RAMALLAH, December 20, 2011 (WAFA) – The PLO applauded on Tuesday a United Nations vote reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to self determination, according to a press statement.

Executive Committee member and lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi thanked the 182 countries in the United Nations General Assembly that voted in favor of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination on Monday:

“The Palestinian people have an inalienable right to sovereignty and freedom,” she said.

“This overwhelming support reaffirms the international community’s commitment to the achievement of the universal principles of justice and humanity and the rights guaranteed to all peoples of the world,” she said.

Ashrawi condemned the negative vote cast by some members of the UN.

“It is reprehensible that countries such as the United States and Canada continue to defy worldwide consensus and intensely lobby to thwart the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” she said.

Ashrawi accused Israel of “willfully obstructing the prospects for peace and the possibility of a two-state solution.”

She said that “the longest occupation in modern history must end and it is time for the international community to hold Israel accountable, demand that it desist all settlement activities and actions that violate international law and support our peaceful diplomatic efforts to achieve an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

She added that “Israel must be brought to compliance and required to adopt a clear and binding timeframe for the implementation of internationally-recognized agreements.”

M.S.