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Australian Mufti: Vote against the Palestinian state a retreat from the values of justice and freedom

January 2, 2015 at 3:14 pm

The Grand Mufti of Australia yesterday criticised Canberra’s decision to vote against the Palestinian-Arab draft resolution to end the occupation at the UN Security Council.

In a statement, Ibrahim Abu Mohammed said: “We were surprised by the position of the Australian Foreign Affairs, which supports the occupier against the people of Palestine who own the land, and rejects the desire of its people in freedom and independence.”

Last Tuesday the UN Security Council rejected the Palestinian draft resolution specifying a deadline for establishing a Palestinian state and ending the Israeli occupation.

During the session, the United States used its veto right against the draft resolution. The resolution was also rejected by Australia, while eight countries, namely China, France, Russia, and the non-permanent members of Argentina, Chad, Chile, Jordan and Luxembourg voted in favour of it.

The mufti of Australia added that the Australian position constitutes “a setback for freedom, and a retreat from the general human rights and the values of justice and democracy.”

Abu Mohammed warned against ignoring the rights of the Palestinian people and supporting the occupation and suppressive regimes in the world, saying it is one of the main issues that generate an environment of anger, in which frustration, extremism and violence are born.

In order to be passed, the Palestinian draft resolution submitted by Jordan needed the approval of nine members of the 15 members, without the use of the veto right by any of the five permanent members (United States, Russia, Britain, France and China).

BOX:

UNSC members who voted yes:

Argentina, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Luxembourg, Russia