Address of Giorgos Koukoumas, member of the C.C. of AKEL, at the demonstration of the Palestinian community against the Israeli attacks in the area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque

 

18th September 2015, Nicosia

On behalf of the Central Committee of AKEL we convey greetings of solidarity and struggle to today’s meeting.

AKEL condemns the provocative attacks by Israeli extremists and the Israeli occupation authorities in the area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The actions of the Israeli authorities are in violation of numerous decisions approved by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, as well as the 4th Geneva Convention.

The violence and turmoil centered on Jerusalem have escalated over the past year because of the Israeli authority’s deliberate policy of aiming to reverse the status quo in the region, alter the character, legal status and demography in the occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in relation to occupied East Jerusalem and impose its Judaisation. The attempt by the Israeli authorities to turn the Palestinian problem into a religious conflict will not succeed, because such provocations in the holy places of Muslims are a provocation for everyone, not just for the Palestinians.

On this occasion, AKEL welcomes the recent decision of the UN General Assembly to fly the Palestinian flag at the buildings of its headquarters in New York. Nevertheless, we express our disappointment at the stand of the Cypriot government which abstained in the relevant vote, as well as with regards other actions it took that are at variance with Cyprus’ traditional stand of solidarity with the Palestinian people. As AKEL, we will continue to be the force exerting pressure so that Cyprus should adhere to positions of principle on Palestine. After all, it would be a self-negation if Cyprus – which is itself suffering from foreign occupation and colonization – does not defend consistently and resolutely International Law.

Furthermore, as AKEL, especially from the podium of the European Parliament, we are struggling so that the EU ends its policy of equal distancing on the Palestinian issue, a policy which leads to the appeasement and encouragement of the occupying power. As AKEL, together with the Group of the United European Left in the European Parliament, we demand the suspension of the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel due to the countless violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people perpetrated by Israel.

AKEL along with the people of Cyprus will continue to be in solidarity with the Palestinian people and its struggle to end the Israeli occupation and colonization, and for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.