A packed council chambers erupted with applause on Tuesday 29 September before Canterbury-Bankstown Councillors received a standing ovation for unanimously supporting the Sydney Statement on Anti-Palestinianism. (Read the statemment here)
Clr Saleh: “WE should do everything to stop injustice, that are affecting the people of Palestine.”
The statement, supported by more than 65 community groups, was crafted by the Arab Australian Federation “in response to the incessant violations by Israel of the Palestinian people’s human, political, economic and national rights under international law, including their right to self-determination and nationhood.”
The move followed a motion by Councillor Christopher Cahill calling for the council’s support for the statement.
He pointed out that the Israeli occupation of Palestine has lasted more than 50 years and is a concern to residents of Canterbury-Bankstown, of diverse faiths and backgrounds.
“The statement quotes nonviolent means and international law to achieve a just and lasting peace between the parties,” Clr Cahill said.
Clr Khodr Saleh commended the council on its endorsement of the statement while addressing a packed gallery, “I’m very happy to be speaking in support of this motion today and congratulate the Canterbury-Bankstown City Council for adopting this Statement.
This statement also aims to support the legality of the defence of Palestine and the lives of Palestinians. It does this by protecting the people’s legitimate rights to expose the Zionist occupation and confront the oppressors without being without being silenced by fabricated accusations of anti-Semitism.
“Canterbury-Bankstown Community is the home of more than 129 nationalities where people in the local communities value freedom, peace and social justice. I believe the freedom of the Palestinian people is at the heart of the aspirations of our community,” Clr Saleh said.
He further added, “The commitment to support the rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state is at the heart of the aspirations of our community.”
President of the Arab Australian Federation (AAF) Mr Eddie Zanariri commended the Council on its endorsement of the Statement.
“I call for the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. It’s called theft of the land. Can you imagine that you can be in your house one day and the next day you get told: ‘You’re leaving. remove yourself from the house, because tomorrow the bulldozers will come in and it will be gone. Where will you go? Who knows?” Clr Saleh said.
He concluded by saying, “Finally , I would like to commend all the efforts of those committed to this cause including the Hon Bob Carr, the Hon Shaoquett Moselmane, and the community organisations from all faith and the media which has made the Statement on anti-Palestinianism possible.
If you want to stop anti-Palestinianism then I good place to start would be to stop anti-Zionism.
The current right wing Government of Israel plan to weaken the Supreme Court will only encourage Settlers’ expansion at the expense of the Indigenous Palestinians. To laud any Zionist who support this Judicial change is to ignore the worsening plight of the Palestinians.