Palestine praises PM Imran's remarks over UAE-Israel deal

The Embassy of Palestine has welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent remarks about the Palestine issue and Pakistan’s continuous support for their just cause.

On Tuesday, Premier Imran had categorically rejected any possibility that Pakistan could establish relations with Israel after it signed a historic deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalise bilateral relations.

“Our stance is very clear from day one and Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said Pakistan can never accept state of Israel until the people of Palestine get rights and state,” he said in an interview with a private news channel.

The prime minister had said that accepting the state of Israel is equivalent to give up Pakistan’s stance on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). “The case of Palestinians is similar to people of Kashmir and their [Palestinians] rights have been snatched and they have been suffering Israeli atrocities.”

Last week, Israel and the UAE had reached a historic deal that would lead to a full normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations in an agreement that US President Donald Trump helped broker.

Under the agreement, Israel has agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to areas of the West Bank that it has been discussing annexing, senior White House officials told Reuters.

In a letter from the Embassy of Palestine in Islamabad, the firm support of Pakistani leadership and people is appreciated.

The letter stated: “On behalf of Palestinian people and the government of State of Palestine, the Embassy of Palestine, Islamabad, conveys sincere thanks for extending all sorts of support to Palestinian cause, and especially for condemning, in the strongest terms, the Israeli aggression towards Palestine. We Palestinians consider Pakistan as our second homeland, and Pakistanis as our dearest brothers, who always supported Palestine on every forum of the world.”

The letter also acknowledged the support from Pakistani previous governments over the years.

“Ever since the creation of Pakistan, every government has always supported the just cause of Palestine on all the forums. The embassy heartily appreciates the stance of Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, when answering to the question about Israel, said that the founder of Pakistan had made it clear that Israel would not be recognised until a just and fair solution to the Palestinian problem is given. The prime minister said we will be answerable to Allah on Palestine issue, and his conscience will never allow accepting Israel without a solution to the Palestinian issue. He said that Pakistan’s position is very clear, Pakistan can never recognise Israel. If we surrender to Israel, then we must leave Kashmir.”

It noted that it is only because of Pakistanis love towards Palestine that Pakistan-Israel relations have never been established.

The letter quoted Pakistan’s founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Dr Allama Iqbal regarding Palestine issue.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said: “Pakistan would never recognise Israel until a viable two-state solution is reached in regards to the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

Dr Allama Iqbal said: “If the Jews had a right to the soil of Palestine, why can't the Arabs lay claim to Spain? No, British Imperialism has other aims. It’s no tale of citron, honey or dates.”

The embassy thanked Premier Imran for such a strong response and appreciates every individual of Pakistan, including political parties, media, civil society, who is observing solidarity with Palestine in any possible way.

"We are hopeful that this support will be with us until we get an independent State of Palestine with Jerusalem Al Quds as capital."