Dictionary of Palestinian Political Terms
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Dictionary of Palestinian Political Terms PASSIA Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, Jerusalem PASSIA, the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, is an Arab, non-profit Palestinian institution with a financially and legally indepen- dent status. It is not affiliated with any government, political party or organization. PASSIA seeks to present the Question of Palestine in its national, Arab and interna- tional contexts through academic research, dialogue and publication. PASSIA endeavors that research undertaken under its auspices be specialized, scientific and objective and that its symposia and workshops, whether interna- tional or intra-Palestinian, be open, self-critical and conducted in a spirit of har- mony and cooperation. Copyright PASSIA 3rd updated and revised edition, December 2019 ISBN: 978-9950-305-52-6 PASSIA Publication 2019 Tel.: 02-6264426 | Fax: 02-6282819 E-mail: passia@passia.org Website: www.passia.org PO Box 19545, Jerusalem Contents Abbreviations ……………………………………………………………………………………………. i Foreword …………………………………………………………………….….…………..……………. iii Dictionary A-Z ………………………………………………………………………….………………. 1 Main References Cited…………………………………………..……………………………… 199 Abbreviations ACRI Association for Civil Rights in PCBS Palestinian Central Bureau of Israel Statistics AD Anno Domini PFLP Popular Front for the Liberation AIPAC American Israel Public Affairs of Palestine Committee PFLP-GC Popular Front for the Liberation ALF Arab Liberation Front of Palestine – General ANM Arab Nationalist Movement Command BBC British Broadcasting PLA Palestine Liberation Army Corporation PLC Palestinian Legislative Council BC(E) Before the Common Era PLF Palestinian Liberation Front BDS Boycott, Divestment and PLO Palestinian Liberation Sanctions Organization Brig.-Gen. Brigadier General PNC Palestinian National Council CE Common or Christian Era PNSF Palestinian National Salvation CIA Central Intelligence Agency Front CUP Committee of Union and PPP Palestinian People’s Party Progress PPSF Palestinian Popular Struggle DCO District Coordination Office Front DFLP Democratic Front for the PRC Popular Resistance Committees Liberation of Palestine PRCP Palestinian Revolutionary DOP Declaration of Principles Communist Party EU European Union PRCS Palestinian Red Crescent Society EU BAM European Union Border RC Revolutionary Council Assistance Mission SLA South Lebanese Army ICC International Criminal Court St. Saint ICJ International Court of Justice TIPH Temporary International ICRC International Committee of the Presence in Hebron Red Cross UAE United Arab Emirates ID Identification/Identity UAL United Arab List IDF Israel Defense Forces UK United Kingdom ILA Israel Land Administration UN United Nations IMF International Monetary Fund UNCCP United Nations Conciliation JDC Joint Distribution Committee Commission for Palestine JNF Jewish National Fund UNCTAD United Nations Conference on JVOP Jewish Voice for Peace Trade and Development km kilometer UNEF UN Emergency Force in the Sinai km2 square kilometer UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scien- LC Legislative Council tific and Cultural Organization Lt. Lieutenant UNGA United Nations General Ltd. Limited Assembly m meter UNHRC United Nations Human Rights Maj.-Gen. Major General Council mcm million cubic meter UNLU Unified National Leadership of MENA Middle East and North Africa the Uprising MK Member of Knesset UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works NGO Non-Governmental Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Organization Near East NIS New Israeli Shekel UNSC United Nations Security Council OCHA Office for the Coordination of UNSCOP United Nations Special Com- Humanitarian Affairs mittee on Palestine OPT Occupied Palestinian Territory US United States PA Palestinian Authority WZO World Zionist Organization PBUH Peace be upon him i ii Foreword The conflict that developed in historic Palestine between the Jewish immigrants of the Zionist movement and the Palestinians, which turned into the “Middle East Conflict” involving Israel’s neighboring Arab countries and resulted in the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, has shaped Palestinian political life fundamentally. The story of the conflict is, in a variety of ways, a story of competing narratives that have developed over time. An abundance of negotiations, backchannel meetings and conflict resolution initiatives attest to the fact that even the question of who has the prerogative over interpretation is a political issue. This is not only a question of interpretation and the use of specific politically-charged terms such as “freedom fighter” or “terrorist”. But it is also the question of whole events, such as massacres or promising peace initiatives