Emad Drimly
Xinhua
November 30, 2010 - 1:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/30/c_13627551.htm


The Palestinians Monday marked the 63rd anniversary of the UN partition plan, calling for the implementation of international resolutions that lead to the establishment of their independent state.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian Ministry of Information said in a statement sent to reporters that the decision (partition plan) " was a dangerous turning point that kept the Palestinians paying heavy prices."

"The UN General Assembly decision in 1977 to make Nov. 29 the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People has to be truly interpreted by implementing the international resolutions, mainly the ones related to the refugees' right to return and compensation," said the statement.

The Ministry of Information also called on the UN Security Council and the General Assembly "to end the longest military occupation in history and interpret its related decision to the Palestinian cause by ending this occupation and help the Palestinians gain their independence."

Meanwhile, Zakareya el-Agha, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, called on the international community to stand by the side of the Palestinian people and support their legal struggle to gain their rights.

He called on the UN Security Council "to be fair with the Palestinian people, end the injustice and enable our people to establish their independent state," adding "Israel has to be pressured to respect the international legitimacy and implement the resolutions 181 and 194."

The PLO is still sticking to achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region, el-Agha said.

The Hamas movement said the partition plan "is legally invalid because it automatically dropped at the end of the World War II, although it was issued by an international organization."

"The land of Palestine is a complete geographical unit from the Dead Sea to the River of Jordan. It is a part of the Arab world and the Islamic nations and can never be divided," the Hamas said in a statement emailed to reporters.

It added that "although 63 years had passed, the Palestinians are still rejecting this illegal and unaccepted decision."

The less influential Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement said in a press statement that "the land of Palestine can never be divided. "

"The Palestinians have the right to resist until they fully achieve their legal demands, mainly ending the military occupation of their lands," said the statement.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian left-wing groups, mainly the Popular Front to Liberate Palestine (PFLP) and the Palestinian Struggle Front (PSF), called on the international community and the UN Security Council "to immediately recognize an independent state for the Palestinian people."

The left-wing groups considered the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People a day "that represents a test to the courage and ability of the international community to work on bringing the lost legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and end the occupation and settlement."

The UN General Assembly passed on Nov. 29, 1947 the partition plan on historic Palestine and divided it in two states, one for the Palestinians and one for the Jews. The decision ended the British mandate on historic Palestine while stipulating Jerusalem and Bethlehem are under international custody.

This decision, officially called UN resolution 181, was the first international attempt to end the Arab-Jewish conflict on the land of historic Palestine.




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