Hoisting Of Palestinian Flag At UN Vital Amidst Israeli Increased Aggression - NGOs

By Tengku Faezah Tengku Yusof KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The United Nations resolution allowing the Palestinian flag to be raised at the world body's headquarters in New York and its offices is a crucial symbolic recognition after years of Israeli occupation since 1967, according to several NGOs. Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM) chairman Muslim Imran said the move by the UN General Assembly was vital at a time when Israel was reported to have increased its aggression, especially in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. "I would say that there is a growing movement to isolate Israel internationally and to recognise the rights of the Palestinians at international level, and that is good and important. "Of course, we welcome and appreciate that move, and we hope for more to come," he told Bernama after the "Save Al-Quds" programme here recently. The world body had on Sept 10 overwhelmingly adopted the resolution to allow the flag of Palestine, which has a non-member observer status, to be hoisted alongside those of the member states, a symbolic move highlighting Palestinian aspirations for statehood. A total of 119 nations voted in favour of the resolution, eight voted against (Israel, the United States, Australia, Canada, the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Tuvalu) and 45 abstained. Muslim, who is from Hebron in Palestine's West Bank, said he hoped that the ‘symbolic recognition’ would allow the Palestinian cause to have a better representation at the UN level and other international bodies. Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (MAPIM) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said the achievement needed to be recognised and celebrated by all nations. "This effort should be continuously carried out until Israel recognises Palestine as a free country," he said. Mohd Azmi said the resolution "was a hard pill to swallow" for Israel as a full member of the UN. Meanwhile, Al-Quds Foundation Malaysia chief executive officer Sharif Amin said he hoped that Palestinian leaders would use this occasion to unite and fight for the Palestinian cause and freedom. "We think it's an important thing to raise the Palestinian flag at the UN. We need the world to respect this flag by pushing Israel to stop the aggression. It is not enough to just raise the flag but to stop Israeli acts once and for all," he said. According to reports, the Palestinian flag would be hoisted for the first time after President Mahmoud Abbas delivers his remarks to the annual meeting of the heads of state and government at the UNGA on Sept 30. -- BERNAMA