"The homeland is not conceded by a resolution, the homeland has to be conquered," Tassyr Quba, vice president of the Palestinian National Council emphasized in Havana, while exposing the Ariel Sharon government’s incessant brutality in complicity with the United States, in actions that are repudiated by the Palestinian people.

In response to an invitation from the Cuban National Assembly, the representative of the Palestinian legislative power visited the island for four days (from October 7 to 11). During his stay, Quba met several Cuban officials, and communicated a message from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to President Fidel Castro.

In a press conference, Quba expressed that he was satisfied with the meeting given that he had the opportunity to thank the Cuban people for their years of solidarity with the Palestinian cause which, he claimed, will triumph in the long run just as the Cuban Revolution did.

According to Quba, neither the powerful F-16 war planes nor Israel’s sophisticated armaments will impede the recognition of a free Palestine with a sovereign government, a capital in Jerusalem, and the return of all its children. He was confident that, in spite of persistent White House approval of Israeli actions, the disengagement of European nations, and distancing on the part of certain Middle Eastern governments, his children and grandchildren will grow up in a nation without foreign tyrants.

This is also true in the case of the horrendous illicit wall, built against the will of the United Nations, whose General Assembly has passed many resolutions demanding its immediate demolition as well as compensation payments to Palestinian farmers.

Sharon’s Cabinet, however, has completely ignored these resolutions, in an outright mockery of international law.

"Recent Israeli massacres have killed 80 people and injured hundreds. Likewise, Israeli bulldozers have demolished innumerable houses, and when we ask about all this, the only answer is that they want to exterminate us, but they will not succeed," Quba insisted.

When Granma International asked him about the validity of the well known Road Map, and its real viability in these bloody circumstances, the leader gave a summary of the efforts of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian people to attain peace, even through nonviolence.

Faithful to the ideals of peace closely linked to his society’s perception of culture and civilization, Palestinians have always listened to the international community’s proposals regarding the creation of "two states for two peoples." Israel’s persistent rejection of these proposals has made negotiations unviable since it always presents objections, or, on the contrary, applies the law of the survival of the fittest in terms of weaponry. Israel possesses 200 nuclear warheads, a fact that is never questioned by U.S. administrations.

"Instead of talking about peace, the Zionists only bring the language of war," claimed Quba, who added that, the Israeli Army currently has occupied 40% of Palestinian territory, causing severe damage to its economic infrastructure and small industries such as agriculture.

Always with an underlying optimism, the Palestinian National Council vice president gave the figure of Arafat as an example of all his people’s resistance. "He is under siege, a prisoner in his own seat of government, the Mukata; even so, he is optimistic. Many times, sensing our discouragement, he tells us: "If you are tired of fighting, go home and bring your children to me, I will continue the struggle with them."

During an important moment of his speech, he emphasized the importance of the unity of all forces fighting the invader, and stated that among them there is no place for traitors. Therefore a puppet government such as the one in present-day Iraq, a result of the unjustified and fascistic war unleashed by the United States there, would be unthinkable.

Dreaming of a future without walls and subjugation, Quba pointed out that one day Palestinians will receive Cuban youths to study at their universities as a demonstration of gratitude for the island’s support during difficult times.

He framed the 40-plus year blockade of the Cuban people and their Revolution within this category, The goal of this U.S. policy, however, has not been accomplished, since, in his opinion, the Cuban people are steadily growing stronger, happier, and advancing firmly forward.