BETHLEHEM, May 19,
2015 (WAFA) - The World Assembly of Pax Christi urged all United Nations member
states to recognize the state of Palestine and ban Israeli settlements’
construction in the occupied territories.
In a press release
that WAFA received, the 160 participants in the Assembly of the international
Catholic peace movement in Bethlehem/West Bank from 13th to 17th of May are
deeply concerned about Israeli policies that deny Palestinians’ rights and
preclude the possibility of a two state solution.
Pax Christi
International affirmed its full support of Palestinians in their nonviolent
struggle to end occupation and Israelis who stand for human rights and
international law, including as applied to Palestinians.
It welcomed the
Vatican's recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and said that bilateral
recognition is an important acknowledgement of the right of Palestinians to
self-determination.
“With the new
Israeli government's refusal to turn 22% of the land of the former Palestine
Mandate into the new state of Palestine, the UN must implement UNSC Resolution
242, by which Israel is required to withdraw from the territories occupied
since 1967.”
Considering that
the Israeli government is determined to continue allowing settlement activities
and the enlargement of existing settlements, both of which are violations of
international humanitarian law, Pax Christi International insisted that all
collaboration with occupation must end.
Third parties,
including the US, the Russian Federation and EU member states are responsible
for ensuring respect for international law, said Pax Christi International.
It added, in order
to prevent settlements from becoming profitable, settlement products should be
banned.
It also noted that
Palestine’s membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC), war crimes
can be sentenced now.
Participants in the
Assembly, who came from five continents, joined the Nakba commemoration in
Bethlehem. They remembered the 750,000 Palestinians who were driven out or fled
in 1947/1948, as well as the ongoing Nakba, which threatens Palestinians with
expulsion from home and land at any time.
The participants visited
refugee camps and farmers in villages in the Jordan Valley and in the south of
Hebron, where farmers fear the Israeli military to destroy their houses, water
systems and stables if the international community does not act to prevent such
violations of international law.
Pax Christi
International encouraged both Palestinian and Israeli human rights and peace
organizations to continue work for a just peace in the Middle East based on
human rights and international law and proclaim its solidarity with these
groups.
It also encouraged
all pilgrimages to the Holy Land to engage with the local people of Palestine.
It finally said, “Without
hope and vision and solidarity neither the oppressed nor the oppressor can find
a way out of violence, war and a culture of death. To stand for life is Pax
Christi's international responsibility.”
M.H
