UN General Assembly President: Palestinians have right to live in dignity with liberty
New York (QNN)- President of the UN General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi called for diplomatic pressure against ‘Israel’, saying Palestinians have the “fundamental and inalienable right to live in dignity with liberty, freedom of movement, freedom from fear.”
In a Tuesday event marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at the UN headquarters in New York, Kőrösi said, “I ask you to walk a mile in the shoes of Palestinians.”
“The Palestinian people, as all people, have the fundamental and inalienable right to live in dignity with liberty, freedom of movement, freedom from fear.”
“Hope and prosperity cannot come from a zero-sum game,” he said, urging UN countries to “use the leverage of your governments” to encourage dialogue between ‘Israel’ and the Palestinians.
“I can tell you from personal experience, living in the region as a young diplomat, the tensions in that region were – and still are – very high. We must aspire to change this, to pioneer solutions. And you can pioneer solutions.”
“How, as the international community, are we going to ensure the protection of the rights of Palestinians now and for future generations?” Kőrösi asked.
“A fundamental element of solidarity is understanding the plight of others. Walking a mile in their shoes. I ask you to not only stand in solidarity. But to move so.”
He nodded to the “legitimate aspirations of all sides” in his speech, delivered alongside the Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour.
Mansour, speaking on behalf of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the event marked “another year of killing, siege, arrests, forced displacement and home demolitions.”
“Another year of settlements and dismemberment of our homeland through the annexation wall, land confiscation and military checkpoints. Another year that witnessed more violence and incitement against our people and their Christian and Islamic holy sites,” Mansour said, repeatedly referring to ‘Israel’ as a colony.
He said journalist Shireen Abu Akleh “was assassinated by the Israeli occupying forces in cold blood” and called on the international community to pressure ‘Israel’.
“We cannot expect the Israeli occupier who supports colonization and settler terrorism,” Mansour said, “to wake up one day and choose justice and peace.”
“The international community must mobilize and intensify its efforts to put pressure on Israel to end its occupation and stop its crimes,” Mansour said, calling for the Palestinians to receive full membership at the UN.
In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)).
