ROME, November 2, 2011 (WAFA) - Italian Peace Association called to declare Hebron, in the southern West Bank, a world heritage site after the admission of Palestine in UNESCO, according to a press statement published Wednesday by the association.
It welcomed with profound joy and celebrates alongside with the Palestinian people the decision of UNESCO to grant full membership to Palestine, with 107 votes in favour, 52 abstaining – including Italy – and 14 countries who voted against, including USA, Germany and Israel. France’s vote in favour of Palestine’s membership is particularly important end encouraging, since France was contrary until a few weeks ago, but is a shame that so many European countries abstained and even voted against.
Celebrating the vote, Luisa Morgantini, former Vice President of the European Parliament and spokesperson of Italian Peace Association said “This vote means that the majority of the world does not want to leave Palestinians under the dominating media and military Israeli power: escaping USA’s power and influence the countries who voted in favour, still believe in the right to freedom and self-determination of the Palestinians, who from today, as full member of UNESCO, will be able to apply for the declaration of historic sites in the occupied Palestinian territories as World Heritage Sites.
Among these sites, there is the old city of Hebron-El Khalil, which at present is held hostage in the hands of 400 fanatic Israeli settlers, who have destroyed important places of it”.
The response by the Israel prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu shows once again the arrogance and the fanaticism of the colonial Israeli policy. The time is overdue for the EU to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel and stop any arm trade.
But beside Nethaniau's retaliation we stand for: “This is an important turning point in Palestinian history, and a day to be celebrated. It represents a pilaster of our struggle toward the independence, and I think we are a step closer to it,” said Palestinian Authority official Sabri Saidam, adding that the vote is “a great message” to those countries opposing at the UN Security Council the Palestinian bid for full membership status.
Hanan Ashrawi, chief of PLO Culture and Science Department, said that gaining the UNESCO full membership represents “a victory of human spirit against intimidations”.
Italian Peace Association notes that “United States has used any means to prevent countries from voting “yes” and would block a payment of $60 million to UNESCO, reducing the agency’s funding by 22 percent. In response to UN statehood bid, USA has already blocked economic aid to the Palestinian Authority through USAID. Not everything is for sale”.
This vote does not ensure a successful decision from the UN Security Council or the General Assembly on Palestinian bid for full membership status in the UN; for this reason Italian Peace Association call on everybody to mobilize and put pressure on the European governments to vote in favour of a recognition of Palestine as a Member State, is a decision which represents a step toward the victory of the international right on the geopolitical alliances.
“We are aware that the vote at UN does not mean the end of the Israeli military occupation, of land and water’s confiscation but it represents a step toward peace and justice” , said Luisa Morgantini. “It is time for Israel to be held responsible for the ongoing violations of International law. Israeli occupation must end immediately this is what Italian Peace Association is calling for.”
F.R.