During the Speech of Palestine at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa
H.E. Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister called on the African Union Countries to Reject the American plan to liquidate the Palestinian Cause
H.E. Dr. Shtayyeh addressing the African Summit: Palestine Yearns to Silence the Guns of Israeli Occupation
- Removing occupation requires an international effort in which Africa can participate
- We want just peace, not dictates, and the world rejects the plan
- Palestine has experiences that can be provided to friends in Africa
- The relationship between Palestine and Africa is an important part of our peoples march towards freedom
Addis Ababa - Prime Minister's Office: H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Mohamed Shtayyeh said: "Palestine yearns to silence the guns of Israeli occupation that hinder normal life and development, and that removing the occupation needs an international effort in which Africa participates alongside the rest of the international players in an international peace conference in Palestine, whose reference will be the resolutions of the United Nations and International Law."
This came during a speech by the H.E. Prime Minister, on behalf of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas, at the 33rd regular session of the Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union, held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, under the title "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development."
H.E. Prime Minister called the African Summit to confirm its rejection of the American plan "Deal of the Century" to liquidate the Palestinian Cause, and to respond by calling for the settlement of the Palestinian Cause on the basis of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state, according to international references, and to support the idea of an international peace conference in Palestine.
H.E. Dr. Shtayyeh added: "The American plan gives Jerusalem completely to the Israelis, and it appropriates 40% of the lands of the Palestinian state, and maintains the Jewish settlements and about 720,000 settlers illegally on our lands that Israel seized by force and coercion, so that the Palestinian state becomes a divided state, in which Palestinians live in "Bantustans" within the system of apartheid, which you have fought to overthrow, in addition to denying the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
H.E. Prime Minister affirmed the commitment of the Palestinian leadership to a political solution based on the establishment of the State of Palestine in accordance with the legitimacy and international consensus, reiterating the rejection of the "Deal of the Century" that Arab and Islamic countries had rejected, in addition to the European Union, Russia, China and Canada. H.E. Dr. Shtayyeh said: "Our minds and hearts are open for just and real peace in which Palestine is a partner in negotiations and not under dictates."
H.E. Shtayyeh added: "Palestine, which benefits from the aid and support of many countries in the world, including Africa, has something to offer also in various fields such as: medicine, agriculture, environment, education and security, to serve friends in Africa."
H.E. Prime Minister continued: "The relationship of Palestine and Africa is an important and constructive part of the path of our peoples in the pursuit of building a better world, more believing in the values of freedom and justice and building a Multilateral International System, which gives the different peoples of the world and its countries, their place and opportunity to decide their own destiny and contribute effectively to international affairs."
In the same context, H.E. Dr. Shtayyeh congratulated his Ethiopian counterpart, H.E. Mr. Abi Ahmed, foe being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, stressing on the pivotal role that Ethiopia plays in maintaining international peace and security.
The following is the speech delivered by H.E. Prime Minister at the summit:
"H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi,
Your Excellencies, Heads of Delegations
Your Excellency, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Abi Ahmed
His Excellency Brother Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor, and an important and dear occasion, for Palestine and its people to attend the African Union Summits, not only because of the impact of this summit stems from the importance of the African continent, but also and because there is a long history that connects Palestine with Africa, and there is a great legacy of Palestinian-African relations.
I convey the greetings and wishes of H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, to you and your summit for success and achievement of its goals, as well as his gratitude for the continued African support for the just Palestinian Cause.
I also salute the Arab Republic of Egypt and H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for what was achieved during Egypt’s presidency of the African Union last year, along with our best wishes to South Africa in leading the Union in this session.
I congratulate H.E. Prime Minister Mr. Abi Ahmed for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which underlines the pivotal role that Ethiopia plays in maintaining international peace and security for the stability of Africa.
Your Excellencies,
The relationship of Palestine and Africa is an important and constructive part of the path of our peoples in the pursuit of building a better world, more believing in the values of freedom and justice and building a multilateral international system, which gives different peoples of the world, its countries, its place and opportunity to decide its own destiny, and to contribute effectively in international affairs.
Palestine is keen and seeks continued African interest in its issues, and seeks to continue positive and constructive relations not only between Palestine and Africa, but also to play a role in bridging Arab-Asian-African relations.
Having your summit held this year under an important and vital title, "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development", is a slogan that goes beyond the borders of Africa to other regions around the world. Especially Palestine, which yearns to silence the guns of Israeli occupation that hinder normal life, hinder its development, and wants to contribute to the success of your slogan, promoting it and cooperating with you to have it achieved.
