Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday, 29 November, marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and yesterday the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine joined a significant representation of ambassadors and diplomatic corps members, and representatives from the United Nations, members and senators from all parties, and Australian civil society, and stood in solidarity with the people of Palestine, at a time the United Nations Secretary-General has described as one of diminished hope for peace. Reading a statement from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Mr Damian Cardona Onses, Director of the UN Information Centre, noted that the longstanding drivers of conflict—including the ongoing occupation, settlement expansion, home demolitions and evictions—heighten anger, despair and hopelessness. To quote the Secretary-General:

The United Nations' position is clear: peace must advance—the occupation must end.

I want to thank His Excellency, Dr Siswo Pramono, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, for his contributions yesterday and for affirming the commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty.

There is strong support in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regionally and internationally and in significant communities right across Australia. In line with the commitment of the United Nations to this issue, the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to a state, must be recognised and realised.