Said Musa Speaks Up for Palestinian People

Said Musa

Former Prime Minister Said Musa, in a statement, has called on the Government of Belize to join in condemnation of Israel for using excessive and deadly force to respond to Palestinian Arabs protesting the establishment of the new United States Embassy in Jerusalem.  More than sixty persons were killed and over two thousand injured by live ammunition, including young people. Monday was the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and also the day the U.S. made the controversial move of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Musa, who is descended from Palestinian stock through his late father Hamid, writes that Israel has consistently ignored and defied United Nations Security Council resolutions on breaching Palestinian-controlled territory and acted under the protection of the United States.  In December, a majority of U.N. members, including Belize, opposed the U.S.’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, which was only supported by nine countries, most notably Guatemala. Despite threats of cutting international funding, Belize’s relationship with Washington has not been greatly affected.  But Musa argues that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and independence, as well as the right to make Jerusalem part of a future Palestinian state and even its capital. The holy city, central to the three major western religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, has long been regarded as part of a final status agreement between the warring peoples.