clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Al Arabi: UN vote affirms Palestinians' historical right

February 17, 2014 at 1:49 am

Dr Nabil Al Arabi, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, confirmed that upgrading the status of Palestine in the United Nations will prove the historical rights of the Palestinian people on its land as an occupied territory and not a disputed territory. Obtaining non-member status at the United Nations will also confirm the international recognition of Palestine.

Al Arabi delivered his speech on Thursday at the solidarity ceremony, which was organized by the Arab League in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). It marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which takes place annually on the 29th November.


A large number of Arab and foreign ambassadors attended the event.

Also present were a representative of the Egyptian Foreign Minister, a representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a representative of Al-Azhar Sheikh, in addition to the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Richard Falk, and the Deputy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary for ESCWA, Rima Khalaf.

In his speech, Al Arabi said that upgrading the status of Palestine at the United Nations will facilitate the process of serious negotiations for the adoption of a final solution to the conflict. This would be according to the view of a two-state solution and the related references that were agreed and endorsed by the United Nations resolutions.

He added that the celebration this year comes in the midst of the political and diplomatic movement that was previously launched by President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the previous assembly and current General Assembly of the United Nations. The consideration of a request to upgrade the Palestinian situation to the status of a non-member state today, which is a political diplomatic choice, is based on the international legitimacy and the fundamentals of international law.

He continued by saying, “it is time for the Palestinian people to gain their freedom and independence so as to live like the other peoples of the world; free on an independent homeland. It’s time for the international community to work towards achieving this legitimate goal and raising the voice of justice, values and principles enshrined in the charter of this organization.”

He stressed that upgrading the status of Palestine proves the Palestinian people’s historical rights on its land as an occupied territory and not a disputed territory.