October 05, 2011

Secretary-General of the Palestinian Legislative Council, member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah, Ibrahim Khreisheh, reported that the Parliament Association of the European Council overwhelmingly approved an action calling for European members of the Security Council to support the application of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for full U.N. membership, the Ma’an News Agency reported.

In his application, Abbas requested European Security Council members--Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Russia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina-- to vote for and recognize the state of Palestine.

The decision was made in a legislated context which was made by the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly, discussing the situation in the Middle East and political developments in the Arab world.

Khreisheh emphasized that this move puts pressure on the international community to act for the benefit of Palestine and the legitimate Palestinian rights.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council includes representatives of political parties and groups in the 47 European countries. President Abbas will deliver a speech before the Parliamentary Assembly on October 6.

Head of the Palestinian National council, Salim Za’noun, stated stated; '"We, the Palestinians, share and adopt the values and principles that Europe sincerely and seriously seek to dedicate to us and we have tried very hard, since the establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the emergence of the Palestinian National Authority, to implement them. In addition to our permanent participation with several European foundations and associations, and the European daily interaction with our people during the free presidential and legislative elections in the years 1996, 2005 and 2006, and finally through the report of the European committee and political recommendations."

"We believe in the principles and values of democracy and humanity, because these principles are inherent in our people and this is what we want for our people in the first place. The Palestinian people seek an independent Palestine in the future based on principles of justice, democracy, human rights, full equality between men and women and equal opportunities for both without any discrimination based on race, religion, or sex." Za’noun said, "[This is] in addition to establishment of public freedom and guarantee of freedom of religions and beliefs, for [these principles] may strengthen our friendship and partnership with Europe, enhancing neighborly relations between us as we share history and geography.

He also stated; "We [Palestinians] are conducting every possible effort to overcome the obstacles that hinder the work of our democratic institutions, including obstacles caused by the occupation. [The occupation] is holding in its jails dozens of elected representatives from various parliamentary blocks, including Jerusalem legislators who are being banished from their city, we want the release and freedom of the six thousand Palestinian detainees held by Israel, exactly as we want the release of Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit."

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