PLO Executive Committee
Department of Culture and Information
December 17, 2014
Dr. Ashrawi on the European Parliament’s Decision to Recognize Palestine
PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, said: “Our
right to self-determination has never been up to negotiations. The
recognition of Palestine is a human, moral, political and legal
imperative, and our independence is a natural right not dependent on the
outcome of negotiations with Israel.”
Dr.
Ashrawi made these comments in response to the European Parliament’s
overwhelming vote to recognize the State of Palestine (498 in favor and
88 against) in conjunction with the revival of the peace process and
negotiations.
She
thanked the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and
Democrats in the European Parliament that led the call for the
recognition of Palestine, and she called on all lawmakers to support
this initiative without conditions and to commit to an end to the
military occupation, Palestinian independence and a just peace.
Dr.
Ashrawi stressed, “This vote constitutes an important contribution to
peace, and we express our deep appreciation to all those who worked to
ensure the success of today’s overwhelming vote.
With
the deteriorating conditions on the ground, the expansion of Israel’s
illegal settlement enterprise, its use of excessive and indiscriminate
violence against the Palestinians, Israel’s policies of colonization and
apartheid in and around Jerusalem, the targeting of the Al-Aqsa Mosque
compound and its worshipers, Israeli settler violence and extremism, and
Israel’s most recent horrific war in Gaza, among other violations, we
call on all parliaments and governments worldwide to officially
recognize an independent Palestine on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its
capital and to support our current and future multilateral efforts of
holding Israel accountable. It is high time to translate the will of
the Palestinian people into action before the entire region its plunged
into further instability, violence and chaos.”
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