that are ignored, forgotten or intentionally erased from collective and even academic memory. In this regard, this Dictionary of Palestinian Political Terms is intended to offer a guide to Palestinian politics and Palestinian political thought. It attempts to present a collection of some of the most prominent actors, movements, agreements, plans and ideologies as well as events that have shaped the history of Palestinian politics. It aims to encourage interested individuals, students and researchers to further investigate and develop a nuanced and critical understanding of a people’s desires to live secure, in dignity and in self-determination. December 2019 The editors iii iv A Israel's Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the government to cancel implemen- tation of the law in East Jerusalem, stating A that it violated obligations under interna- tional law. In 2015, a seven-justice panel of the Supreme Court approved the application ABNAA AL-BALAD see Sons of the Village of the Absentee Property Law to assets in East Jerusalem. ABSENTEE PROPERTY LAW Legislation created by Israel in 1950 for the purpose of legalizing ABU ALA’-PERES PLAN Proposal discussed in changes to land ownership. The law defines confidential talks between Foreign Minister an “absentee” as a person who at any time Shimon Peres and PLC Speaker Ahmad Qrei’a in the period between 29 November 1947 (Abu Ala’), apparently authorized by Israeli and 1 September 1948, had left their resi- Prime Minister Sharon, in the winter of 2001. dence and property either for territory out- The plan suggested first a ceasefire and con- side of the 1948 borders of the State of centration of weapons and weapon bearers Israel, Arab states including Lebanon, Syria, under one authority (PA), followed by an Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan (the Israeli recognition of a (demilitarized) Pales- latter two meaning also the West Bank and tinian state on areas presently under PA con- Gaza Strip), or any territory occupied by Arab trol (42% of the West Bank; 80% of the Gaza military forces. Absentee property was Strip) and Palestinian recognition of Israel as vested in the Israeli Custodian of Absentee a Jewish state as a starting point for re- Property, with no possibility of appeal or newed final status negotiations on final bor- compensation, who then sold it to the De- ders and other outstanding issues (including velopment Authority, which was empowered Jerusalem, settlements, and refugees). The by the Knesset to acquire and prepare lands suggested timetable for the implementation for the benefit of newly arriving Jewish im- of the agreement was one year. The docu- migrants. Thereby, the “absentee property” ment remained unofficial, did not gain much that was left behind by Palestinian refugees support, and was neither approved by the in 1948 (and also some of the property of Israeli government nor by the PA. Palestinians who are now citizens of Israel) was transferred to the State of Israel. This process authorized the theft of the property of approximately one million Arabs, seized by Israel in 1948. Following the 1967 War, Israeli law was applied to East Jerusalem, but it was decided that the status of absentee would not apply to residents of East Jerusa- lem. However, West Bank residents with Ahmed Qrei’a (Abu Ala) & Shimon Peres property in Jerusalem remained in a gray area: while considered absentees under the ABU ALI MUSTAFA BRIGADES (also: Martyr law and prohibited from officially registering Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades) Military wing of their rights to the land, it did not affect their the PFLP (originally the Red Eagles Brigades), ownership of the property in practice. Own- named after PFLP Secretary-General Mustafa ers could prove their existence and claim Zabri, better known as Abu Ali Mustafa, who their property even though they were consi- was assassinated by an dered absentees under the law. In a cabinet Israeli missile strike at meeting on 8 July 2004, this practice was his office in Ramallah rescinded after being in place for 37 years. In on 27 August 2001. On January 2005, the Israeli government de- 16 July 2007, the Bri- cided to apply the Absentee Property Law to gades rejected Presi- East Jerusalem property. In February 2005, dent Mahmoud Abbas’ 1 A call on all Palestinian resistance groups to lem (expanded to include adjacent Palestin- surrender their weapons to the PA, saying ian villages including Abu Dis) to be jointly that they would not abandon their re- administered, with autonomous sub-munici- sistance until the Israeli occupation of the palities for each side. West Jerusalem (Yeru- West Bank and Gaza has ended. shalayim) recognized as the Israeli capital and East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as the Palestinian ABU HOLI Former Israeli military checkpoint