Revive Palestinian peace process: Solidarity Committee

The Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, in a message to mark the International Day for Solidarity with Palestine, has called on international community to revive the peace process to bring about a speedy end to the suffering of the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation for more than seven decades.

As United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has noted in his Palestine Solidarity Day message, the Palestine question remains one of the most intractable challenges facing the international community, the message noted.

"As South Africa’s visionary leader Nelson

Mandela said, our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the

Palestinian people.

"Sri Lankans, who underwent more than four centuries of colonial rule, feel their pain of being subjected to shameful occupation.

"Democratic nations should come together and redouble their efforts to make the two- state solution a reality, with both

Israel and Palestine living in harmony and peace on both sides of the 1967 border.

"We the members of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine note that Palestinians have kept their faith in non- violence to win their right to statehood.

"We also note that in the past one year or so, hundreds of unarmed Palestinians, including children, engaged in peaceful resistance have been killed by Israeli forces, while thousands have been wounded. We condemn Israel’s excesses and human rights violations in the occupied territories.

"We also call upon peace loving people in the United States to put pressure on their President Donald Trump to reverse his outlandish decisions to recognise Jerusalem as the sole capital of Israel, whereas under various peace plans, East Jerusalem, which now remains occupied by Israel, has been recognized as the capital of the future state of Palestine.

"We also denounce the Trump administration’s statement declaring illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are legal. We note this shameful declaration is against international law. We urge the US to withdraw this statement.

"We salute the Palestinian people for their steadfastness in their campaign to free themselves from the yoke of Israeli occupation.

"We wish them success and assure our continuous support for their freedom cause," the message said.

As South Africa’s visionary leader Nelson Mandela said, our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people. Sri Lankans, who underwent more than four centuries of colonial rule, feel their pain of being subjected to shameful occupation.