Two international unions call on the European Union to recognize the state of Palestine

The leaders of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union (ETUC), which represent more than 200 million workers around the world, called on the Council of the European Union, and its member states, to take immediate and concrete steps to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

In a letter sent to the Secretary-General of the Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, Shaher Saad, the two unions urged the European Union heads of state participating in the European Council to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

The letter came in response to the workers’ calls to the governments and parliaments of their countries, in order to grant the Palestinian people their full right to live in an independent and secure state from the dangers of external threats caused by the presence of the "Israeli" military over the occupied territories in 1967.

They stressed that the Palestinian people are constantly subjected to serious violations, carried out by the "Israeli" authorities, especially against Palestinian male and female workers.

They pointed out that the recent report of the International Trade Union Confederation shed light on the exploitation and coercion of these workers, the seizure of land and the building of settlements, which destroys the remaining hope for the establishment of an independent Palestine state.

The two unions called for a renewal of the European Union's commitment to promoting respect for human rights, as a major component of its foreign policy, and to affirm its commitment to developing joint policies and procedures to consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and discipline to the rules and principles of international law in all areas of international relations.

The two unions called on the European Union to comply with the historical commitments of the European Parliament, which voted overwhelmingly in 2014 in favor of a resolution recognizing the state of Palestine, and the same parliament later adopted a resolution in which it affirmed its support for the two-state solution, based on the 1967 borders.

And they continued, "The global climate holds rare and precious opportunities to impose the two-state solution, which needs to show more European seriousness, through an urgent diplomatic initiative, aimed at achieving a just and sustainable solution to this protracted conflict, based on three main principles, namely: "Multilateralism", adherence to human rights, respect for the rule of law, and recognition of the State of Palestine,” which is an important step to realize this goal.

In their letter, they called on the European Union to implement the Venice Declaration issued by the European Union, in June 1980, which recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

The two unions added that "it is time to face reality, after long decades of waiting, wasting time and shedding more blood, because peace cannot be established with the sustainability of the occupation, which cannot continue indefinitely, and recognition of the State of Palestine has become on the basis of the 1967 borders. and East Jerusalem as its capital, is essential to give the Palestinians a promising diplomatic horizon.

Source: Safa Agency