PARIS, November 30, 2015 (WAFA) – President
Mahmoud Abbas Monday said Israel’s ongoing violations of international law regarding preserving Palestine’s environment are a
major challenge.
Abbas delivered a speech at the Paris
Climate Change conference, which was held at Le
Bourget starting from November 30 and is expected to continue until
December 11.
He called upon the entire
international community to expand international participation in the
achievement of peace…and the establishment of an international system of
protection for the Palestinian people, through a resolution from the United
Nations Security Council and within a specific timeframe.
Abbas extended appreciation to French
President François Hollande, the government and the French people for the
invitation to this conference and reiterated Palestine’s solidarity with the
French people and sincere condolences to all countries affected by terrorism.
He said, “We strongly condemn these
terrorist and barbaric acts, which require genuine efforts to combat terrorism
in all its forms and everywhere in the world.”
Abbas addressed the issue of climate
change, saying it has become a national challenge for all countries all over the
world.
He said, “The state of Palestine,
which is a full member in many international organizations and agreements,
continues its preparations to join the United Nations Framework Convention on climate
change, and to simultaneously and positively contribute and hold its responsibilities
as a member state in the near future.”
Abbas informed the audience about Palestine’s
serious steps to tackle climate change and to protect the environment. He said
Palestine has made considerable progress in enacting laws and necessary
strategies for this purpose.
Considering the Israeli occupation’s
impact in Palestine’s environment, Abbas said Israel’s continuous violations of
international law regarding preserving the environment in Palestine is a major
challenge for Palestinians.
He mentioned a number of violations
including, confiscating natural resources, destroying agricultural crops,
uprooting trees, hindering developing vital infrastructure for Palestine, dumping
all kinds of Wastes in Palestinians’ lands and polluting the groundwater through
a system of a racial segregation, which violates of international law.
Abbas said, Palestine continues to
suffer from the Israeli occupation and the horrible crimes of Israeli settlers
and daily violations of holy Christian and Muslim sites in Jerusalem.
“It is no longer necessary to waste
time in negotiations for the sake of negotiations, especially after successive
Israeli governments have undermined all peace chances. This leads us to
reaffirm once again that we cannot unilaterally continue in the commitment of
implementing the peace process agreements,” Abbas reiterated a previous
statement.
“Our meeting today coincides with
the commemoration of 68 years of UN Resolution 181, stipulating the division of
historic Palestine, to remind you of your responsibility in the implementation
of this resolution and to our Palestinian people to gain their freedom and
independence. “
Abbas called on the entire
international community to expand international participation in the achievement
of peace, according to the French initiative and the establishment of an
international system of protection for our people, through a resolution from
the Security Council and within specific timeframe.
He said, “We reaffirm that we will
not accept temporary or partial solutions.”
Abbas expressed appreciation to the
countries that have recognized the State of Palestine and called on countries
that have not done so yet to follow suit. “Our hands are still stretched out
for a just peace with Israel in accordance with international law.”
He affirmed that Palestinians will continue
to build the state based on modern and democratic bases and they will not
accept the continuation of the current situation or life under occupation and settlement
activities.
D.J/M.H
