Topic: The Situation in Israel/Palestine
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Lochlyn Reed
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Venezuela position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict has been one of turmoil, bloodshed, ownership, and persecution. Originally surfacing tensions dating back to the nineteenth century, it has also shown to be a dispute with no immediate resolve. Since the beginnings of the Zionist movement, the Jewish have been moving into the area once upheld purely by the ethnic Arabs. These Arabs in particular had by that time developed a national identity and considered themselves Palestinians. Conflicts over the land began to break out, and the UN has attempted to partition off the land between both powers multiple time, but to no avail; Israelis continue to take from these partitioned lands. Conflicts have occcoyres and continue to ovcour in the reigon. The United Nations considers these settlements in the West Bank illegal but has not presented a resolution. As a committee, SPECPOL must attempt to make progress on a resolution that handles both parties cases fairly and justly.
Venezuela is no stranger to this issue, and have been involved in the conflict for some time. Since Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution began in 1999,Venezuela as a country have strongly supported Palestine both diplomatically and economically. Both former president Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro have spoken out at the United Nations against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and siege of the Gaza Strip.Venezuela was one of the first countries to donate humanitarian aid to Gaza after Israel's assault in 2014, while at the same time donating funds for Palestinian child refugees. Later that year, the socialist government awarded over 1,000 Palestinian students scholarships to study in Venezuela’s top universities. For leaders of the Bolivarian Revolution, Palestine’s struggle against Israeli imperialism is connected to Venezuela’s struggle against outside P5 imperialism.
Taking all factors into account, Venezuela firmly believes in aiding the Palestinians in their right to their own ethnically ceded land. Venezuela understands and is mindful of the Israelis religious claims to the area, but again, despite being 90% Catholic/Christian ourselves, Venezuelans believe that religious claims should only be taken with a grain of salt when other people’s rights are at stake. The Jewish people are not an enemies, and that must be clear. However, Zionism is an enemy when it’s purpose is imperialism. Thus accounted for, Venezuela prefers the creation of a Palestinian state and a redrawing of boundaries, suited for a significant regaining of Palestinian territory.
