Two hundred figures from various walks of life wrote in an open letter to political parties running for legislative elections, calling for recognition of the State of Palestine as an election commitment for the next legislature.
The open letter was signed by 200 people, including architects Álvaro Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura and Helena Roseta, sociologist Ana Benavente, former MEP Ana Gomes, former CGTP-IN Secretary General Armenio Carlos, historian Fernando Rosas, Dr. Isabel do Carmo and writer Jacinto Lucas Pires.
The signatories say they are “deeply concerned about the catastrophic situation unfolding in Palestine before the eyes of the entire world.”
Recognition of the State of Palestine is “a necessary step to restore the consistency and authority of Portugal’s diplomatic position,” they write.
“In a country where the two-state solution is defended and supported, it is completely inconsistent for the government to recognize only the State of Israel and not the State of Palestine. Restoring consistency in our diplomatic position requires that the Portuguese Republic also recognize the State of Palestine, immediately and unconditionally,” they emphasize.
According to the signatories, as long as Portugal continues not to recognize the State of Palestine, it places itself “outside the international consensus that the State of Palestine is recognized by 139 of the 193 member states of the United Nations.”
“Since this recognition is supported by United Nations resolutions, it is incomprehensible and, of course, unjustifiable that member states do not do so,” they emphasize.
In the letter they state that they are driven by “the conviction that Portugal can and must contribute to global efforts to open new paths necessary for peace and prosperity, and given that support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty are more than ever a necessary step towards peace at this critical moment.”
According to the signatories, recognition will be an excellent opportunity for Portugal to intensify its commitments and reaffirm its commitment to helping Palestinians and Israelis achieve a two-state solution living “side by side in peace and security, satisfying the legitimate national aspirations of both peoples.” “
According to the signatories, recognition of the State of Palestine is essential to a strong and credible commitment to peace.
“Such recognition is not only an important component of the commitment to a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (…) This is also a precondition for carrying out the practical actions necessary to put an end to the illegal occupation and the ongoing escalation of the conflict,” they emphasize.
The letter is also signed by names such as writers Afonso Reis Cabral and Lydia Jorge, Bishop Yanuário Torgal Ferreira, actress Maria do Seu Guerra, journalist Pilar Del Rio and musician Sergio Godinho.