Palestinians in Lebanon Pay Tribute to Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) paid posthumous tribute today to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whom they praised as paradigms of solidarity and resistance.

The DFLP political bureau handed over to the charge d'affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Lebanon, Raul Madrigal, some plaques of recognition of the recently-deceased Cuban statesman and the Bolivarian leader, who passed away four years ago today.

'We are grateful of the Palestinian brothers for this tribute, for me as a Cuban who is far from his land, seeing an image of Fidel Castro, whose fighting spirit is present in so many Palestinian brothers here today is very exciting,' Madrigal said to the audience.

The main legacy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Caribbean Revolution was the example of 'always fighting and resisting', and that is the message that moved the Palestinians from the DFLP at the commemoration of the 48th anniversary of its foundation, he stressed.

The Cuban diplomat, who promised to hand over to the Venezuelan Embassy in Beirut the recognition of Chavez, recalled that the Front has fought for many years against Israeli occupation, and urged to maintain the will of resistance.

That will is going to lead to the final victory, he added, after congratulating the DFLP members and supporters gathered at a theater near Dahiyeh, in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Speaking at the main event, the head of that organization in Lebanon, Ali Faysal, said that the DFLP should end division and make further efforts in this 48th anniversary to hold a new Palestinian National Council to recover the national collegiate program.

Faysal called on the Arab left wing to join and establish along with Palestine a multifaceted popular resistance movement against Israeli occupation, abandon the 'humiliating ties' of the Oslo Accord, stop recognizing Israel and boycott its economy.

He also called on friendly countries in Latin America to further increase their political support until the Palestinian people achieve their inalienable rights.

Founded in 1969 by Nayef Hawatmeh after leaving the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the DFLP advocates to 'defeat all efforts to betray illusory solutions and to recover the national program, the right to return (Palestine), self-determination and independence.'

The group affiliated to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) reiterated its commitment to establishing an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem and to end Zionist occupation.

Faysal also urged to 'end cooperation and coordination in the field of security with the illegal occupants, taking up resistance and the popular uprising, and developing and protecting it with a view to transforming it into a global national insubordination.'