Palestinian envoy calls for sanctions against Israel

The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Montaser Abuzaid, has called on the international community to impose economic sanctions on Israel because of its continued occupation of Palestinian territories in flagrant violation of  international law.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinians, Abuzaid called for the creation of Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

He challenged the international community to compel Israel to end the ongoing settlement activity in Palestinian territories and implement UN resolutions 242, 338, 181, 194, concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict.

He said the end of occupation would make a two-state solution possible in the Middle East: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.

“Israel bombed Gaza and in three weeks and killed 5,000 people, the people ran away and went to UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to protect themselves.

“They bombed UNRWA and no punishment. We need economic punishment for Israel, when you don't cooperate with Israel economically, they will understand what it means.

“They don't care about UN resolutions if they have excellent economic relations with the internationally community.

“For example the EU and South Africa had a decision not to import goods coming from settlements in West Bank because they are Palestinian products not Israeli.

“So we ask the international community to have serious decision for economic punishment to stop them because we need peace, they need peace and the international community needs peace,'' he said.

Abuzaid also commended Nigeria and other African nations for its continued stance on the Palestinian cause.

He said Nigeria's “principled stand'' was demonstrated by its vote at the UN General Assembly which upgraded the status of Palestine to a non-observer member of the UN.

He chided the U.S for consistently blocking UN resolutions seeking the creation of a sovereign and independent state of Palestine.

He said the exercise of such veto by the U.S at the UN Security Council had forced Saudi Arabia to reject membership of the 15-member body after it was elected to serve a two year term from 2014 to 2015.

The envoy called on the international community not to relent in its support for the Palestinian people and expressed delight that the UN General Assembly had declared year 2014: International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinians.