HAIFA — The’ 18th Congress of the Communist Party of Israel, Dec. 15-18, demonstrated the Jewish-Arab unity of the Party, the spirit of proletarian interna- tionalism and the growing strength and influence of the Par- ty. The Congress endorsed a Peace Plan and adopted a call for a united front of champions of peace and democracy for the coming general elections. The Peace Plan The ICP Peace'Plan is based on respect for the rights of all peoples in the Middle East, including Is- rael and the Palestinian Arab people, upon the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and the decisions of the UN General Assembly con- ceming the Middle East crisis and the Palestinian question. e The lines of June 4, 1967 shall be the peace frontiers. Israel shall withdraw all her forces from all Arab territories seized by her in the June 1967 war. e The right of the Palestinian Arab people to self-determination and establishment of an indepen- dent state, alongside Israel, shall be respected. e A just solution of the question of Palestinian refugees shall be as- . sured, in accordance with the Un- ited Nations decisions which rec- ognize their right to choose be- tween return to,their homeland or receipt of compensation. e The right of Israel and the Arab states to sovereign existence and to development in conditions of peace and security shall be re- spected. e Free navigation shall be as- sured to Israel, as to all states, in : g * *\ é ia . .* ; 2 ; \- \ oppression. the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran. e All sides shall abrogate any claim of belligerence, respect the sovereignty and territorial integ- rity of all the states in the region and to their right to live in peace within recognized and secure bor- ders, free from any threat, or use of force. The conditions of the peace set- tlement should be embodied in _ peace treaties. With regard to Jerusalem — within the framework of a peace- ful solution, based on the cancel- lation of the annexation and on Palestinian Arab sovereignty over the Arab part of Jerusalem, might be mutually agreed upon, ensur- ing cooperation and free move- ment between the two parts of the town. The peace settlement will open the path for voluntary agreements between the states with regard to various questions. In the conditions prevailing in the Middle East, and in view of the bitterness and distrust sunken even deeper throughout the years, effective international guarantees are apt to assist greatly in ensuring the mainte- nance of the peace settlement. International guarantees under the auspices of the UNO, with the participation of the Soviet Union, the United States and other states, are the firmest defence of peace and security of Israel, of the independent Palestine state to be established, as well as of all the Arab states in the region. The Middle East peace confer- ence in Geneva is the institution established by the United Nations for the solution of the funda- mental questions of the Arab- ~ \ 4 ‘ » 7 o ICP calls for an end to detentions and freedom for all political de- tainees ... to intensify the struggle against discrimination and national PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JANUARY 21, 1977—Page 6 Israeli conflict and the Palestinian question, for the establishment of peace in our region. It must be reconvened without delay, under the co-chairmanship of the USSR and USA, and the participation of all the states involved, including the Palestine Liberation Organi- zation. Communist Unity Call Titled ‘‘Champions of Peace, Unite!’’, the unity call of the ICP reads in part: ‘‘Let us, without any delay, es- tablish the unity of action of all forces of peace and political real- ism in Israel, irrespective of party , affiliation and ideological out- look, in order to prevent the dis- aster of a new war, and to lead our people to the safe shores of a just and stable peace. ‘*A danger of war exists, but at the same time-there also exists a real prospect for peace. Now, more than ever before, a sense of responsibility towards the de- stinies of our people, towards the life of our youth, demands rally- ing all forces of peace and political realism in Israel in one broad peace front. “DIVISION MEANS FAI- LURE. UNITY MEANS STRENGTH. ‘“‘We, communists, say to the people of Israel: The alternative to a peace based on honoring the rights of all the peoples and states in our region, is an additional war, which is liable to be bloodier than any of the preceding ones. Peace is not a trap, as alleged by the advocates of occupation and an- nexation. Peace is a sheet anchor for Israel ...! “The Communist Party of Is- rael addresses all forces of peace and democracy in Israel, Jews and Arabs alike, calling on them: Let us act for the establishment of an electoral list of a Front for Peace and Democracy, towards the elections to the 9th Knesset, in 1977! “The forces of peace can be- come a: great power and consti- tute a concrete alternative, if they are united. The peace forces in Israel are not alone in their battle. Tremendous forces in the world act for liquidating the hotbed of war in the Middle East, which im- perils world peace, and for the es- tablishment of a just and stable peace... “We, Israeli communists, are solidary with the struggle of the Palestine Arab people against the occupation and for peace. We ad- dress all persons of conscience in - Israel and call them to rally round the demand: An end,to the occu- pation! An end to the acts of cruel oppression, murder of demon- strators, tortures, deportations and demolition of houses! **Stop the administrative deten- tions and freedom to all political _ detainees! Stop the confiscation of land and colonialist settling in the occupied areas! “**The Communist Party of Is- rael, which unites in its ranks Jew- ish and Arab members on the basis of a program that respects the rights of both peoples, is con- . vinced that the struggle for civil and national equality of rights of the Arab population in Israel is an important and vital component of = in the Israel CP Peace Plan. the struggle for the defence of democracy and for a happy future for both of our peoplés. ‘“*‘Wecall upon all partisans of democracy and equality to inten- sify the struggle against the policy of discrimination and national op- pression. The eviction of the Arab inhabitants from their land must be stopped! The racist Koenig must be fired! A commit- tee of inquiry must be established to probe the events of the ‘‘Day of the Land’’! “The 18th Congress of the Communist Party of Israel maps out the road to healing the Israeli economy and for the war on pov- erty, for a real solution of the burning social problems —. the road of peace and social progress. The arms race must be stopped! More budgets for health, educa- tion, culture, housing and welfare 1 ‘“‘We are convinced that our 18th Congress was an event of. importance not only for our Par- ty. Our Congress shows the road “A just solution to the question of Palestinian refugees” is a key point to a different Israel where the working people will find it good to live, where joy of life and creation will prevail, where the people and youth will live, feeling secure about their future, where rela- tions of equality and friendship will exist between Jews and Arabs. Our Congress shows the road to peace, to good neighborly relations with the Arab peoples. ‘*Peace is necessary! Peace is attainable! : “The establishment of the broadest peace-front is a vital necessity for the success of the struggle of the peace forces in Is- rael™a The Congress had 480 dele- gates from 79 Party branches plus hundreds of other Party members and friends. Many fraternal dele- — gates from other Communist and Workers’ Parties addressed the Congress and messages of greet- ing were received from around the world. The main report was delivered by CPI general secret- ary Meir Vilner. oa PERT O ee ay a LEP Fee Ge te pe aes ee YO — =e 7H SH ef 4 Pett A rn. ae; 2 7, ee ee ee ee ee ee 7, od «Tk wa alll on oll ellen 4. Et ool et @ eT or -—~ a; on rs =: ©. 1 mm ff meet ef 4 TF wt Atte Ot TA Ot Of