Statement regarding the Palestinian diplomatic initiative in the United Nations scheduled for September

In light of the Palestinian diplomatic initiative to be presented to the United Nations with the aim of advancing Palestines international standing and relations, we, (Association names), confirm the following:

Palestinians are a people with fundamental human rights, foremost amongst them the right of return of the refugees to their homes and properties from which they were forcibly displaced and uprooted, the right to self-determination, and the right to national independence and sovereignty. These rights are recognized by the United Nations as inalienable rights held by the Palestinian people.[1] The right to self-determination is a collective right of all Palestinians, irrespective of their geographic location.
The PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and its legitimacy derives from the people in exile and the homeland. The PLO is recognized as the representative of the Palestinian people by the League of Arab States and United Nations.[2]
In its role as the legitimate representative, the PLO is responsible to protect and advance the human rights of the Palestinian people, foremost the inalienable rights to return and self-determination.
All diplomatic initiatives, including the initiative at the United Nations this September, must preserve the status of the PLO as the sole representative in the United Nations and protect and advance the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
We demand public reassurances from the PLO that they will maintain and preserve the PLO as sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people at the United Nations in September.

Organizations/endorsements]




[1] UNGA resolution 194, 11 December 1948; UNGA resolution 3237 (XXIX), 22 November 1974, a.o.

[2] UNGA Resolution 3236 (XXIX), 22 November 1974.