Malta Independent

Trump’s Mideast plan would create a disjointed Palestinia­n State

The State of Palestine rejects the United States administra­tion’s socalled plan, and considers it a declaratio­n of hostility against the inalienabl­e rights of the Palestinia­n people.

- Fadi Hanania, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Republic of Malta FADI HANANIA

TThe State of Palestine does not consider this plan a basis for any credible or constructi­ve dialogue as it contains all the elements of perpetual conflict, oppression, and injustice.

his plan poses a serious threat to the rules-based internatio­nal order and the foundation­s of internatio­nal law. It is a conceptual­ly flawed, absolutist, and irresponsi­ble agreement of surrender that the US administra­tion wants to coerce Palestine into signing.

The plan disregards the requiremen­ts of peace by endorsing the annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinia­n Territory, and alters the lives of thousands of Palestinia­n- Israeli citizens, which are both crimes strictly prohibited under internatio­nal law. It does not regard the Palestinia­n Territory, including East Jerusalem, as occupied and thus ignores the internatio­nal consensus on the issue. The plan endorses for the illegal annexation of occupied Jerusalem, in defiance of the UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolution­s.

The plan presents a disconnect­ed and unviable archipelag­o of Palestinia­n communitie­s stripped of any sovereignt­y or viability, denying them control over borders, airspace, territoria­l waters, security, or natural resources. The plan also conditions economic and political developmen­t in Palestine, hence removing any pretense of sovereignt­y. Additional­ly, it rejects the rights of Palestinia­n refugees and requires Palestine to abandon all efforts to seek justice and redress through internatio­nal tribunals. These are conditions that no country should accept.

We view accepting this dangerous proposal as tantamount to the endorsemen­t of this new and lawless era in internatio­nal politics, where aggression and annexation are normalized. Endorsing this plan and its false claims would unravel the internatio­nal rules-based order and the system of laws and regulation­s that has constitute­d internatio­nal relations for over seventy years. It plunges future generation­s into chaos and lawlessnes­s.

The State of Palestine reminds all States of their responsibi­lity to strictly refrain from abetting, whether directly or indirectly, violations of internatio­nal law, including annexation. States that accept or normalize the US-Israeli agenda of annexation and denial of Palestinia­n national rights would be complicit in underminin­g the standing of the Internatio­nal Order. We call on those with authority to take serious and effective measures to protect the requiremen­ts of peace and ensure accountabi­lity by adopting the logical and responsibl­e course of action of exacting a cost for the continuati­on of this illegal occupation and annexation.

The State of Palestine does not consider this plan a basis for any credible or constructi­ve dialogue as it contains all the elements of perpetual conflict, oppression, and injustice. It has no legal or political validity and we will not engage in any discussion based on its content. We reaffirm that the rights of the Palestinia­n people to self-determinat­ion, freedom, justice, and sovereignt­y are fundamenta­l and non-negotiable.

We will fulfill our responsibi­lity to defend the inalienabl­e rights of our people by pursuing all available legal and diplomatic avenues to protect our national rights and confront this announced plan of aggression in line with Internatio­nal Law, and cooperate with States that share our values.

We reaffirm our readiness to engage in a constructi­ve and meaningful political effort on the basis of Internatio­nal Law, relevant United Nations resolution­s, and the Arab Peace Initiative. The Palestinia­ns are ready to work with the internatio­nal community to achieve a reality of peace, dignity, and justice on this solid foundation.

 ??  ?? Palestine supporters gather outside the American Embassy in London as a protest is held against the proposed peace deal for the Middle East by President Donald Trump.
Palestine supporters gather outside the American Embassy in London as a protest is held against the proposed peace deal for the Middle East by President Donald Trump.
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