In Response to the Recent Vote of the British Parliament to Recognise Palestine, by Vera Baboun

State of Palestine

Bethlehem Municipality

1/11/2014

Dear British Parliament members,

This is a very crucial time, as all times are, for Palestine. Its people suffer from the unimaginable and insupportable visions of injustice, and the utmost racist injustice that is the attacking of our very heart, our occupied capital, East Jerusalem. This is a land where peace is martyred in the land of peace.

Here you come, and for the first time listen to our everlasting calls. You stand for the first time as Europeans stand before the oppressor and say, "We are here!" You have taken this step towards realising our perpetually yearned hope to be recognised as a dignified nation.

That is intrinsic to our existence as a human beings. It has no prerequisite to have suffered for it: it is not logically necessary to have to fight for that which is ours by the Law of Creation and by our very presence, our presence as Palestine, the Holy Land.

From here, even if meagrely, we have glimpsed the hope of all generations. It is here that that hope was born. It is here that the history of heroes was first inscribed. Remember with us that which on this earth makes life worth living.

I call upon you, the decision-makers, to impose your authority upon the great powers of the world to make the change. We have heard a lot. Now, it is time to act.

Since it embraces all three religions, Palestine in the hometown of all nations. From here, the message of peace is born. Through the shepherds, that message spreads throughout the universe.

This is the place where God sent his prophets to make disciples of humanity. From here, the word of justice is created. Yet we lack justice.

Our mother, Palestine, smells each night the pillow of her exiled or emigrated kinsman, praying for them to come back and re-join their ancestors. 

Your attempt as the British Parliament, in your recent vote to recognise Palestine, is like initiating the spark for the peace operation to proceed.

To the British Government, we say: "Listen to our cry for justice and peace, listen to your people who overwhelmingly call upon you to recognise Palestine as a first step towards ending impunity and giving peace a chance.

The courageous Swedish decision to recognise Palestine shows what it takes to give hope: to take a sovereign decision in order to support the implementation of international law and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people 66 years after our catastrophe began. It is not early to recognise Palestine. Rather, it is late.

It is an historic responsibility, and a long-term duty pinned upon the international community, especially Europe, to guarantee the implementation of the peace process in Palestine, the Holy Land.

Decades have passed, and we still wait for the declaration of our being, of our existence, and of our justified national and human rights.

Ms Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem.

The original PDF, bearing the municipal seal and so forth, is available from davidaslindsay@hotmail.com.