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<font size="1"><a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/palestinians-praise-african-union-historical-statement-on-palestine-israeli-occupation/">https://www.palestinechronicle.com/palestinians-praise-african-union-historical-statement-on-palestine-israeli-occupation/</a>
</font><h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Palestinians Praise African Union ‘Historical’ Statement on Palestine, Israeli Occupation</h1>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">February 8, 2021<br></div>
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<img src="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AU-678x455.jpg" alt="" title="AU" style="margin-right: 25px;" width="425" height="285">
The 34th ordinary session of the African Union Summit. (Photo: via Social Media)
<p><span>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’. </span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><b>Palestinians Welcome AU Statement</b></p>
<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>“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.</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>“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.” </span></p></blockquote>
<p><span>The Palestinian group Hamas also welcomed the statement. </span></p>
<p><span>“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.</span></p>
<p><span>Abu Zuhri also praised the AU’s “historical” support for the Palestinian cause.</span></p>
<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>“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.</span></p>
<p><i><span>(The Palestine Chronicle, WAFA, Social Media)</span></i></p>
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