Resistance Unites the Palestinian People

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

Time and again the factions of the Palestinian people have disagreed and fought one another, each inflicting harm on the other, and time and again the people have differed and their ranks have split apart across these long years of displacement and occupation. Yet the people of Palestine have always united under the banner of resistance. The people and their factions united in the face of the 1978 invasion of southern Lebanon, and all united again in 1982. Ranks came together, despite the splits, in the Intifada of 1987, and their unity returned once more in the Aqsa Intifada. And it will surely return again once everyone decides that this enemy understands only one language — the language of force.

Does the people want to end the division? That will certainly happen under the banner of resistance.

Does the people want to be rid of Oslo and everything that came with it? Oslo will certainly dissolve under the banner of resistance.

Does the people want to end the occupation? That will never happen except through resistance.

…except by force.

Does the people want to liberate the whole of Mandatory Palestine? Only resistance is capable of that.

Wills, wishes, and aspirations may differ and multiply, but the path to them is one, and only one: the path of force, the only language Israel understands. Negotiations are of no use, the Americans are not the guardians of this people’s affairs, and neither groveling nor begging brings any of us closer to our goal.

We achieve our goals only when we hold our heads high, roll up our strong, sun-browned sleeves, and resolve that only iron can bend iron, that a measure must be met with two measures, and a pound with two pounds.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “المقاومة توحد شعب فلسطين” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.