PFLP Says Trial of its Leader Ahmed Sa'adat is Illegitimate, Calls for his Immediate Release

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Ahead of the trial of its leader Ahmad Sa'adat, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) called Sunday for the immediate release of Sa'adat, who continues to be detained by Israel.

A PFLP statement read "the trial of leader Sa'adat is a trial of the Palestinian national resistance on the path of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital".

The statement considered the trial as 'illegitimate', calling on the Palestinian presidency, the Palestinian government, Palestinian Islamic and national forces as well as the civil society organizations to give top priority to the issue of prisoners.

It also called on the International community and the league of Arab states to intervene swiftly by pressuring the United Nations Security Council to ensure an international protection for the Palestinian people, who are being exposed to an Israeli genocide.

Meanwhile, hundreds of PFLP supporters gathered yesterday in front of the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City, in protest of the trial of their leader Sa'adat. Participants called for the release of Sa'adat, dubbing his trial illegitimate.

Abdul Rahman Al-Sulaibi, a PFLP senior member, called for a swift international intervention for the halt of the continued Israeli aggression.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, from its part, called the Sa'adat trial 'illegitimate', calling on the Palestinian people to unite at all levels and respect the higher national interests.

In Beirut, representatives of various local Palestinian-Lebanese youth organizations held a protest in front of the office of the Beirut-based International Committee of the Red Cross, calling the release of Sa'adat and his fellows 'top priority' that would preserve unity of Palestinian national struggle.

Ahmad Sa'adat, Secretary General of PFLP, was taken prisoner along with his fellows, from a Palestinian prison in Jericho in mid 2005, after a large Israeli army force stormed the prison and forced all those inside out.

Sa'adat was accused by Israel of orchestrating the assassination of Israeli minister Rahba'am Zaivi. He and his fellows were held in a Palestinian prison in the West Bank city of Jericho, under guarding of British-American personnel.

Israeli media describe killing civilians as terrorism. However, when Israeli occupation soldiers kill Palestinian civilians, they do not describe the Israeli killers of civilians as terrorists. It's time for Israeli terrorist acts to be described as terrorism.

Israeli occupation forces use the term "arrest" for "kidnapping" Palestinians from their homes. Objective media worldwide should not fall to the Israeli trap. This is kidnapping.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal under international law. The Israeli occupation government and its occupation forces have no jurisdiction over Palestinians. Only legitimate governments can arrest citizens. It follows that the correct term is "kidnapping" Palestinians, not "arresting" them by Israeli occupation forces.