Tunisia Calls on International Community to Assume Responsibilities Regarding Israeli Occupation
Tunisia called on the international community on Saturday to "assume its responsibilities" in the face of "systematic violations" of international law by the Israeli occupation, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Speaking at a ceremony organized with the Palestinian Embassy and the United Nations office, Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti urged states to "take concrete measures" to uphold international justice and put an end to "financial, political, and military support" for the occupation's policies. The head of diplomacy welcomed the "responsible reaction" of part of the international community to counter the "attempts to liquidate" the Palestinian cause, calling for the prevention of any forced displacement project and respect for "the sovereignty of the State of Palestine". Nafti recalled that Palestine is recognized by nearly 160 countries and estimated that it is "time" to grant the country full membership in the UN. He invited Security Council members to work towards adopting a resolution to this effect, in accordance with the extended rights already granted to Palestine as an observer state. Tunisia will continue to support "firmly and unconditionally" the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, he affirmed. For his part, the Palestinian Ambassador to Tunis, Rami Qaddoumi, emphasized that "the future of Gaza is inseparable from that of Palestine and its independent state". He called for "practical measures" to allow the Palestinian Authority to fully exercise its responsibilities in Gaza and for the lifting of the financial blockade imposed by the occupation, estimated at $3.7 billion. Qaddoumi expressed hope that international support will continue until the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, judging that real protection requires "political, economic, and legal" support.
