BAHRAIN last night pledged full support for Palestine to declare an independent state under the two-state solution and seek full membership of the UN.
Foreign Ministry Arab Affairs Sector chief Ahmed Al Tarifi said that Bahrain, led by His Majesty King Hamad, continues to support Palestinians’ right for an independent state in line with international resolutions.
He was speaking during a ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of Nakba (Catastrophe) held at the Palestinian Embassy in Umm Al Hassam.
He called on the international community to take up its political and legal role in opening up channels for comprehensive peace which guarantees the full rights of Palestinians.
“We are behind all Palestinian efforts to get an independent state through the two-state solution and gain full membership in the UN, which would reflect its sovereignty over its lands while achieving proper international and legal recognition,” said Mr Al Tarifi.
“Palestinians have every right to return to their state as internationally recognised on June 4, 1967 with its capital as East Jerusalem,” he added.
“Peace can’t be achieved without a fair solution to the Palestinian issue and Palestinians gaining their full rights including that of returning.
“Bahrain is also demanding that religious sites and the right of worship be respected without any restrictions or blockage.”
Meanwhile, Parliament’s Palestinian Support Committee chairman Ahmed Al Amer asked MPs, Shura Council members, diplomats and senior government officials to stand in silence for 74 seconds in remembrance of those killed since the Nakba on May 15, 1948 and until today.
“The crime of killing Arab-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the desecration of her funeral follows the continuous crimes by the oppressors against Palestinians over the years,” he said.
The 51-year-old Al Jazeera reporter was shot dead on May 11 while she was covering an Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.
“The killing of journalists while on duty is prohibited internationally but it is not strange from a regime that forced many Palestinians into exodus, destroyed villages and towns and continues aggression against the Palestinians,” he added.
“We back Palestinian rights for an independent state in which they live in peace and prosperity through international acknowledgement.”
Shura Council human rights committee chairman Ahmed Al Haddad said Bahrain’s stand to form an independent Palestinian state has never changed.
“Palestinian rights of an independent state is something we as Bahrain, the GCC and several other countries in the world, believe in and back to have turned into reality through international and UN acknowledgement,” he said.
“This will eventually come as justice prevails.”
Egyptian Ambassador Yasser Shaban and Jordanian Ambassador Rami Al Adwan also backed peaceful resolutions towards achieving peace in the Middle East with Palestinians having their independent state.
Palestinian Ambassador Taha Abdul Qadir said seven million Palestinians were today out of their country due to the Israeli expansion that has destroyed 636 towns and villages.
“What was one million Palestinians in 1948 is now seven million Palestinians,” he said.
“Around 120,000 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli regime since 1948.
“People living in Palestine today are seeing tough times moving to work and school with five to seven checkpoints in close distance.
“We are being oppressed in our own land but with support from our allies across the world we will gain our independent state in which Palestinian flags are high.”
Palestinian team Hilal Al Quds administrator Nasser Qous described the abuse he and some of his colleagues experienced as they participated in Ms Abu Akleh’s funeral.
The team is in Bahrain to play three matches in the AFC Cup.
“It was the funeral of a national hero who was shot in cold blood and we as all across Palestine came to take part in, but as usual the Israelis just don’t like us united, so they used force the only language they know to try to disperse us,” he said.
“I was with the team there to travel the long distance to Bahrain through Jordan and some of the administrators and players suffered injuries at the hands of the Israelis.
“The independent Palestinian state will be recognised sooner or later.”
The family of Ms Akleh living in Bahrain were also present during the ceremony, which saw condolence books opened for people to write in.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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