Qodsna's conference on Nakba day

Two Palestinian figures addressed the status of Palestinian issue in a conference on the 67th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine organized by the Qods News Agency (Qodsna) in Tehran. The following is a report on the conference.

Occupation of Palestine, a premeditated project

Representative of the Islamic Jihad movement in Tehran, Naser Abu Sharif said the occupation of Palestine in 1948 came as the result of a premeditated project by the western governments.

The Palestinian figure was speaking in a conference on the 67th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine organized by the Qods News Agency (Qodsna).

Abu Sharif said the project was launched in the era of French ruler, Napoleon when he called on Jews across Europe to occupy the Akka city but to no avail.

The personality rejected the western allegation that Palestine was a land without inhabitant, adding the bungled French call provide evidence to the claim.

Abu Sharif the occupation of Palestine in the contemporary era was initiated by Jewish billionaire Rothschild who was the first to call for Jewish settlement building in Arab lands.

The Islamic Jihad representative also highlighted the role of western governments in the occupation of Palestine, saying European companies especially the British ones transferred many lots of land to Jews in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Abu Sharif also cited the Sykes–Picot agreement to divide Muslim countries as a leading factor for the occupation of Palestine, adding that Zionist terrorists occupied 73 percent of Palestine by force following the agreement.

The Islamic Jihad representative said the dividing project is still on, this time in Iraq, Yemen and Sudan.

The Palestinian figure warned that a conspiracy was at work in the region to pit Muslims against one another. He urged the Muslim community not to forget that its main enemies are France, Britain, the US and the Zionist regime.

Perceived advocates left Palestine alone

Next, Hamas representative in Tehran, Khaled Qoddoumi regretted that the Palestinian issue has been forgotten by many Muslim states even those which once were advocating the cause.

Qoddoumi touched on the ordeal of the Palestinian people in Gaza and said many Palestinians in the besieged enclave still live in outdoor areas and suffer lack of medical supplies.

The Hamas figure also touched on mounting Israeli pressures in the occupied West Bank and said the Palestinian population is suffering an ordeal at the handoff both the Palestinian Authority forces and the Israeli troops.

“God is the sole source of hope for the Palestinians,” Qoddoumi said, regretting that the Palestinian issue has been removed from the agenda of Arab governments.

The personality reaffirmed however that the resistance movements in Palestine would firmly stand by their cause and would strive until the Palestinian land is liberated from the Zionist regime’s claws.

Qoddoumi said the Palestinian issue serves as a unifying factor for the Muslim community, adding the Palestinian nation could restore its deserved status through unity.

Qodsna's programs on Nakba day

Early in the session, Qodsna news manager, Sirous Shirzad briefed the audience on the news agency’s programs in marking the occupation day, saying besides the news conference, Qodsna will soon publish a book on the occupation day, titled ‘Day of Nakba, 67 years of tragedy.’

The book comprises 15 chapters and addresses such issues as ‘British mandate’, UN resolutions on Palestine, occupation of Palestine, right of return, Palestinian refugees conditions, emergence of Palestinian movements and history of Zionist regime’s wars.

Shirzad added the news agency will also hold a panel discussion on “literature of resistance” in Tehran on Tuesday.