(COMMENT)
Hummm: The United Palestine
I wasn't trying to beat numbers --- heavens no! The Palestinian Refugee Numbers are the only refugees that actually grew in size. What I was asking is how the Palestinians define themselves? What distinguishes them from other populations?
(COMMENT)
Well, this is not a fact.
Palestine was an undefined area under the Ottoman Empire; territory under the greater governmental region of Syria. In the post-WWI Era, Palestine had to be defined by the Allied Powers; and was defined to mean "the territories to which the Mandate for Palestine applies." Palestine was, in effect, not defined by either the Arab or the Palestinian, but "within such boundaries as may be determined by the Principal Allied Powers."
In fact, it should be noted that the Hostile Arab Palestinian, that claims all of Palestine, more often than not, defines Palestine in reference to the boundaries established by the Allied Powers, as determined by
Syke-Picot Agreement (1916) and further subdivided by the Mandatory Powers. Palestine is directly mentioned in the Treaty of Sevres, but not mentioned once in the
Treaty of Peace with Turkey Signed at Lausanne, July 24, 1923.
Oddly enough, during the Ottoman Empire Era, Gaza was a S
anjak (District) of the
Damascus Eyalet (Province), Syria -
Ottoman Empire. Its administrative center was
Gaza City. What the Palestinians call "Palestine," as the former territory under Mandate, is more correctly called the former Sanjak of Gaza.
Today (
A/RES/67/19 4 December 2012), the UN
Recalls also its
resolution 43/177 of 15 December 1988, by which it, inter alia, acknowledged the proclamation of the State of Palestine by the Palestine National Council on 15 November 1988 and decided that the
designation “Palestine” should be used in place of the designation “Palestine Liberation Organization” in the United Nations system, without prejudice to the observer status and functions of the Palestine Liberation Organization within the United Nations system; referring to the territory occupied since 1967. Thus, for the first time since the
Palestine Order in Council (1922), the meaning of "Palestine" has changed FROM: are the territories to which the Mandate for Palestine applies, hereinafter described as Palestine --- TO: the territory occupied since 1967.
(COMMENT)
Prior to the establishment and recognition that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in any Palestinian territory that is liberated, by
Resolution at the Seventh Arab Summit, Rabat, Morocco 28 october 1974, there was no recognized government for Palestine. The Palestinians in the West Bank had, through their "right of self-determination," approved Annexation into the Hashemite Kingdom in 1950. And the Gaza Strip was under Egyptian Occupation until 1967. In 1967, the Egyptian Occupation was pushed-out of Gaza, and the Jordanian Forces were forced back across the Jordan River. In 1988, the HM the King of Jordan, dissolved the Annexation of the West Bank, and the PLO, using the "right of self-determination" again, declared Independence.
As we move forward in time to the present, we see that today, the UN
Acknowledges the proclamation of the State of Palestine
(Insert
A/43/827 S/20278 18 November 1988) by the Palestine National Council on 15 November 1988; and
Affirms the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their sovereignty over their
territory occupied since 1967 (A/RES/43/177 15 December 1988).
(COMMENT)
Central to the theme of "entering into relations with other states"
(Article 1d, Montevideo Treaty which discusses the definition, rights and rights of statehood) is the concepts behind the Declaration on
Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Every State has the duty to refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. Such a threat or use of force constitutes a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and shall never be employed as a means of settling international issues.
Every State has the duty to refrain from the threat or use of force to violate the existing international boundaries of another State or as a means of solving international disputes, including territorial disputes and problems concerning frontiers of States.
Every State likewise has the duty to refrain from the threat or use of force to violate international lines of demarcation, such as armistice lines, established by or pursuant to an international agreement to which it is a party or which it is otherwise bound to respect. Nothing in the foregoing shall be construed as prejudicing the positions of the parties concerned with regard to the status and effects of such lines under their special regimes or as affecting their temporary character.
1.
Condemns all forms of propaganda, in whatsoever country conducted, which is either designed or likely to provoke or encourage and threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression; [
A/RES/2/110 (1947)]
5. Declares that acts, methods, and practices of terrorism are contrary to the
purposes and principles of the United Nations and that knowingly financing,
planning and inciting terrorist acts are also contrary to the purposes and principles
of the United Nations; [
S/RES/1373 (2001)]
Every State has the duty to refrain from organizing or encouraging the organization of irregular forces or armed bands including mercenaries, for incursion into the territory of another State. [
A/RES/25/2625 (1970)]
While the Gaza Strip and West Bank have
demarcation lines rather than a permanent borders, the respect accorded is exactly the same under International Law until such time as the are finalized through negotiations.
The problem here is not about the territorial dispute, but the fact that the Hostile Arab Palestinian cannot demonstrate that they can enter into a productive and peaceful negotiated effort to resolve the differences.
Article Thirteen: [Hamas Covenant (1988)]
- Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement.
- There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.
ITEM Nineteen: [
Hamas Political Positions (2013)]
- Jihad and the armed resistance is the right and real method for the liberation of Palestine, and the restoration of all the rights, together with, of course, all forms of political and diplomatic struggle including in the media, public and legal [spheres]; with the need to mobilize all the energies of the nation in the battle.
There is no significant difference between the positions held by the HAMAS of 1988 and the HAMAS of today; nor has there been any significant progress in developing a "productive" Friendly and Co-operative relationship between the two States, in the last quarter century.
Most Respectfully,
R