International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

29 November

The Palestinian People and the international community today are observing the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, as well as in renewing the shared commitment to a just and lasting solution to the Question of Palestine.

In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II))

The resolution on the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People also encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity.

On this important occasion our people and leadership are expressing their profound appreciation to all nations, citizens and institutions around the world that expressed their solidarity with our people’s aspirations to attain their legitimate national and political rights to self-determination by ending the prolonged Israeli occupation and achieving an independent, sovereign and democratic State of Palestine within the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. On this occasion, we highly appreciate Ukraine’s position in support of peace, security and stability in the Middle East, as well as its support for the two-state solution and its respect for relevant United Nations resolutions.

Unfortunately, Israel continues its policy of confiscating Palestinian land to build settlements.  East Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, is being isolated from the rest of the Palestinian land and being surrounded by walls on all sides and its geographic character and nature continues to be altered, its institutions remain closed by the occupation orders and the identity of its people continues to be stolen under various pretexts.  Israel also continues to detain thousands of prisoners in its prisons.  And, the peace process and the Road Map, which was welcomed by entire international community and was endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003), and the final status negotiations – all are under the control of the will of Israel (the occupying Power), and its expansionist plans at the expense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

With each passing day, the number of Palestinians in need of humanitarian assistance increases. It has therefore become clear that the conflict between Palestine and Israel feeds into the wider regional dynamics by having a negative effect on peace, economic development, socio-political progression and security throughout the entire region.

Palestinians remain suffering from the continued illegal settlement expansion by Israel which constitute a contravention of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. The ongoing Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories is a fundamental obstacle and grave threat to the peace in the region. Therefore, we call on the Security Council and the member states of the United Nations for the effective and immediate implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), which reaffirms that Israeli illegal settlements have no legal validity.

Palestine welcomes all practical steps taken by States intended to expedite the termination of the historical injustices inflicted on the Palestinian people and supporting realization of peace, also value all efforts made by Member States of the United Nations to address our people’s plight, through providing assistance to our people.

The Embassy reiterates that the only solution is to end the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and recognize the sovereignty of the Palestinians over the soil of their homeland after decades of occupation and dispossession, continues to be the only key to establishing peace and will contribute to regional and international peace and stability.

On this occasion, our people reaffirm that Palestinians will not allow the reality of Walls, wanton violence, and discrimination to stand in their way. We shall continue to march forward, building, where the occupation destroys, preserving life, where the occupier shatters it, and planting, where the colonial regime razes and uproots.

In this regard, we call on all States and world citizens to continue to join our people’s tireless efforts to establish justice and peace and to live true to the principles of humanity enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Law. This is undoubtedly a test of our resilience as an oppressed people and equally, a test of international credibility. Finally, we conclude by assuring our friends that Palestinians have no doubt that their destiny is victory, over oppression, occupation and subjugation and a future of freedom, peace, and prosperity. The path is long and arduous, but justice in Palestine will soon prevail with the support, solidarity, and assistance of freedom-defenders around the world.