Faizel Patel – 09/02/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

The Palestinian ambassador to South Africa, Hanan Jarrar, has welcomed the African Union’s backing of Palestinians.

In a statement following its 34th Ordinary Session which was held virtually, the AU condemned the continued construction of illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land, the colonisation of East Jerusalem, and Israel’s violence against Palestinians.

The AU final statement stressed that the illegal settlements constitute a serious violation of international law and UN resolutions.

Jarrar says the AU Summit’s final statement reflects the deeply-rooted bonds between Africa’s anti-colonial struggles and that of the Palestinian people, and the deep-seated historic solidarity between the peoples of Africa and Palestine.

“Collectively, the African Union has loudly and unequivocally called on Israel to end its military occupation of Palestine, which has now entered its 54th year. We hope that individually, AU states will also call on Israel to end the occupation.”

Jarrar says Palestinians are deeply appreciative of the AU’s call to its members to preserve the legal status of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state, and refrain from any actions that undermine the legal status of the city, particularly moving embassies to Jerusalem.