Brazil's Lula Backs Palestinian Statehood

(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – Palestine experienced a historic moment on Monday (22), marked by its recognition as a state by France during the 2^nd High-Level International Conference on the Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, following the same move by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal on Sunday (21).

The conference is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, convened by Saudi Arabia and France, ahead of the UN General Assembly, which begins on Tuesday (23). Speaking at the conference, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva thanked French president Emmanuel Macron and Saudi prime minister Mohammed Bin Salman for leading the process.

Lula spoke about the hunger to which Palestinians are being subjected in the Gaza Strip and said that nothing justifies using it as a weapon of war.“Half a million Palestinians do not have enough food-more than the population of Miami or Tel Aviv,” he said.“Hunger does not only afflict the body-it shatters the soul,” he added. He referred to the current situation in Gaza as an attempt to annihilate the Palestinian dream of nationhood.

Lula argued that both Israel and Palestine have the right to exist.“Working to establish a Palestinian state is to correct an asymmetry that undermines dialogue and obstructs peace,” said the Brazilian head of state. The president also praised the countries that recognized Palestine and reminded that Brazil did so in 2010.“We're already the vast majority of the UN's 193 members,” Lula said.

Also at the conference, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, urged all countries to recognize the State of Palestine.“We call on other countries to take a similar historic step that will have an important impact in supporting efforts to establish the two-state solution, achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and create a new reality in which the region can enjoy peace, stability, and prosperity,” he said.

Announcing France's recognition of the State of Palestine, Macron said he did so to promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. He added that he would continue the existential fight against antisemitism.“A historic responsibility rests upon us. We must do everything possible to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution-Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” he said. He conditioned the opening of a French embassy in the State of Palestine on the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and a ceasefire in the territory.

With information from AFP

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Translated by Guilherme Miranda

Ricardo Stuckert/Brazil Presidency

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