Fatah Leader Faruq Qaddumi: Two-States A Temporary Solution

The following are excerpts from an interview with Fatah leader Faruq Qaddumi:

Interviewer: Do you still support martyrdom operations inside Israel?

Faruq Qaddumi: When you speak of martyrdom operations, I say that these operations were forced upon the Palestinian people, who face assassinations, killings, destruction of homes, and so on. [The Palestinian people] were forced to commit these operations. We were asked to stop these operations and we said that we were willing to. But stopping these operations is out of our hands. We are not a regular army. We are fighters. In other words, we don't have full control over the fighters...

Interviewer: Aren't you afraid you'll be labeled "a terrorist"?

Faruq Qaddumi: If the resistance in its entirety is labeled "terrorism" by America and Israel, why should we be afraid? A terrorist is someone who fights, not for a cause, but for the sake of fighting. If armed struggle has a political cause, especially if it is a noble one, then it is not terrorism.

Interviewer: Why didn't you change your political discourse although the situation around you has changed and there are circumstances you must deal with?

Faruq Qaddumi: Our enemy always says, "This is Judea and Samaria" and they are "Terrorists." They haven't changed their discourse. If they change theirs, we will change ours, and if not, we will keep saying that armed resistance is the way to Palestine. If there is no political initiative and they keep addressing us with sweet words, and try to seduce us like foxes do, we must continue in our path.

[There are] 300 Million Arabs, while Israel has only the sea behind it.

Interviewer: Minister, how do you see the future of Palestine?

Faruq Qaddumi: At this stage there will be two states. Many years from now there will be only one.