The Caretaker Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Jalil Abbas Jilani has termed the proposal of “one-state solution” to the Palestine problem as not being appropriate according to the nation’s principled and historic stand on the issue.
It is to be noted that, the foreign minister was speaking on the floor of the Senate at the time when PPP’s Raza Rabbani asked for an explanation from him over the controversial press release which was issued by the Presidency on Dr Alvi’s telephonic talks with the Palestinian counterpart on November 10, during which he made suggestion on the one-state solution to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The original press released had quoted Dr Alvi as telling the Palestinian president, stated that, “If the two-state solution was not acceptable to Israel, then one state solution was the only way where Jews, Muslims and good percentage of Christian could live to exercise equal political rights.”
Whereas, the Presidency has later retracted the press release and issued a new one, which has excluded any of the mention of the controversial proposal.
While addressing the same, the foreign minister of Pakistan said that the Presidency had not sought from his ministry before issuing the press release, adding that he was not aware of the context in which the president had made suggestion on the “one-state solution.”
Minister Jilani said that soon after the release of the president’s statement, his ministry has to issue a clarification, adding the official stance of Pakistan on the Palestinian issue.
It is to be noted that, the clarification, he added that, was sent the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretariat and other organisations concerned, including the UN bodies.
Foreign Minister, Jilani, said that Pakistan had always suggested a “two-state solution” to the problem of Palestine on the border of 1967 and in line with the UN Resolution No 242.
