International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the United Nations on or around 29 November each year, in accordance with General Assembly mandates contained in Resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, Resolution 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, and subsequent resolutions adopted under agenda item “Question of Palestine.” The date of 29 November was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people. On that day in 1947, the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), which came to be known as the Partition Resolution.
FORUM: Promoting the right of the Palestinianpeople to self-determination and independence. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2020.
The Palestinian people, who now number more than eight million, live primarily in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including East Jerusalem; in Israel; in neighbouring Arab States; and in refugee camps in the region. The International Day of Solidarity traditionally provides an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and that the Palestinian people have yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property, from which they have been displaced.
Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2020; November 29th.
As the United Nations marks its 75th anniversary, the question of Palestine remains distressingly unresolved.
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the Palestinian economy and undermined the already fragile humanitarian, economic and political situation in Gaza, further entrenched by crippling restrictions on movement and access.
Meanwhile, prospects for a viable two-State solution are growing more distant. A host of factors continue to cause great misery, including: the expansion of illegal settlements, a significant spike in the demolition of Palestinian homes and structures, violence and continued militant activity.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders have a responsibility to explore every opening to restore hope and achieve a two-State solution.
I remain committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements in pursuit of the vision of two States - Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and sovereign Palestine - living side by side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
I hope that recent developments will encourage Palestinian and Israeli leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations, with the support of the international community, and will create opportunities for regional cooperation.
We must also do all we can to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
I am extremely concerned by the financial situation facing UNRWA.
The agency plays an essential role as the main provider of direct and often life-saving assistance to many of the 5.7 million Palestine refugees.
I appeal to all Member States to urgently contribute to enable UNRWA to meet the critical humanitarian and development needs of Palestine refugees during the pandemic.
On this International Day of Solidarity, I also extend my heartfelt condolences on the tragic passing of Dr. Saeb Erakat, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General and Chief Negotiator for Palestinians in the Middle East Peace Process.
Let us together resolve to renew our commitment to the Palestinian people in their quest to achieve their inalienable rights and build a future of peace, dignity, justice and security.
António Guterres. U.N. Secretary-General.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2020 United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East
8 Dec @ 10:00 am - 9 Dec @ 12:00 pm EST
2020 Solidarity Day Exhibit Video “The Writing is on the Wall: Annexation Past and Present”.
Special Plenary Meeting on the International Day for Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2020
UN Headquarters in New York – 1 December 2020.
H.E. Mr. Cheikh Niang, Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations) (English, French)
H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkır, President of the General Assembly (English)
H.E. Mr. Xolisa Mabhongo, Speaking on behalf of the President of the Security Council (Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations)
Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (English)
H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, reading out a message from Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine (English)
H.E. Mr. Syed Mohamad Hasrin Aidid, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations) (English)
H.E. Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chair of the African Union Commission (English)
H.E. Mr. Maged A. Abdelaziz, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (Arabic)
H.E. Mr. Agshin Mehdiyev, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, reading out a message from H.E. Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (English)
H.E. Mr. Yashar T. Aliyev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, reading out a message on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (English)
Ms. Erica Williams, CSO Representative, Social Justice Activist with “Blacks for Palestine” (English)
Heads of State: Afghanistan (English), Algeria (Arabic), Brunei (English), China (Chinese), Egypt (Arabic), Indonesia (English), Iran (English), Jordan (Arabic), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (English), Lebanon (Arabic), Morocco (Arabic), Nicaragua (English, Spanish), Qatar (Arabic), Russia (Russian), Senegal (French), Sri Lanka (English), Tunisia (Arabic), Turkey (English), Venezuela (Spanish), Vietnam (English).
Heads of Government: India (English), Malaysia (English), Malta (English), Thailand (English).
Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Cuba (Spanish), Argentina (English, Spanish), Bahrain (Arabic), Ecuador (Spanish), Japan (English), Kazakhstan (English), Mexico (Spanish), Philippines (English), Saudi Arabia (Arabic), Syria (Arabic).
Governments: Brazil (English), Costa Rica (Spanish), Guyana (English), Namibia (English), South Africa (English).
Organizations: African Union (English), European Union (English), League of Arab States (Arabic), Non-Aligned Movement (English), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (English).
AUDIO & VIDEO PODCASTS
2020 Solidarity Day Exhibit Video | The Writing is on the Wall: Annexation Past and Present.
The organizer of this exhibit is the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the UN, and its implementers the UN Division for Palestinian Rights, the UN Department of Global Communications Special Information Programme on Palestine, and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the UN.
Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem
The question of Palestine was brought before the United Nations shortly after the end of the Second World War. The origins of the Palestine problem as an international issue, however, lie in events occurring towards the end of the First World War. In 1947 the United Nations accepted the responsibility of finding a just solution for the Palestine issue, and still grapples with this task today.