Sartaj Aziz speaks during International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian people organized by Embassy of Palestine. PHOTO: NNI
The reception was a well attended event, with representation from the diplomatic community, politicians, military officials, businesspersons, and citizens of Islamabad. Many people including non-Palestinians could be seen wearing the keffiyeh - chequered scarves symbolic of Palestinian nationalism - in a show of solidarity.
Sartaj Aziz spoke of “the saga of cruelty” that is daily life for the Palestinian people. He also referenced the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the fact that over a hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the last two months alone.
He added that Pakistan calls for complete Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories, restitution, and a permanent resolution to the plight of Palestinian refugees in neighbouring countries. He also congratulated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for hoisting the Palestinian flag at the UN for the first time.
Swedish Ambassador Tomas Rosander referenced his country’s active role in drawing attention to Palestine, especially by recognising it as a state. He noted that when “Sweden recognised Palestine as a state, not everybody applauded. Some say the decision was taken too early, but one may also ask, was it taken too late?” He pointed that Sweden has a long history of friendship with Israel, but, quoting Foreign Minster Margot Wallstrom, he said, good friends are honest in their disagreements.
Rosander said Sweden believes that the only sustainable solution is a two state resolution, and “Swedish recognition of Palestine was aimed at levelling the playing field in an asymmetric disagreement”.
United Nations Development Programme UNDP Resident Representative Neil Buhne recalled the flag raising ceremony at the UN and quoted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as saying, today 136 countries recognise the state of Palestine and its flag flies over the UN, but this is not felt by the children of Gaza and Nablus. He also spoke of the Middle East quartet and the need for Israel to accept a fallback to the pre-1967 borders.
The Palestinian ambassador said, “The international community has a last chance to [create a Palestinian state]. Time is running out. Support for a resolution [on statehood] would send good vibes to the Palestinian people.”
He then noted the conditions of fear and deprivation under which Palestinians live. “We suffer. We are victims of human rights violations every day.”
Abu Ali also recollected that relations with the region predate the existence of Pakistan, evoking a 1938 trip to Lahore by Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Amin al-Husseini, where he met Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other Pakistan Movement leaders.
Later, guests were treated to a delectable menu of Arab and Pakistani food.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2015.
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