency and self-destructive tendencies of the Palestinian factional system.
The PNI demands the proclamation of a single political direction, to be determined democratically, and a single policy for achieving these goals. The PNI itself believes that the methods used should be based on a reversion of what it refers to as the "militarization" of the intifada, and a continued struggle by peaceful means. It has no armed wing and does not use or advocate violence, although it states that it supports in principle a right of resistance to occupation.
. It is strongly based in civil society organizations and NGOs operating in the Palestinian Territories, and has extensive connections with foreign aid and support groups. Its lack of a role within the PLO or in the PNA has greatly reduced its visibility to ordinary Palestinians.
The PNI has gained some support among Palestinian exiles, most notably the late Edward Said
, but is extremely weak or non-existent in the main refugee communities in Jordan
, Lebanon
and Syria
.
The Initiative is led by a General Secretary, with Mustafa Barghouti
occupying that post since its founding.
, and in the absence of a Hamas candidate (due to the Hamas' policy of boycotting all PNA institutions) quickly became the leading opponent to PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas
. Barghouti was also endorsed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
, after that group failed in its attempts to organize a single candidacy for all secular Palestinian factions outside Fatah.
During the campaign, Barghouti's fame snowballed after the international press picked up his name as the main opposition candidate. He was twice arrested by the Israel Defense Forces
, suffering a broken knee in custody, and complained of discrimination by both the Abbas-run PNA and Israel, which he accused of covertly backing Abbas's candidacy. In the final results, he polled 19.48 %, with Abbas gaining 62.52 % and the remaining five candidates all coming in below 3.5 %.
The PNI also ran, together with some like-minded independents under an umbrella list called Independent Palestine, in the Palestinian Legislative Council
elections in January 2006. The Independent Palestine list netted about 2.7% of the votes, thereby garnering two seats on the Council, which will be filled by Mustafa Barghouti and Rawya Rashad Sa-eed al-Shawa. http://www.elections.ps/template.aspx?id=291
Palestinian local elections
The PNI made minor gains in the first phase of the Palestinian local elections, in January 2005 after the presidential elections.
In the next stage of elections, conducted in May 2005, the PNI by itself or in coalitions won a majority in at least six localities, with a total 10 % of the vote for candidates outside Fatah and Hamas.
In the third phase of the Palestinian local elections, held on the West Bank on 29 September, the PNI ran by itself or in coalitions in 18 out of 104 municipalities and won control over the local councils in 16 of these.
The fourth and last phase of the elections have been postponed until December.
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
political movement or party led by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti
Mustafa Barghouti
Mustafa Barghouti is a Palestinian democracy activist. He was a candidate for the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005, finishing second to Mahmoud Abbas, with 19% of the vote.Barghouti was born in Jerusalem...
.
Its formation was formally announced on June 17, 2002 in Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
on the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, part of the Palestinian Territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
, by Dr. Haidar Abdel-Shafi
Haidar Abdel-Shafi
Haidar Abdel-Shafi was a Palestinian physician, community leader and political leader who was the head of the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Conference of 1991.- Background :...
, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi and Ibrahim Dakkak
Ibrahim Dakkak
Ibrahim Dakkak Ibrahim Dakkak Ibrahim Dakkak (born in Jerusalem in 1929, is a Palestinian civil engineer and activist.-Early life:Dakkak completed his secondary education in Palestine and graduated from the American University in Cairo with degrees in science and mathematics in 1947. He worked as a...
.
The PNI views itself as a "democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
third force" in Palestinian politics, and opposes the dichotomy between Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
(which it views as corrupt and undemocratic) and Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
(which it views as extremist and fundamentalist).
Ideology
The platform of the PNI states:"Only through the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable, and democratic Palestinian state on all of the territories occupied by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1967, with East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem or Eastern Jerusalem refer to the parts of Jerusalem captured and annexed by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and then captured and annexed by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War...
as its capital, can a just peace be achieved.
