IIMSAM official marked International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Nov. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)). On December 2, 1977, it was recorded that the assembly called for the annual observance of November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (A/RES/32/40 B). On December 1, 2003, the assembly encouraged member states to continue to provide support and publicity to observe the day. The assembly also requested that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat should continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.

While marking International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Dr. Naseer Homoud Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council while addressing the media said” Each year, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we commit ourselves anew to the goal of finding a solution to the question of Palestine, which lies at the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.  This observance also reminds us of the pressing need to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East”.

Several reports and studies indicates that Israel's occupation on Palestinian territory has yielded negative outcome and this situation is prevailing over all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a result of a series of brutal military operations.  Freedom of movement between cities, towns and refugee camps is virtually non-existent; around-the-clock curfews have effectively placed under house-arrest one million Palestinians in the West Bank for most of the time since April 2002; some 250,000 Palestinian children have been unable to reach schools due to this unrest prevailing therein, between 60 and 80 percent of the population live on less than US $2 a day; Palestinian institutions, including many ministries, hospitals and media are defunct or inaccessible for the population; and, even the symbols of Palestinian self-rule have vanished from the ground. “Under these prevailing circumstances, we cannot even imagine of a just and egalitarian society and this is somehow ironical to our existence as a peace loving and abiding civilization” Dr. Naseer said.

Dr. Naseer urged members of the public to raise these grave issues with their respective governments and to also raise their concerns over the continuing suffering of the Palestinian people caused by the Israeli occupation and the violations of international law associated with this. “I call on the Governments to enhance aid to the Palestinian peoples; to end the Israeli blockade against the entire Palestinian population; to act on the decision of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to release the Palestinian citizens held by Israel and vice versa; and to end its arms trade with Israel”. Dr. Homoud added.

Dr. Naseer while addressing the media underlined that the Palestinians had been deprived of their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and statehood, for more than 60 years. Israelis lived with an ever-present sense of insecurity. There was only one way to address such legitimate rights and fears: a peace agreement that resulted in an end of occupation, an end of conflict and the creation of a State of Palestine living side by side in peace with the State of Israel. The peace process has now entered a phase that is at once its most promising and its most difficult.  The continued support of the international community, including governments, donor countries and institutions, and civil society, remains crucial.  The United Nations family has supported the Palestinian people throughout their many decades of suffering and remains strongly committed to the cause.  On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, let us dare to hope that achievements will be the long awaited moment when peace and prosperity can be enjoyed in full by Palestinians, Israelis and all the peoples of the Middle East.

The unresolved conflict in Palestine has repercussions not only upon the region of the Middle East, but negatively affects, with an ever increasing intensity, the relations between the Muslim world and the West; this has again been emphasized by Secretary-General Kofi Annan upon the presentation of the report of the High-level Group on the Alliance of Civilizations on 14 November 2006 in Istanbul. According to that panel the Arab-Israeli conflict has become a critical symbol of the deepening rift. Dr. Homoud urged the Governments for a unified and planned strategy with honest and sincere determination to end this ever prevailing fiasco so that the real essence of peace is brought back to the entire region.

Dr. Homoud further added “I want to reiterate my principled position of support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate national aspirations, including the right to establish an independent and viable Palestinian state. It is my conviction that the restoration of state sovereignty would contribute to stability in the region and the safe coexistence and conflict-free mutually beneficial cooperation of all countries and peoples. I support your commitment to peaceful dialogue in the aim of finding a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and finding mutually acceptable solutions based on universally recognized international law. Restoration of intra-Palestinian unity remains an important condition for achieving these aims".

“International solidarity with the Palestinian people can be best expressed by ending the aforementioned economic sanctions and ensuring respect for international law. In this regard, Israel's ongoing construction of the Annexation Wall, development and expansion of settlements, and sustained efforts to annex vast tracts of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in open defiance of international law as reflected in the International Court of Justice's 2004 advisory opinion, must be brought to an immediate end” Dr. Homoud contended while calling the world community to restore the provisos of various treaties and declaration to this effect.

Dr. Naseer noted that due to ongoing crisis in the region, rates of poverty thus malnutrition and hunger are increasing in alarming proportion and it is a forcing factor for migration and vulnerability to conflict in affected areas. Speaking further on the theme, he contended that hunger and malnutrition related issues should be dealt with well-built and planned intent, “if we are able to bring to an end to migration due to food scarcity even in some conflicted zones of the world like Palestine, I bet, we could achieve the target of peace in targeted areas since from the ages, man is known for fighting for his basic needs and food being on the top of that list”. IIMSAM under guidance of His Excellency Ambassador Remigio M. Maradona Director General of the IIMSAM is keen to feed the children of Palestine by using Spirulina who are hunger ridden due to ongoing crisis and for this venture he urged the governments to support IIMSAM so that we may protect the assets of our future.