Let me, first of all, on behalf of the Secretary-General, congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, and your distinguished colleagues, on your election to the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Let me also welcome the proclamation of 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  This is a recognition of the commitment of the international community to durable peace between Israel and Palestine.

The coming year will be crucial to achieving the two-State solution.  Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are working hard towards a peaceful, comprehensive settlement of all permanent status issues. [Read more…]

Mr. Chairman, Mr. President of the General Assembly, Deputy Secretary-General, President of the Security Council, Ambassador Kohona, Ambassador Mansour, Excellencies, Sisters & Brothers: I would like to congratulate the Chair and all of the newly elected members of the Bureau, and let you know that the Israel-Palestine NGO Working Group and civil society organizations around the world pledge to stand with you and the people of Palestine as you give
leadership and guidance to 2014, the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. I want to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for the invitation to participate as civil society representative in today’s first meeting of the Committee in this International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. [Read more…]

Ambassador Abdou Salam Diallo,
Ambassador Riad Mansour, Representative of the State of Palestine,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen:

Let me begin by thanking Ambassador Diallo for inviting me to address the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in my capacity as Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. I am pleased to join you at this inaugural meeting to launch the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People as proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 68/12 of 26 November 2013. [Read more…]