In 1977, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that day in 1947, the UNGA adopted Resolution 181 calling for the partition of Palestine. Towards the commemoration of the 72 years since the adoption of that resolution, the Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) and the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) jointly initiated the following statement reaffirming their mutual commitment, and that of the other signatory Communist and People’s parties, to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people.

On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29th of November), the undersigned Communist and Workers parties affirm that the key to peace and stability in the Middle East is the end of the Israeli occupation, and the implementation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of the independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the resolution of the refugee issue in accordance with UN Resolution 194.

The undersigned parties condemn the policy of the United States of America, led by the Trump administration, which is based on its absolute support for Israel’s annexation and settlement policies, a denial of the rights of the Palestinian people, and a total disregard for the international treaties and foundations of a just peace based on UN resolutions adopted by most of the countries of the world and the overwhelming majority of its peoples.

The emblems of the two parties which jointly initiated this statement of solidarity: The Palestinian People’s Party (left – “Liberation, Democracy, Social Justice”) and the Communist Party of Israel

This US policy, which comes amidst the resounding failure of imperialist plans in Syria and Yemen, seeks to give Israel an international umbrella and political compensation for America’s strategic withdrawal from the region. This is a policy bound to fail due the insistence of the Palestinian people to be liberated from the Israeli occupation, to achieve their national independence and to exercise their historical rights, supported by the positions and struggles of revolutionary and progressive forces in the region and throughout the world.

The signatory parties call for the promotion of international solidarity with the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights by all legitimate means, and for a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on respect for the right of peoples to freedom and independence.

Signatory parties to the statement of solidarity: Communist Party of Austria, Party of Labour of Austria, Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA), New Communist Party of Britain, Colombian Communist Party, Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) Cyprus, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, French Communist Party, German Communist Party, Communist Party of Greece, Hungarian Workers’ Party, Tudeh Party of Iran, Communist Party of Israel, Communist Party of Italy, Communist Party of Norway, Palestinian People’s Party, Philippine Communist Party (PKP 1930), Portuguese Communist Party, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) and Communist Party of Turkey.