Palestine benefits from the aid and support of many countries in the world, including Africa, and cooperates in various fields such as: medicine, agriculture, environment, and education in the service of friends, as well as providing expertise in the security field and participating in coordinating counter-terrorism efforts.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The African countries have always supported the Arab-Israeli conflict resolution on the grounds of the two-States solution and by establishing the State of Palestine on all of the occupied territories in 1967 that represents 22% of the lands of the historic Palestine. They have also supported, throughout their resolution in the consecutive summits, the Palestinians rights in having Eastern Jerusalem as their Capital and resolve the refugees issue.
The American Plan presented by the American President, Trump, in January 28th, lacks international references and flouts the foundations and pillars of the international law. It is an unilateral plan, that has not been coordinated with us while Israel took part in formulating all of its items and articles. This plan deprives from independence, deepens and enshrines occupation and deprives us from our right to benefit and access our natural resources and water. Nonetheless, this plan allows Israel to immediately include Palestinian territories; it provided complicated terms and conditions for Palestinians to get what is stated in the plan, such as the recognition of the Judaism of the state.
What is offered for us in the plan doesn’t constitute the minimum level of justice and rights for our people, and therefore:
The Arab and Islamic countries rejected this American initiative. Also, the European Union the African Union, Russia, China and Canada rejected it, too. So, the United States did not find a single international partner that supports its initiative.
During the time that we have committed and still committing to the political solution on the basis of establishing the State of Palestine in accordance with legitimacy and international consensus, the American plan gives Jerusalem completely to the Israelis, and it appropriates 40% of the lands of the Palestinian state, and maintains the Jewish settlements and about 720,000 settlers illegally on our lands that Israel seized by force and coercion, so that the Palestinian state becomes a divided state, in which Palestinians live in "Bantustans" within the system of apartheid, which you have fought to overthrow, in addition to depriving Palestinian refugees from their right of return to their homes.
President Trump's plan intends to legalize the status qua and obtaining the approval of the Palestinian people and the world on this status, as well as stopping naming this situation by its real name, the illegal occupation against all international and humanitarian laws.
This American plan does not include any actual definition for sovereignty. It does not give Palestinians the right of sovereignty over their lands, air, water, abilities and the borders of their country. It does not include the right of border crossing for people from and into Palestine. Neither it gives them the right of transporting goods and products through borders. These borders will remain, by this plan, under the control of the occupation; hence, the reunion of Palestinians and entry of visitors from around the world will stay subject to and under an Israeli decision, as it is the case now.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Silencing the guns, counter-terrorism and marching towards development require applying law and international references as well as giving the peoples the right to self determination, democracy and freedom. So, we count on your continuous support for the peoples' right in independence and freedom, amongst is the Palestinian nation.
The protection of the global stability requires an international cooperation in the fields of climate, free and just commerce, counter-terrorism, facing occupations and standing against taking over other people's lands by force. That’s why, we are looking forwards to working with you in the frame work of the United Nations and international conferences specialized in these issues. I would like, on the occasion, to treasure and value the attitudes of your countries and your great union and you close cooperation the State of Palestine through its presiding the group of 77 and China. Your efforts and cooperation played a great role and had a significant impact in accomplishing many achievements for all of us and devoted the historic relation between us.
Removing occupation from Palestine needs an international effort that Africa participates in it alongside the rest of the international players in an international peace conference in Palestine. The reference of this conference is the resolutions of the United Nations related to Palestine and the international law because the negotiations experiences, in their current form and under the sole sponsorship of the USA, could not reach a solution that leads to the establishment of the State of Palestine and the end of occupation. We must reconsider and rethink the old mechanisms from over than 29 years ago.
So, we call upon your summit to reject the recent American imitative that tends to terminate the Palestinian cause and to call for the settlement of the Palestinian cause on the basis of establishing a sovereign Palestinian State according to the international references. We also look forwards to gaining the support of Africa on the idea of having an international peace conference in Palestine, and we aspire for the continuous Arab-African cooperation in the areas of development maintaining the global security and stability. We affirm the positive role Palestine will have in this regards.
Moreover, we depends very much on the outcomes of the Arab - African Summit that will be held in Riyadh at the middle of the next to set out a new phase to face challenges and strengthen the foundations for cooperation between the two parties.
Our minds and hearts are open for just and real peace in which Palestine is a partner in negotiations and not under dictates.
Lastly, we would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude for the African – Palestinian friendship. We are looking forwards to developing and continuing those relations, and to deepening the Arab – African relations for the best interest of both peoples, and the world.
Long live Africa, long live Palestine and long live the relations of the free nations.
Thank you and peace be upon you all.