Portuguese Parliament adopted a vote of solidarity with the Palestinian people

The Portuguese Parliament approved the Draft Vote no. 207/XV, "Of Solidarity with the Palestinian People", presented on 6 December last by the Communist Party Parliamentary Group, which thus joined the solidarity expressed on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, promoted annually by the United Nations.

The Vote was considered by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Assembly of the Republic in its meeting of 3 January 2023 and was approved with the favourable vote of the Communist and Socialist parliamentary groups; the Social Democratic and Chega (far right) parliamentary groups votied against, and the Liberal Initiative parliamentary group abstained. The Block of the Left, PAN (Persons, Animals, Nature) and Free Party were not represented.

This is the text approved:

Draft Vote No. 207/XV/1.a

In Solidarity with the Palestinian People

29 November marked 75 years since the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, providing for the partition of the historic territory of Palestine. As early as 1948, the State of Israel was created.

However, three quarters of a century later, the promised independent Palestinian State has still not materialised. Since 1967, the whole of historic Palestine has remained under Israeli occupation and a heavy debt remains towards the Palestinian people.

Over the decades, numerous UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions have recognised the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent state, side by side with the State of Israel, within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

With a view to resolving the conflict, the Palestinian side has made painful concessions. Even so, the promises and agreements signed have never materialised.

Israel systematically violates international law. The occupation continues. It continues to build settlements in the occupied territories, which UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) considers a "flagrant violation" of international law. The construction of the separation wall, condemned by the International Court of Justice in 2003, continues. The inhumane siege of the Gaza Strip, subject to repeated bombardments, continues.

Joining the solidarity expressed in the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, promoted annually by the United Nations, the Assembly of the Republic

- Reaffirms its demand for the realization of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent State within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, ensuring the right of return of Palestinian refugees, as enshrined in UN resolutions;

- Urges the Government to develop concrete actions that effectively translate this demand.

Assembly of the Republic, 6 December 2022

MP’s Paula Santos, Bruno Dias, Alma Rivera, João Dias, Duarte Alves, Alfredo Maia