Palestine condemns Netanyahu UN speech
PALESTINE has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as “provocative and hateful” rhetoric, and called on the international community to condemn his utterances.
In a statement, Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Tamer Almassri said: “The State of Palestine rejects in the strongest terms the provocative and hateful speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister at the United Nations General Assembly General Debate.
“From the podium of the United Nations, Israel’s Prime Minister confirmed, yet again, the colonial designs of his government and the objectives of Israel’s illegal occupation: the forcible and violent annexation of the Palestinian homeland and negation of the presence and rights of the Palestinian people, including their rights to self-determination and return.”
He said Israel’s illegal invasion of Palestinian territory was in breach of international statutes and human rights enshrined in the UN Charter.
The international community, he said, must hold Israel to account for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“The international community must firmly reject and condemn Israel’s racist denigration of the Palestinian people and its vehement denial of their roots in the land — an indigenous, centuries-old presence borne out by history,” he added.
“This is being done openly, all in grave breach of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and humanitarian and human rights law, and in brazen contempt of the international community, for over seven decades.
“In 2023, Israel stands at the world’s podium boasting of its illegal occupation and apartheid regime in Palestine, confident it will never be held accountable.”
He said Israel’s “criminality” must never be normalised.
“It is past time to hold Israel, the occupying power, accountable for all its grave breaches in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
“It is time to enforce consequences for its war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people.”
In his speech at the UN, Prime Minister Netanyahu said his country was on the cusp of a historic peace deal with Saudi Arabia and much of the Arab world.
“I have long sought to make peace with the Palestinians,” he said.
“But I also believe that we must not give the Palestinians a veto over new peace treaties with Arab states.
“The Palestinians could greatly benefit from a broader peace. They should be part of the process, but they should not have a veto over the process.”