Don’t force unfair solution on Palestinians

Pope Francis is absolutely correct in opposing inequitable solutions aimed at ending the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as they would only be a prelude to new crises.

His observations have been made in an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace proposal, which has been totally rejected by almost the entire world community.

The Palestinians and Arab League foreign ministers have already rejected the plan and the Palestinian Authority has cut all ties with the United States and Israel.

It is believed to be the first time the pope has spoken in public about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Trump announced the plan on Jan.28.

It may be recalled that the pope had expressed concern in 2018 too when the United States announced the moving of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying the city’s “status quo” should be respected. Francis has repeatedly called for all to honour UN resolutions on the city.

In his own words: “There is no reasonable alternative to peace, because every attempt at exploitation or supremacy demeans both its author and its target. It shows a myopic grasp of reality, since it can offer no future to either of the two.”

Israel has been flouting all norms and repeatedly snubbing the international community. Just this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in occupied east Jerusalem in yet another dangerous provocation aimed at dealing a stern blow to the peace process and a two-state solution.

Such moves by Israel mark a major violation of the international law, which says that settlements in all the Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem, are illegal.

Trump’s plan is biased in favour of Israel as it would allow the occupation forces to annex all settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley. It would give the Palestinians limited autonomy in several chunks of territory with a capital on the outskirts of occupied Jerusalem, and that too only if they meet nearly impossible conditions.

As per Trump’s plan, Israel would also maintain overriding security responsibility for the State of Palestine, including at the Palestinian state’s international border crossings.

The US plan cannot bring peace to the region as it annuls the legitimacy of Palestinians’ rights, including the right to self-determination.

Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, made it clear recently while addressing the 30th extraordinary meeting of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Amman that the Palestinian Cause is still an issue that is central to the UAE’s foreign policy.

The UAE’s current position towards the Palestinian Cause is an extension of the historic position of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who provided unwavering support to the Palestinians in their quest for their legitimate rights. President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, continues on the same path, offering full support to the cause and all positions taken by the Palestinians.

Ghobash well reiterated the UAE’s stance in support of a permanent, just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause, based on three pillars: The two-state solution, leading up to the creation of a fully independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital; the Security Council resolutions calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories and the Arab Peace Initiative which was endorsed as a strategic option for peace during Beirut Summit in 2002.