The Ambassador of Palestine to Ireland has reacted with disbelief to Fermanagh District Council's decision to reject a proposal to twin Fermanagh with the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour.
A recent meeting of the Development Committee of the Council saw the twinning proposal vote split 9-9, with Councillor Paul Robinson, DUP using his casting vote to defeat the motion. Councillor Robinson indicated he had rejected the town twinning because Palestine 'fail to recognise Israel as a country'.
CANNOT IMPOSE
Speaking to the Herald, Dr Hikmat Ajjuri, the Ambassador of Palestine to Ireland reacted to the Council's decision. He said: "We cannot impose ourselves on anyone, and we cannot ask anyone to be friends with the Palestinians. However, we know the Irish people at large are friendly and very supportive of the Palestinians. So I was really surprised when I heard the decision.
"I did not expect this for two reasons. To start with, in choosing the town of Beit Sahour, it is built on the fields of Bethlehem, which in fact still show the footprints of Jesus Christ, he spent most of his early life on those fields shepherding his sheep. The town is inhabited by a very quiet, peaceful, Christian community. So at this time of the year when all of us are about to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, in this holy month, to see such a thing rejected it is more than a surprise.
"Secondly, the reason given by Paul Robinson, is another astonishment for me. I don't know if the man knows anything about the politics of the area. If he does he knows that we publicly recognised the state of Israel in 1988, and that decision was taken by the highest legislative Palestinian body, the Palestinian National Council. Also in 1993 and 1995 the two Oslo agreements, and the letters signed by the late leaders Arafat and Rabin, both of these explicitly endorse the Palestinian recognition of the right of the state of Israel to exist," Dr Ajjuri explained.
"I don't know what he was talking about when he said he couldn't vote for this because the Palestinians do not recognise the state of Israel, I don't know if it is ignorance or lack of knowledge, but it is unfair. The Council has every right to twin with any town or any country and I accept that, but for that reason which given, I don't accept it," he went on.
NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS
"Besides, twinning Fermanagh and Beit Sahour has nothing to do with politics, it is just a Christmas message from our friends in Northern Ireland, from the people who have endured years of violence and are now in peaceful days.
"Why don't they send this message of support to encourage us, the Palestinians, to please go for a peaceful settlement with your neighbours?
"It is a message we need badly, we need to be encouraged, especially by the people of Northern Ireland who have suffered from violence.
"Unfortunately, that message was sent in the wrong way to our people," the Ambassador said.
"The people of Beit Sahour are very disappointed because they expect more from their friends in other countries especially in Ireland. Many towns across Europe are twinned with Palestine, such as Dundee in Scotland which is twinned with Bethlehem. Palestine has special status because it is the Holy Land.
"Just imagine somebody who believes in God and refuses to support people in Palestine which supports three religions, Christian, Judaism and Muslim. Twinning with a town in the Holy Land is something one should feel proud of rather than the other way around."
Concluding Dr Ajjuri said :"If he (Councillor Robinson) thinks about it or tries to look into the actually political data he might find himself in the wrong
". But as for asking him to reconsider, it's up to him totally. I think at the end of the day I care for the people of Northern Ireland and I congratulate all of you because you have voted for peace and we would like our people, Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Holy Land to finally vote for peace as well because at the end of the day, believe me, peace wins whether we like it or not."
