Palestine: The Holy Land is shrinking and vanishing

by Dr. T. Jayasinghe

"Palestine solidarity workers all over the world will be marking yet another International Solidarity Day on November 29 in keeping with the declaration made by UNO. Ironically it was the United Nations General Assembly in 1947 that passed the resolution 181 (partition plan) to create Israel. Unfortunately it is from that day onwards that an Israeli - Palestinian conflict came into being.

"This conflict is considered the main explosive issue in Middle East that drag on with no sign of a solution. Endless negotiations have been conducted in the past and there are a large number of issues now on the table waiting for solutions.

The main issue is the land and associated with it are roads, airspace, borders, water, electricity as well as trade and economy. Additional issues are the wall and the refugees and their right of return.

"With the partition plan Palestinians were allocated an area called the West Bank and also the Gaza Strip with no connection by land to the West Bank. Gaza issue is another matter but the main issue where the negotiations resolve round is the question of settlements that are being established by Israel in West Bank that was allocated to Palestinians. Already there are nearly 500,000 strong Israeli population of new settlers in West Bank.

"Settlements are permanent civilian colonies established in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlements in West Bank are not generally open to Palestinians. These settlements occupy 43% of the land in West Bank.

"Many settlements have been built on confiscated Palestinian privately owned land. Settlements are protected by Israeli forces.

"It has to be understood here that Palestine on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are occupied territories administered by the Palestinian National Authority. Funds are provided by the international community.

Palestinians cannot move about as they like. There are over 650 check points. Their struggle is for a free State within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital.

"As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, since 1970, it has become a consistent supporter of Palestine and with the establishment of Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine November 29 every year is marked with a suitable public event to educate the masses.

It is heartening to note that Yasser Arafat and Palestine are household words in Sri Lanka and people of Sri Lanka unanimously support the struggle of the Palestinians for a State of their own. Sri Lankans strongly feel that UNO should act fast before Palestinians loose the remaining 12% of the land that is left for them now. "President Mahinda Rajapaksa rendered a yeoman service to the Solidarity Committee as its founder President and continues to support it as the patron.

"With the establishments of the Representative Office of Sri Lanka in Ramallah in 2007, the relationship between Palestine and Sri Lanka is growing. Now there is a steady flow of tourists from Palestine to Sri Lanka.

"Long live the friendship and solidarity between Sri Lanka and Palestine."

The above is the text of a speech made by the writer, who is the Founder General Secretary of Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine and the Representative for Sri Lanka in Palestine.