Addis, Ababa (Ethiopia) – African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa for their 30-31 Jan. summit are expected to pass a resolution reaffirming their support for the total liberation of Palestine, a top diplomat said in the Ethiopian capital Wednesday.
According to the source, the issue has been discussed at the ongoing meeting of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, a precursor to the summit here.
The resolution was recommendation by the AU Special Committee on the situation in Middle East, which urged the African leaders to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the Palestinian people in their struggle to establish a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the source added.
Quoting a report submitted to the Council, the source said member states were encouraged to continue their support for the Palestinian cause in relevant international fora, in line with the AU’s principles of solidarity, justice, peace and self-determination.
The committee said the continental body must take note of a recent positive development relating to self-determination of the state of Palestine at the level of the United Nations.
It recalled that a UN General Assembly resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination “received a resounding affirmative response of 165 recorded votes for, six against and three abstentions”.
“It is recommended that the AU intensifies its international campaign for self-determination and independence of Palestine within the context of a two-state solution taking into account this positive international clamour for self-determination of Palestine and its people,” the source said.
The AU was also asked to demonstrate its support towards the ongoing negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, while the continental body and the international community are being nudged to hold Israel responsible for the deepening of the crisis in the region, “which has escalated as a result of intensified settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories”.
Photo: Policymic
