Palestinian Arab Front

Palestinian Arab Front (in Arabic: الجبهة العربية الفلسطينية, al-jubhat al-arabiya al-filistiniya) (PAF) is a minor Palestinian Arab Nationalist faction. The group was founded on October 11, 1968. PAF is a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Policies

According to their own proclamations, PAF supports the right of Palestinian refugees "wishing to return to their homes [to] live at peace with their neighbours," in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194; formation of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital, releasing Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, destruction of the Israeli West Bank barrier; and evacuation of Israeli settlements from the West Bank.

Its longterm goals includes Arab unity, political integration of the Arab nation of all current Arab states. It promotes strengthening of the Arab League and increased Arab economic cooperation. The front promotes increased cooperation amongst Islamic countries.

The front vows to fight against all forms of financial and administrative corruption and the elimination of favoritism. It claims to strive to increase participation of women in Palestinian society.

Organization

The organization is led by a Central Committee and a Politburo. The General Secretary of the Front is Jameel Shihadeh ('Abu Khaled') and the Secretary of the Central Committee of Salim al-Bardeni, formerly the director of the Palestinian police. The group is a member of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, which includes both PLO and non-PLO factions, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, listed as terrorist organizations in the West.

History

The PAF was founded in 1993, after a split in the Arab Liberation Front. The split had been provoked by the decision of the ALF to freeze its PLO membership in protest of the Oslo Accords. The organization held its first conference inside Palestine on May 15-May 17 1997.

Electoral work

The group supported the candidature of Mahmoud Abbas in the 2005 presidential elections.

PAF took part in the 2006 legislative election with the list 'Freedom and Independence' (الحرية والاستقلال) in the national constituency. The list had 10 candidatures, 8 from the West Bank and 2 from the Gaza strip. Two candidates were women. The list was headed by Salim al-Bardeni. In total the list got 4,398 votes (0.44%), which was far below the 2%-barrier to gain parliamentary representation. The group had one candidate in one of the provincial constituencies, Ishak Mahmoud Ishak Bahis in the Khalil Province. He got 3,446 votes.

Mass organizations

PAF has a network of front organizations, including

• Palestinian Union of Students Struggle Committees (اتحاد لجان كفاح الطلبة الفلسطيني)
• Union of Teachers Struggle Committees (اتحاد لجان كفاح المعلمين)
• Society for the Promotion of the Family (جمعية النهوض بالاسرة)
• Settlement Committee (لجنة الاستيطان)
• Palestinian Union of Women's Struggle Committees (اتحاد لجان كفاح المرأة الفلسطيني)
• Palestinian Union of Workers Struggle Committees (اتحاد لجان كفاح العمال الفلسطيني)
• Al-Quds Charitable Society (جمعية القدس الخيرية)
• Land and Charity Society (جمعية البر والاحسان)

Publications

PAF publishes the magazine Al-Jamahir (الجماهير, 'The Masses') and the bulletine At-Tajdid (التجديد, 'Renewal').

Notes

External links

• PAF website
• Election programme of 'Freedom and Independence' List for the 2006 Legislative Elections
• 37th anniversary declaration of PAF
• 2005 Nakba Day declaration
• 2006 May Day declaration
• Newsarticle on the 37th PAF anniversary meeting in Khan Younis
• Newsarticle, including PAFs condemnation of May 2006 Dahab terrorist attacks