This statement released by the department of
negotations in PLO
State of Palestine
Palestine Liberation Organization
Negotiations Affairs Department
December 2014
· Why are Palestinians going to the
Security Council?
More than 20 years after the beginning of the
negotiations (process), Israel, the occupying power, has continued its illegal
colonization enterprise and relentless violations of the human rights of the
Palestinian people. Over that period of time the number of settlers has almost
tripled and the settlement infrastructure has continued to grow. Israel’s
illegal siege on Gaza and the rest of Palestine through various measures of
collective punishment and its unprecedented offensive against Palestinians in
Occupied East Jerusalem, has deepened the humanitarian hardships of the
Palestinian civilian population.
The deterioration has been dramatic and this
initiative at the Security Council is an effort to redress this situation by
reaffirming the rights of the Palestinian people, reaffirming the parameters of
a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and mobilizing
the international community to uphold its responsibilities and to salvage the
two-State solution and the prospects for peace.
The Security Council is the international body
in charge of preserving world peace and security and it has been marginalized
for too long when it comes to the question of Palestine. We are asking the Members of the Security
Council to assume their responsibilities under the Charter and to contribute to
diffusing this volatile situation, which constitutes a serious threat to
international peace and security, and to contribute to bringing an end to 47
years of Israeli military occupation, colonization and oppression in Palestine.
It is not only a right for Palestine to call upon the Security Council to take action,
but it is an international responsibility to put an end to decades of
systematic violations of UN resolutions and grave breaches of international
law, including humanitarian and human rights law, being committed with impunity
by Israel, and to act to promote peace and stability.
· What are the main points of the
resolution?
The draft resolution reaffirms basic principles
of international law such as the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force and previous resolutions that call for a two-state solution.
It also reaffirms the illegality of Israeli settlements and any Israeli
measures aimed at changing the status quo of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and stresses the imperative need
to resolve the issue of the Palestine refugees on the basis of international
law and UNGA resolution 194. The draft resolution calls clearly for an end to
the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 by no later than the end of 2017, the
year which would mark 70 years since the partition plan (UNGA resolution 181)
and 50 years since the onset of the occupation, under which the Palestinian
people have unjustly suffered for far too long. The draft resolution also makes
reference to the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for full normalization of
relations between the Arab World and Israel should Israel honor its obligations
by withdrawing to the 1967 border and accept a just solution to the refugee
issue in accordance with the parameters above.
The draft resolution calls for the resumption
of negotiations to solve all final status issues by no later than 12 months
after the adoption of the resolution and ensures the end of the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 will come no later than the end of 2017. It calls
for two sovereign, democratic and secure states, Palestine and Israel. At the
same time, it calls for the immediate reconstruction of Gaza and for the
adherence of the international community to its obligations under international
humanitarian law.
· Is this is a unilateral step?
No. The UN is by definition a multilateral
forum. Palestine is asking the international community to uphold to their
responsibilities and commitments in accordance with the Charter, international
law and countless UN resolutions. Unilateral is, for example, when Israel
builds settlements in occupied land against international law. Those who claim
that our resolution is a unilateral step base their argument mainly on the fact
that Israel does not agree with it. But the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including notably our right to be free, is not Israel’s
decision. It is a long overdue right for the Palestinian people. In this regard, we are proud that the General
Assembly adopted, on 18 December 2014, the resolution on the “Right of the
Palestinian People to Self-Determination”, by a vote of 180 in favor,
reaffirming the overwhelming support of the international community for the
Palestinian people’s right to freedom.
· Does the UN resolution close the doors
for a negotiated two-state solution?
No. This draft resolution calls for meaningful
negotiations based on international law and UN resolutions aimed at justly
solving all final status issues – Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders,
security and water. All parameters for negotiations included in the resolution
are a matter of wide and longstanding consensus among members of the
international community.
· Why are Palestinians going now to seek
such a resolution?
The question is not why now, but why not
before. For decades Israeli has violated international law and UN resolutions
and disregarded the will of the international community with impunity and
contempt, with disastrous consequences for the situation on the ground and the
Palestinian civilian population suffering under its occupation, as well as for
the prospects for peace and stability in the region. This must end. Our freedom
is long overdue and the international community bears the responsibility to end
decades of occupation, exile and oppression unjustly inflicted on our people.
· What if the draft resolution doesn’t
pass?
The Palestine Liberation Organization has made
clear its goal to achieve justice and peace through all peaceful means and will
use all the mechanisms rightfully at its disposal.
Link:
http://nad-plo.org/userfiles/file/Press%20release/QA_UNSC_Resolution.pdf
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