Ramallah, 15 November 2022 (TDI): The State of Palestine is celebrating the 34th anniversary of its declaration of Independence today November 15.
On this occasion, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan congratulated the Palestine government and the people.
The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas while talking on the occasion stated that the crucial step towards peace is the recognition of the inalienable rights of Palestinian citizens.
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He declared independence an important juncture in the history of Palestine. It has paved the way for Palestine’s entry into the international system as an essential partner.
While talking about the struggles behind Independence, Mahmoud Abbas enunciated that the whole phase was complemented by diplomatic and legal battles in the international arena.
“We have gained the recognition of 140 states and have enabled the transformation of the declaration of independence into an internationally-recognized state, whose existence could not be denied,” he continued.
The President concluded by stressing that the Palestinian people, who have engaged in a long uphill struggle since the infamous Balfour Declaration would never give up their national rights.
It is pertinent to mention here that several states, including Saudi Arabia, India, and Hungary have also extended their congratulations to the Palestine government on Independence day.
History of Palestine’s Independence day
On 15 November 1988, the Palestine National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), issued the Palestinian Declaration of Independence.
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The late prominent Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat made the announcement from Algeria. He declared Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Palestine.
Despite the 1988 proclamation, at the time the PLO did not exercise control over any territory. The designated Jerusalem was under Israeli control and claimed by it as Israel’s capital. The PLO was hence a government in exile between 1988 and 1994.
It wasn’t until the 1994 Gaza-Jericho Agreement, that PLO started to exercise a limited rule. In 2012, Palestine was upgraded to the status of a non-member observer state in the United Nations (UN).