The Initiative calls for the implementation of relevant United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
resolutions requiring the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the West Bank and Gaza and safeguarding the internationally-recognized right of Palestinian refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s to return to their homeland."
The PNI defines this as collective Palestinian goals, but sees as its own role to democratize and unite the Palestinian movement, with focus on the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
(PNA). It has campaigned extensively for democratic reform within the PNA, and advocates a national emergency government encompassing all factions (including the islamist Hamas) as a means of stopping autocracy and lawlessness in Palestinian politics. This is in part motivated by the desire for democracy, and in part by the inefficiency and self-destructive tendencies of the Palestinian factional system.
The PNI demands the proclamation of a single political direction, to be determined democratically, and a single policy for achieving these goals. The PNI itself believes that the methods used should be based on a reversion of what it refers to as the "militarization" of the intifada, and a continued struggle by peaceful means. It has no armed wing and does not use or advocate violence, although it states that it supports in principle a right of resistance to occupation.
Supporter base and leaders
The PNI is dominated by secular intellectuals, some of them former members of the left-wing Palestinian People's PartyPalestinian People's Party
The Palestinian People's Party , founded in 1982 as the Palestinian Communist Party, is a socialist political party in the Palestinian territories and among the Palestinian diaspora....
. It is strongly based in civil society organizations and NGOs operating in the Palestinian Territories, and has extensive connections with foreign aid and support groups. Its lack of a role within the PLO or in the PNA has greatly reduced its visibility to ordinary Palestinians.
The PNI has gained some support among Palestinian exiles, most notably the late Edward Said
Edward Said
Edward Wadie Saïd was a Palestinian-American literary theorist and advocate for Palestinian rights. He was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and a founding figure in postcolonialism...
, but is extremely weak or non-existent in the main refugee communities in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
The Initiative is led by a General Secretary, with Mustafa Barghouti
Mustafa Barghouti
Mustafa Barghouti is a Palestinian democracy activist. He was a candidate for the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005, finishing second to Mahmoud Abbas, with 19% of the vote.Barghouti was born in Jerusalem...
occupying that post since its founding.
Election results
Mustafa Barghouti campaigned on a platform of democratization as the PNI's candidate in the January 9, 2005 Palestinian presidential electionsPalestinian presidential election, 2005
The 2005 Palestinian presidential election — the first to be held since 1996 — took place on January 9, 2005 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Voters elected PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas as the new President of the Palestinian Authority to replace Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11,...
, and in the absence of a Hamas candidate (due to the Hamas' policy of boycotting all PNA institutions) quickly became the leading opponent to PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
. Barghouti was also endorsed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
, after that group failed in its attempts to organize a single candidacy for all secular Palestinian factions outside Fatah.
During the campaign, Barghouti's fame snowballed after the international press picked up his name as the main opposition candidate. He was twice arrested by the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, suffering a broken knee in custody, and complained of discrimination by both the Abbas-run PNA and Israel, which he accused of covertly backing Abbas's candidacy. In the final results, he polled 19.48 %, with Abbas gaining 62.52 % and the remaining five candidates all coming in below 3.5 %.
The PNI also ran, together with some like-minded independents under an umbrella list called Independent Palestine, in the Palestinian Legislative Council
Palestinian Legislative Council
The Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 132 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza...
elections in January 2006. The Independent Palestine list netted about 2.7% of the votes, thereby garnering two seats on the Council, which will be filled by Mustafa Barghouti and Rawya Rashad Sa-eed al-Shawa. http://www.elections.ps/template.aspx?id=291
Palestinian local elections
The PNI made minor gains in the first phase of the Palestinian local elections, in January 2005 after the presidential elections.
In the next stage of elections, conducted in May 2005, the PNI by itself or in coalitions won a majority in at least six localities, with a total 10 % of the vote for candidates outside Fatah and Hamas.
In the third phase of the Palestinian local elections, held on the West Bank on 29 September, the PNI ran by itself or in coalitions in 18 out of 104 municipalities and won control over the local councils in 16 of these.
The fourth and last phase of the elections have been postponed until December.