Political and cultural organizations and figures from Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon participated in a political event held on October 18 and 19, 2025, in Beirut —given the impossibility of holding it in Palestine— with the aim of pushing forward a liberatory and democratic political project. Here we present some of what was discussed then.
Our region is subjected to systematic violence, designed to dismantle our societies on the basis of identity, impoverish and subjugate them within clientelist networks, and seize our land and resources to serve the interests of capital and colonialism. Ethnic razing, genocide, Trump's plan for Gaza and Palestine, and the targeting of countries in the region all fall within this context. The occupation of Palestine cannot be separated from other societies in the region. Empowering the peoples of the region with their own resources and decision-making is a fundamental step towards defeating the zionist project. Therefore, the response to this oppressive project must also be systematic and well thought-of.
An alternative project to the existing order
The liberation project does not consist of slogans, mere criticism of the existing authorities, or demands made of them. Rather, it is an alternative to the existing order, presenting specific political and economic choices and decisions designed to restore the cohesion of society, and to liberate the land that has been stolen and the people who have been caught in their need for sustenance. In other words, it must be an alternative project to the existing order, designed to dismantle the existing relations of power.
In Palestine specifically, there is no place for compromises with the Zionist project, such as the two-state problem or the pursuit of so-called equal rights with the settlers. Armed resistance cannot remain the only means of confrontation, especially in the face of an enemy that targets us in the narrative, the economy, capital, the media, international relations, and more. We must frame our efforts to confront it in all these arenas, without neglecting armed resistance.
These tools of confrontation must be framed in a project that forms the antithesis to the zionist project. This highlights the choice to revive the historical liberation vision for of a single democratic Palestinian state, from the river to the sea, a vision that resistance leaders have espoused over the decades, including during the past two years. At the same time, however, it entails problems and risks that must be taken into account.
Colonialism's fragmentation of our peoples and its dismantling of our vital space are a deliberate approach to enforce hegemony. Therefore, political projects in our region must recognize the organic connection between our societies and work to build a front that transcends colonial borders in order to establish a common struggle, without neglecting local issues.
A project that protects society from identitarian fragmentation
Individual or collective identity is what distinguishes us from others. Therefore, politicizing identity is inevitably a fragmenting factor. Colonial forces have wielded this weapon and continue to do so to fragment societies across the globe. We see different manifestations of this identitarianism in our region: Jordanian/Palestinian in Jordan; the sectarian system in Lebanon; the Assad and al-Jolani regimes, the autonomous administration, and other de facto powers in Syria; the identity-based division of Iraq; Turkey and Iran's weaponization of identities, and, of course, the zionist occupation and colonization in Palestine.
A rupture with identity-based projects is thus needed. We must adopt a project that is its antithesis, namely specific policies to protect society and restore its cohesion, at the level of administrative boundaries, the distribution of local powers and resources, the curriculum both in terms of content and unity, the guarantee of basic rights such as healthcare and education, the electoral law, and the organization of parties, unions, and other interest groups so that society can organize around its interests. This requires a thoughtful approach to identitarian projects in the region. Instead of taking a superficial and absolute stance either for or against countries such as Turkey or Iran, we need to recognize the impact of their projects, identify the intersections and conflicts between them and our own liberatory and democratic project, and deal with them on that basis.
A productive economy for a free society
A productive, developmental economy protects individuals from clientelistic dependence on leaders or authorities, and protects society as a whole from external dependency. The economy is therefore not a technical matter that can be left to so-called specialists, but a necessity for building a free society. The economy is at the core of any liberatory and democratic project.
Capitalism is based on the idea that capital owners benefit from the labor of workers. Therefore, it is oppressive in essence. The accumulation of wealth allows for the monopolization of clientelism, media, and organizational power, and thus the monopolization of political decision-making. Capitalism plays a key role in the colonization of Palestine, the genocide, and the existence of reactionary Arab regimes. Therefore, liberation and democracy are at odds with it. There is also a need to acquire scientific analytical tools rather than holding rigid doctrines that are deemed independent of circumstances and above criticism.
Organizing around the project
No project will see the light of day without the efforts of a sufficient number of people working to impose it. Therefore, members of our societies must organize. This means going beyond the usual frameworks of action on at least three levels: First, moving beyond individual struggle, which is often electronic and/or elitist, toward joining political organizations. This requires understanding the resistance of the overwhelming majority of society to political organization as a first step toward addressing this resistance. We call for involvement in political organizations that carry out a liberating and democratic project.
Second, existing political groups must adopt a liberating and democratic political project. This requires setting aside time to define long-term goals, without neglecting the immediate. It also requires building the knowledge and critical capacity to analyze reality, define the project, and then organize around it. We call on political groups in our region to do this.
Third, networking and collaborative work between groups that share, to varying degrees, a political vision. This requires discussion between different forces about the political vision or desired solution. It also requires joint work on specific political projects. A notable example here is the "Mojtamaa" media foundation, which we call on everyone to support by all means. We also propose starting work on creating a space for the exchange of ideas toward a joint media, educational, and field effort. We call on those who wish to devote time to this work to contact us to follow up on adopting a liberatory and democratic political project and organizing around it.
The recording of the event is available (in Arabic) on our YouTube channel. We also invite you to join the Initiative and take part in our efforts.
Participating groups and individuals: Ahmad Jabr (member of the Revolutionary Action League), Alexi Haddad (member of Citizens in a State), Bisan Edwan (Palestinian journalist), Hasan Mustafa (coordinator of the Socialist Revolution Movement), Hassan Shaheen (Palestinian writer and journalist), Hayan Jaber (member of One Secular and Democratic Palestine), Hisham Al-Bustani (Jordanian writer, academic and founder of "Gas the Enemy Occupation"), Iyad Khleif (journalist), Jaber Suleiman (researcher and founding member of the Refugee Rights Center/Aaidun – unable to attend), Joseph Daher (academic and left-wing activist of Syrian origin), Marwan Radwan (member of the Revolutionary Action League), Mohammed Zraiy (coordinator of the One Democratic State Initiative), Muzna Shihabi (former advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization), Obada Kasar (member of the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of "Israel" in Lebanon), Ricardo Mohrez (president of the Palestinian Union in Latin America – unable to attend), Salah Abdelati (head of the International Committee for the Support of Palestinian Rights), Salma Alhafi (coordinator of the One Democratic State Initiative), Suheil Yassin (coordinator of the One Democratic State Initiative)