NEW DELHI: Lashing at failure of international community, particularly the United Nations, to have failed to resolve the Palestinian-Israel conflict till date, Palestinian envoy to India Osama Musa said yesterday: “We (Palestinians) are victims of unjust United Nations resolutions.”
Speaking at a function, organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) to commemorate “International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People,” Musa asked: “How long do we have to mark this day of solidarity?”
“We have been doing so for 31 years. Why do we still need a day of solidarity? Because we are under brutal occupation. End this (occupation), the day of solidarity would not be needed,” he said. “We have been saying this for more than 30 years. For how long do we need to keep saying this? One, two or for another 30 years?”
“There is no peace, occupation still continues,” Musa said. “Once the occupation ends, peace will be the result,” he said. Questioning the near-futility and nature of negotiations held on the issue, Musa asked as to whether these would go on for another “100 years.”
“Both parties need to negotiate in a relaxed atmosphere,” he pointed out. “I cannot negotiate while my neck is being squeezed,” Musa said referring to brutalities Palestinians continue to suffer at the hands of Israelis.
Musa mentioned the Oslo agreement and the Road Map among the peace plans chalked out, saying that these have “never been implemented because Israelis never ended occupation.”
Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed reaffirmed “India’s consistent and unwavering support to friendly people of Palestine.”
“A just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region can be achieved through negotiations and dialogue so that a sovereign, independent, united and viable state of Palestine living side by side within secured borders, with the state of Israel, becomes a reality,” Ahamed said. Condemning recent upsurge of violence in Gaza Strip, Ahamed called for an end to standoff in West Asia. “There can be no justification for denial of essential supplies including food and fuel to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip numbering over a million people,” he said.
Ahmed Salem Saleh Al-Wahishi, chief representative of League of Arab States Mission, reiterated support for an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
