Topic: Question of Palestine
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Linas Templeton
School: Saline High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Venezuela position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
The situation in Palestine is a complex and tricky business. on one hand there are the "israelis"- many of whom either are the decendants of or actual emigrants from europe to escape persecution, settling in what is often described as the "jewish homeland". on the other hand one has the inhabitants for the last 2000+ years, the "palestinians", people who feel that the israelis have taken their land and hold them under an apartheid-like opression for the last 60 years. The ultimate begining of this conflict on the international stage is in 1917, with the balfour declaration, stating "His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." this essentially allowed for a "jewish" state in the area of modern-day israel/palestine. in 60 years of conflict neither side has found peace. even the "camp david accords" ended up falling short of expectations, as neither have rockets ceased to fall in israel nor have the palestinians been able to live without fear.
Venezuela has traditionally had warm relations with israel, until 2006 over venezuela's opinion over the israeli-lebanese conflict of that time. relations further soured at the declaration of venezuela's support of iran's peaceful nuclear programme, and stressing that all states have the right to peaceful nuclear energy. Finally during the 2009 Gazan War venezuela cut off all diplomatic ties with israel and in april of 2009 officially recognized the Palestinian Authority as an independant state, as well as comments later on in the year stating israel's goal in exterminating the palestinian people, stating "The question is not whether the Israelis want to exterminate the Palestinians. They're doing it openly…What was it, if not genocide?". Ofcurse, it would be inhumane for Venezuela to say that israelis do not have the right to a peaceful and secure life. Venezuela recognizes this right and the right of the state of israel to exist.
