Embassy of the State of Palestine

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, stressed, “Achieving a lasting peace based on the two-state solution is not contingent on the outcome of negotiations; ending the military occupation of Palestine, its people and resources remains the key to ensuring justice, peace and security.”

Dr. Ashrawi’s comments came during separate meetings with the European Union Representative to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and UNRWA, John Gatt-Rutter, and with Deputy Consul-General and Deputy Head of Mission of the British Consulate-General in New York, Nick Astbury at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah.

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, strongly denounced the UN Security Council vote in which the resolution to end the Israeli occupationfailed to pass:

“The UN Security Council vote is outrageously shameful. It is ironic that while the United Nations designated 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the resolution failed to pass as an indication of a failure of will by some members of the international community. Furthermore, all the articles of the resolution are consistent with declared American policy, international law, UN resolutions, and the requirements of peace. The extent to which the U.S. has gone to protect Israeli impunity and lawlessness and to enable its criminal behavior is disgraceful and dangerous.

Tonight was a historic moment for our people and for all those around the world who seek justice and peace.

The State of Palestine signed a number of international treaties, all of which are consistent with the values of our nation, the foremost of which is respect for international human rights and humanitarian law.

Tonight, we call upon the international community to assume its responsibility in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in Palestine, including ending the occupation that began in 1967. We have provided our people, and all those who seeking a just peace, a horizon of hope. We trust that the international community will stand by us, as we seek to exercise the long overdue rights of our State and of our people.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the state of Palestine will join the International Criminal Court on April 1, a high-stakes move that will enable the Palestinians to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel.

The Palestinians submitted the documents ratifying the Rome Statute that established the court last Friday, the last formal step to becoming a member of the world's permanent war crimes tribunal.

Ramallah - The President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas denounced the heinous terrorist incident, which took place Wednesday in the French capital Paris, which killed French citizens.

In January 2015, New Zealand took up a two-year non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. It is anticipated that New Zealand will play an effective role at this level. It is important to note the strong support for Palestine that New Zealand has expressed.

In a statement, PLO Executive Committee Member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, said:

“In the strongest possible terms, we, the Palestine Liberation Organization, denounce Israel’s extrajudicial killing of Palestinian Minister and Head of the Committee against the Wall and Settlements, Ziad Abu Ein, who died after being severely beaten by Israeli forces and suffering from tear gas inhalation during a non-violent activity where Palestinians were planting olive trees in Turmus’ayya.

29 November:On the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian people, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the international community for its continued support of the Palestinian struggle to achieve our inalienable rights to freedom and self-determination. We thank those states that have recognized the State of Palestine and the parliaments and people around the world who have voted for recognition. We also appreciate the religious leaders, trade unions, artists, and civil society organizations worldwide that have stood on the right side of justice and supported the Palestinian people in their attempts to seek a just peace.

The message of H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

On November 23, the Israeli cabinet approved a bill that defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Such a draft bill aims to destroy the two-state solution by superimposing “Greater Israel" on historical Palestine and endorsing the military occupation. Furthermore, it would institutionalize apartheid and deprive the Palestinian citizens of Israel of their social, political and economic rights, turning them into second-class citizens.