In a speech read by Ibrahim Khreishi, Permanent Representative to the UN Mission in Geneva, on the occasion of commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, adopted by the United Nations, to consolidate with Palestinians in their legitimate struggle to end occupation and to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with resolutions of international legitimacy and the consensus of the entire world, the president said that, “The continuation of the occupation does not only deprive our people of their political rights to live in a free and secure homeland, but the brutal practices and measures deny them their human rights and deprive them from their inalienable rights guaranteed by international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, especially those rights related to the rights to life, to protection of property, to livelihood, and to movement free of humiliation and deprivation.”

The president added that Israel continues with its expansionist policies with its pursuit of the colonization of our land at an accelerated rate in addition to its continued construction of the Israeli Apartheid Wall.  It also persists in its intensification of collective punishment with its punitive blockade of the Gaza Strip, denying more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians from fulfilling their needs for food, medicine, fuel, education and enjoyment the minimal requirements of a dignified life. In addition, the occupying Power continues to impose more than 600 checkpoints and roadblocks between our cities and villages, impeding the movement of our people, which at times brings life, including our internal commercial exchanges, to a near standstill.   The impact has been disastrous on the future of development of our country.

As for Jerusalem,  the capital of the future independent State of Palestine, and the cornerstone of any just and lasting solution, President Abbas continued on, the occupying Power is doing all it can to Judaize the City by measures suffocating the population, compelling them to leave, and by surrounding their neighborhoods with colonies. He added, “we are determined, without hesitation, to continue with our strategy, based on negotiations and dialogue as the only path for resolving the conflict and for achieving an end guaranteeing freedom and sovereignty for one party and security and recognition for the other.

He reiterated his commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative n Beirut 2002, which was widely received by the international community, and considered it to be the opening for accomplishment of a comprehensive regional peace, which gives Israel recognition and normalization with the Arabs in exchange for full withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories and implementation of the Two-State solution. 

On this occasion, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to “a solution set out in the Road Map and approved by both parties, Palestinian and Israeli, to create an independent, viable, sovereign and democratic Palestinian State, living in peace and security side by side with Israel and its other neighbours.” 

The European Union also welcomed the efforts of both parties to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and supported the economic development of the future Palestinian State by maintaining its humanitarian and financial assistance.

In New York, Un Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, underscored his commitment to doing his utmost in the search for a just, lasting, comprehensive, and urgent settlement of the Palestinian Cause.

Ban commended the commitment made by Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni during the recent Quartet meeting in Sharm Al-Sheikh earlier this month to continue talks into next year, and to seek a full and final resolution. He stated that the present negotiations have been promising and substantial, and added that, “this must be an irreversible process, not open-ended, and must resolve the permanent status issues; Jerusalem, settlements, borders, refugees, security and water”, to which President Abbas recently added another one; the prisoners behind Israeli bars.