[News] Palestinians Praise African Union ‘Historical’ Statement on Palestine, Israeli Occupation

[Anti-Imperialist News]

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/palestinians-praise-african-union-historical-statement-on-palestine-israeli-occupation/
Palestinians
Praise African Union ‘Historical’ Statement on Palestine, Israeli Occupation
February 8, 2021
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The 34th ordinary session of the African Union Summit. (Photo: via Social
Media)

Israeli efforts at co-opting Africa countries received a major setback on
Saturday, February, 6 when the African Union issued a strong statement of
solidarity with Palestine, condemning Israel’s illegal settlement
activities and the US’s so-called ‘Deal of the Century’.

African leaders reaffirmed in their 34th African Union Summit, held
virtually in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, that all Israeli
settlements erected on the occupied Palestinian territories, including East
Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan, are illegal.

In the final statement of the two-day Summit, African leaders stressed that
Israel’s settlements constitute serious violations of international
humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and defies the
calls of the international community to stop all settlement activities.

They also reiterated their full support for the Palestinian people and
their representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization, in their
legitimate struggle against the Israeli occupation to restore their
inalienable rights, including self-determination and independence.

African leaders expressed their desire to reach a just political solution
to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the principles of international
law and all relevant United Nations resolutions, leading to a complete end
to the Israeli occupation, which began in 1967, and the independence of the
State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the borders
of June 4. 1967, and finding a just solution to the plight of the
Palestinian refugees, in accordance with United Nations Resolution No. 194.

The final statement also called for the resumption of credible negotiations
between the two sides, in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and
lasting peace in the Middle East, through an international multilateral
mechanism based on international consensus, international law and United
Nations resolutions.

The African Union Summit also called on all members of the international
community to preserve the legal status of East Jerusalem as the capital of
the State of Palestine, respect international law and relevant United
Nations resolutions in this regard, and refrain from any actions or
decisions that undermine the legal status of the city, especially moving
embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Union stressed that any measures taken by Israel, the occupying power,
to colonize the city of Jerusalem, including imposing its laws,
jurisdiction and administration, are illegal measures, and therefore are
null and void, and have no legitimacy whatsoever.

Moreover, the final statement called on the Israeli occupation authorities
to immediately stop all these illegal and unilateral measures, including
provocations and incitement against Christian and Islamic holy sites.

The African leaders condemned Israel’s use of lethal, unlawful and other
excessive force against Palestinian civilians, including civilians who
enjoy a special protection status under international law who do not pose
an imminent threat to life.

They called for accountability for these unlawful acts as well as for the
actions committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian
territories, stressing that Israel, the occupying power, is fully
responsible for acts of violence committed against Palestinian civilians
and their property.

African leaders also emphasized the rejection of any unfair or partial
solutions, including the so-called “Deal of the Century”, stressing that
they will work tirelessly with other international actors to ensure the
independence of the State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967,
with East Jerusalem as its capital.

*Palestinians Welcome AU Statement*

The Palestinian leadership welcomed the strong AU statement of solidarity
with their cause, particularly the continent’s support for the creation of
a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

“We deeply appreciate African solidarity for the Palestinian cause, and are
particularly appreciative of the AU’s call to its members to preserve the
legal status of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian
state, and refrain from any actions that undermine the legal status of the
city, particularly moving embassies to Jerusalem,” Palestinian Ambassador
to South Africa Hanan Jarar said Monday.

“The AU Summit’s final statement reflects the deeply-rooted bonds between
Africa’s anti-colonial struggles and that of the Palestinian people, and
the deep-seated historic solidarity between the peoples of Africa and
Palestine.”

The Palestinian group Hamas also welcomed the statement.

“We welcome the African Union condemnation of the Israeli settlement and
its call to end any form of relation with the [Israeli] occupation,” Hamas
spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

Abu Zuhri also praised the AU’s “historical” support for the Palestinian
cause.

Ramzy Baroud, a Palestinian journalist and editor of The Palestine
Chronicle, has argued that Africa’s strong stance in solidarity with the
Palestinian people is rooted in shared struggles and common histories.

“Despite its many successes in luring African governments to its web of
allies, Israel has failed to tap into the hearts of ordinary Africans who
still view the Palestinian fight for justice and freedom as an extension of
their own struggle for democracy, equality and human rights,” Baroud said.

*(The Palestine Chronicle, WAFA, Social Media)*
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