Beirut, 27 November 2015 (Communication and Information Unit)--
“Since our gathering here last year, Israel has continued to violate international law, killing Palestinian civilians and imprisoning and torturing children. It has escalated its destruction of homes, crops and possessions, and has freely exploited Palestinian natural resources, including minerals and water, in flagrant violation of international conventions” stated Rima Khalaf, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia’s Executive Secretary , on the occasion of commemorating the International Day for Solidarity with Palestinian People (November 29 ) and before an impressive gathering of political and diplomatic notables as well as representatives of civil Society organizations who filled the Conference Room in response to the Invitation of the Beirut based Regional Commission.
Furthermore, the official ceremony also featured the statement of the Lebanese Prime Minister Salam, delivered by Chairman of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee Hassan Mneimneh the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, delivered by UN Special Coordinator to Lebanon Sigrid Kaag as well as a speech inspired by the occasion delivered by the Director of the UK-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Sarah Colborne.
In her speech, Khalaf also stated that: “Settlements are increasing, and the occupation regime that has killed people and seized their land arrogantly believes that international law applies to all but it. This regime adamantly insists that colonizing land and building settlements for those of a specific religion is a God-given right that supersedes everyone else’s human rights. It may be logical that a regime should negotiate acceptable mechanisms for implementing international law. However, to only select provisions from the law that benefit it and ignore the rest is an outrage, only surpassed by the affront of disregarding it.”
She also added that: “Despite all these years, the invaders have not yet realized that the more they kill the stronger the will to live becomes. The youth of Palestine refuse to be demeaned and humiliated. They fearlessly and tirelessly face the military might of the occupying forces, the arrogance of settlers and the racism of the regime, against all odds.”
Khalaf ended by saying: “With the will to live, the Palestinian people confront a regime that is heavily armed by weapons flowing from abroad, supported by Governments and institutions that turn a blind eye to its crimes and calumny. To the observer, the Question of Palestine appears complicated at best and hopeless at worst but the issue is clear and the solution is obvious: implementing international law and ceasing to exempt the Israeli regime from accountability. History has documented innumerable cases where exceptionalism does not endure. It either dissipates or expands until the system collapses. Unsurprisingly, all the texts adopted by the whole world, including the recent 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, state that a global commitment to international law is a prerequisite for a better world.”
Ban-ki moon’s message
The commemoration opened with the words of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered by Mrs. Sigrid Kaag, in which he declared that:
“This year’s observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People falls at a time when security and hope are at a low point. A wave of violence has included heinous attacks, stabbings, shootings and vehicular attacks causing immense suffering among Israeli and Palestinian families alike. I condemn such attacks and all acts of violence. Illegal settlement activities and settler-related violence have continued, along with punitive demolitions of Palestinian-owned homes and structures. The tensions related to the Holy Sites in the Old City of Jerusalem have introduced a troubling and dangerous religious dimension to the conflict. During my visit to the region last month, I stressed the need to preserve the status quo at the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount, in line with the agreements between Israel and Jordan and with respect to the special role of His Majesty the King of Jordan, as Custodian. I welcome Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated assurances that Israel has no intention of changing the status quo this commitment needs to be accompanied by actions to defuse the situation and restore confidence.”
He also added that: “The international community can and must play a greater role to break the impasse. The Middle East Quartet continues its efforts to preserve the viability of a Palestinian State and establish conditions for a return to meaningful negotiations.”
He ended his message by saying that “On 29 November 2012, the State of Palestine joined the United Nations as a “non-Member observer State”. Today, 136 countries recognize the State of Palestine and its flag flies at the United Nations next to those of all Member States. However, these advances are not felt by children in Gaza, or by the residents of Nablus, Hebron and East Jerusalem. What they feel instead is a lack of hope that their lives will change for the better and that they will be citizens of a State able to ensure their freedom and well-being through peace with their neighbors.”
Salam
Mr. Hassan Mneimneh then delivered the speech on behalf of Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam in which he re-affirmed Lebanese solidarity with Palestine and its People in an acknowledgment of a shared cause and aim, stating the following: “When we stand in solidarity with Palestine and its people, we stand in solidarity with ourselves we and our brothers from Palestine shared a long and still, all forms of hardship and bitterness, and will stand firm in facing persistent Israeli disregard for International Laws and Conventions”, also reiterating the right of the Palestinian people to return to their homeland as stipulated in UN resolution 194, as well as the full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the Palestinian land and the adoption of a two state solution.
Al Maliki
The speech of the Palestinian Foreign Affairs minister Riydah AlMaliki followed , in which he spoke of the blood that was spilled in the occupied territories where it fused with the blood of “supporters peace activists and international workers” who were struck down by the “ Undiscriminating Israeli war machine that Killed ,destroyed as well as detained”
He concluded by saying: "We reiterate that our people has valiantly chosen the path of peace and its tools in an unshakeable faith to continue the political, diplomatic and legal process in order to reach just and comprehensive peace that fulfills legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
Lastly, Mrs. Sarah Colborne called for the serious acknowledgement that Israel’s decades-long flouting of international law and UN resolutions cannot go unchallenged. She called on the international community and civil society to work together for a free Palestine noting that violations of human rights won’t be tolerated. “ Israel cannot get away with murder” she stated, adding that support for Palestine transcends political boundaries and is a simple key issue of justice denied to an entire population. In her speech, Colborne also highlighted that 2014 was a terrible year for Palestinians, however 2015 has not been any easier young Palestinians are forced to flee for their lives and their right to return home- a right repeatedly affirmed by the UN – has never been respected.
Aside the official ceremony, ESCWA organized a series of events at the UN House with the aim of increasing awareness of issues pertaining to Palestine and the plight of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights this included a fair for Palestinian traditional handcraft, a photography exhibition showcasing the work of award winning Palestinian photo-journalist Hamde Abu-Rahma, another exhibition of posters entitled “Visualizing Palestine”, a drawing exhibition for the twelve year old Palestinian refugee Hamza ElKi, as well as an exhibition on the archive project of Palestinian verbal history at the American University of Beirut.
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For more information:
Ms. Hayat ElHusseini Tel: 009613036869 email: el-husseinih@un.org
Mr. Nabil Abu-Dargham. Mob: 0096170993144, email: dargham@un.org
Find ESCWA news on:
Website: www.escwa.un.org
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Twitter: @ESCWACIU
