Pakistan calls for Israel to stop 'land grabbing' in Palestinian territory

Pakistan calls for Israel to stop 'land grabbing' in Palestinian territory

AKRAM ABID
 Mar 13 (SANA): Pakistan on Monday underscored the need for intensified efforts to resolve the "core issue" of Palestine for Middle East peace, saying now is the time for a strong UN Security Council signal to Israel to stop “land grabbing” in occupied Palestinian territory.


"With the continuation of the Israeli settlement activity, hope for the Palestinians to have a viable State of their own is fading fast," Ambassador Abdullah Hussain told a high-level meeting of the 15-member Council chaired by the British Foreign Secretary and attended by the Foreign Ministers of France, Guatemala, Russia, Portugal and Germany, as well as the US Secretary of State.


"Denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination is at the heart of unrest in the region," he said, while reaffirming Pakistan's full support to their just struggle for statehood and U.N, membership.


"For lasting peace in the Middle East, progress on Syria-Israel and Lebanon-Israel conflicts is necessary as well," the Pakistani envoy added. "Israel must withdraw completely from occupied Lebanese land and the Syrian Golan, in compliance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions."


Noting that the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is becoming increasingly volatile, Haroon said, "Factors like ever increasing settlement activity as well as settler violence, continued blockade of Gaza, diminishing economic prospects for the population, vandalization of the holy sites, plight of the Palestinian prisoners etc mean that people are at tenterhooks."


"A small ignition can turn into a big fire," he warned. "We also condemn any pipe bombs being fired from Gaza."


Important developments were under way in North Africa and the Middle East, and Pakistan affirmed the right of the people of the region “to speak as well as to be heard”, Haroon said.  He condemned the use of force against peaceful protestors, as well as violations of human rights, no matter who was committing them.


Pakistan supported all actions that favoured changes in the region in line with the UN. Charter’s principles, especially sovereignty and territorial integrity.  At the same time, he said that no movement in the world succeeded without external help, and those “riding on the high horse of
morality” should consider treading more slowly.


Nevertheless, he said, change must be locally driven and not imposed from the outside.


Yet, the Arab Spring would never be complete without peace between Arabs and Israelis, he said.  While the spring season was a natural occurrence, the current stalemate between Palestinians and Israelis was “the winter of Arab discontent”.


The Pakistani envoy regretted that the Security Council had not produced any cogent decision.  The biggest challenge of the Middle East remained the Palestinian question, and the Palestinian people must benefit from the Arab Spring.


On broader issues, he said Islam and democracy were not incompatible; the Muslim religion was grounded in the search for brotherhood and peace.


"Our Prophet (peace be upon him) called all Muslims brothers, and then asked them to share their surpluses and share their shortcomings, he said, adding: "There is no better manifestation of democracy. Muslims were asked to reach out to the world in peace, and for knowledge and wisdom to China. When it became difficult for them to live in Makkah, he asked his fellow Muslims to go the King of Ethiopia for help, and he happened to be a Christian. This vast reach out shows the beauty of the religion..."


Haroon said it was perhaps time for the General Assembly, supported by the Security Council, to take a legislative decision regarding minimum, internationally agreed requirements for democracy.  Such conditions might include, for example, the promotion of human rights, pluralism, rule of law and the role of women.


The Pakistani envoy also urged that the “situation with Iran” could be stopped from moving towards conflict, saying accumulated diplomacy in this case can do better. "This kind of conflict may have a very serious impact on the world," he said, adding that it might very well be the “last straw that broke the camel’s back” for international peace and security.