Online Reporter
PALESTINE is now recognised as a sovereign nation by more than 81 percent of United Nations member states, including Zimbabwe, with France, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra and Belgium having formally recognised a Palestinian State at the ongoing 80th session of the General Assembly (UNGA). The Herald’s Wallace Ruzvidzo (WR), sat down with Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri (TA), who spoke at length about the support the country has received from UN member States and Palestine’s endorsement of Zimbabwe’s candidature for non-permanent representation in the United Nations Security Council, among other issues.
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WR: More than 80 percent of UN member states have endorsed Palestine as a sovereign state, how does receiving such overwhelming support feel?
TA: First of all, we thank all governments and countries who recognise Palestine, especially those who acknowledge the Palestinian struggle to end Israeli apartheid and the right of the Palestinians for self-determination. They acknowledge also that the main threat to the stability and security in the Middle East and in the world is Israel.
The recent recognitions of our statehood are actually very important and we are highly appreciative of that. Also, as Palestinians, we were aware of the positive political steps taken by the friends of Palestine.
I want to mention that the Palestinian state now is recognised by 160 countries and when the declaration of independence was made on November 15, 1988 by the late icon leader Yasser Arafat in Algeria, it was an announcement that we accept the two-state solution and the Palestinian state could be established using the 1967 borders.
WR: Who were among the first to recognise Palestine?
TA: Zimbabwe was one of the main bloc of the countries that recognised Palestine after that declaration. Today, after almost 37 years of the Palestinian declaration, we consider the recognition by France, Canada, Britain, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta, Andorra, San Marino and Denmark, sacred. These 12 countries represent the values that must apply now because this recognition is not only protocol, but it is actually a historical step and also a call to end the Israeli apartheid and to stop the genocide that Israel has been committing for two years against our civilians and our brave people in the Gaza Strip.
WR: But do you think this support will translate into action on the ground?
TA: We will judge that later, but what we understand is that the Israeli apartheid state isolates itself daily and this is very important because we want the Israelis to be treated according to international law.
We do not want to feel that Israel is above international law. We do not want to feel that the rules and the laws and conventions apply to all countries in the world except Israel. This is actually an abnormal status and no one can accept it because Israel used that to create problems and that badly affect security and peace, not only in the Middle East, but everywhere.
We want this action to be a starting point; to recognise the Palestinian rights in their country, in their homeland, to establish their state and to end the Israeli occupation and to bring justice to all victims.
We also demand justice for the victims who were killed by the Israeli apartheid occupation, they left this life, but they deserve justice and we cannot ignore that, otherwise Israel will continue with its crimes, not only in Palestine, but elsewhere.
Israel actually threatens the international community and big countries like France, Portugal, Britain, Luxembourg, Belgium and Spain. And they threaten that they also want to go for annexation in West Bank, and they want to occupy Gaza Strip and to remove the people, to transfer them.
This is actually the Israeli mentality, the mentality of militias, the mentality of a superpower. They do not respect the international community, and they do not recognise international opinion, and they do not recognise international will. So you can imagine when Israel, a small country, threatens the world or the international community, and you want to tell me that all the 160 countries in the world, 160 governments in the world are wrong, and the Israelis are correct?
This is not acceptable and Israel should be pushed to respect the United Nations, its resolutions all the obligations that organise the relations between countries and peoples.
WR: Alright, and how significant is the support that has been given by Zimbabwe over the years?
TA: First of all, Zimbabwe was one of the countries who recognised Palestine in 1988. When we opened our Embassy in 1983, Zimbabwe assisted our office; the representative office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation embassy. So we remember in 1988 when our ambassador went to the Minister of Foreign Affairs here in Zimbabwe to tell them that we were now recognised, so we cannot ignore that. Zimbabwe was one of the countries in Africa who were in our corner, fighting for the liberation and self-determination and this happened well before 1980.
We are supported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, by our comrades and the leadership here in Zimbabwe, when we have any discussions about Palestine in any organisation, the international community, or the United Nations itself. We do not have any problems because we get all round support.
When Zimbabweans say they suffered from the colonial regime, suffered from discrimination, suffered from sanctions, we know what that (oppression) means. Palestine assisted Zimbabwe in its struggle.
Under the Second Republic, Palestine’s support is continuous and we appreciate that in international fora, under the United Nations banner, Zimbabwe votes for Palestine all the time together with all esteemed countries who respect their history and their struggles for sovereignty.
WR: And President Mnangagwa has personally termed Palestine a friend of Zimbabwe.
TA: We highly appreciate the good and the strong support that we receive from President Mnangagwa. When he meets any Palestinian delegation, any Palestinian official, he tells them in an open way, “you can count on us”. Also President Mnangagwa was one of the first African Presidents to donate foodstuffs to feed Palestinian victims in the Gaza Strip.
We understand that Zimbabwe is under sanctions, but in spite of that, this initiative touched our hearts and we cannot forget Zimbabwe for that gesture. We value the support and solidarity between our two countries.
Palestine supports Zimbabwe’s endeavours and we are totally against the illegal sanctions and we support the country’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) because it will represent us and it will represent all the oppressed people and all Africans.
I want to say that we also highly appreciate our comrades in ZANU PF for supporting Palestine. They are also very open and frank in their solidarity with our people.
