UN’s Palestine Observer: Compel Israel to Respect Law
He said that in spite of over 20 rounds of negotiations with Israel since the resumption of direct talks at the end of July and Palestinian determination to overcome the obstacles that have repeatedly undermined the process, “real progress remains elusive and hopes are diminishing as the challenges on the ground persist, with provocative Israeli actions, distractions and declarations undermining the spirit and aim of the negotiations to justly resolve all final status issues.”
Mansour, addressing the UN on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People marked every year on November 29, the date the UN voted to partition Palestine into an Arab and Jewish states in 1947, said that in the absence of a change in Israel’s behavior, “we must continue to call for international action to compel Israel, the occupying Power, to respect all of its legal obligations.”
He said that the message must be conveyed that Israel must cease all illegal policies and that the price of occupation is steep, while much is to be gained from peace.
“Violations must be met with measures for accountability,” he said. “Failure to do so would be a disservice to the cause of peace, endangering the future of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples and prospects for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.”
The UN Observer said, “The time is now for meaningful action to promote a just and lasting solution that will ensure the attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of peace between Palestine and Israel.”
He stressed that “the Palestinian leadership is determined to bring an end to the tragedy endured by our people. We are determined to peacefully achieve the independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, fulfill the rights of the Palestinian people, including the Palestine refugees, and establish peace and security between Palestine and Israel.”
In 1977 the United Nations General Assembly voted that each year, an International Day of Solidarity with Palestine would be observed at the world body. The day was set to commemorate when the United Nations passed the now infamous "Resolution 181", partitioning Palestine and creating Israel. The first observance took place in 1978.
Source: Wafa
