Monday 29th November was marked as the world Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, with the Palestinian Authority appealing to the UN to act in order to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, sources said on Monday.A statement released by the P.A. Ministry of Information called on the UN Security Council and General Assembly to put an end to the ‘longest occupation in modern times’ and implement its resolutions including the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
The same day marked the anniversary of the passage, in 1947, of Resolution 181 by the UN General Assembly, which demanded the partition of mandatory Palestine into one Jewish state and one Arab state. The PA commented the 1947 UN partition plan as ‘a dangerous turning point which led to our catastrophe and loss of our land and historic heritage.’
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki moon, published his statement with regard to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, a Lebanese source quoted. In referring to an agreement for the establishment of a Palestinian State, he said: ‘Yet few Palestinians are optimistic that anything decisive will be achieved next year, or even at all. Looking at the situation on the ground, I understand this despair.’
Ban Ki Moon’s message pointed out that an overwhelming international consensus urges to end the Occupation, address the fundamental security concerns of both parties, find a solution to the refugee question, and have Jerusalem as the capital of two States.
Over the weekend preceding the UN Day of Solidarity, international groups from the cities of Geneva, Toronto, Utrecht, Paris, and Geel, performed the Palestinian traditional Dabka dance, PNN reported.
The groups joined in an international flashmob action in a move to show support to the Palestinian people and to promote the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions until Israel complies with international law.
In separate reports, Israeli forces shot at peaceful demonstrators, on Monday, in the northern Gaza Strip, near the Erez crossing point. The march was held in commemoration to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
No immediate reports of casualties were given. An Israeli military spokeswoman denied there was any firing by troops in the area.
The Day of Solidarity was introduced by the General Assembly in 1977, recognizing what the PA declared as ‘the need for the greatest possible dissemination of information on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people’ and reflecting on the efforts of the UN to encourage the attainment of those rights.
