São Paulo – In a letter sent to the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, recognized the Palestinian state with its 1967 borders. The recognition was a response to Abbas’ request for Brazil to acknowledge a state that includes the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in the Six Day War (1967). The decision was announced this Friday (3rd) by the Brazilian foreign ministry (Itamaraty).
According to information supplied by the Itamaraty, the measure is coherent with Brazil’s history of contributing to the peace process between Israel and Palestine. "The decision does not entail abandoning the certainty that negotiations between Israel and Palestine are a must, so that mutual concessions will be made regarding the issues of the conflict."
The statement issued by the Brazilian foreign ministry also claims that Brazil reaffirms its traditional stance of favouring a Palestinian state that is democratic, geographically cohesive and economically viable. More than 100 countries recognize the Palestinian state, among them Arab, African, Asian and Eastern European countries, which maintain relations with Israel.
The Itamaraty has also confirmed that, with the Brazilian recognition of the Palestinian state, the Brazilian diplomatic representation in Ramallah will become an embassy, even though the current representative office already plays a similar role since 1998.
In Lula’s letter to Abbas, he claims that the recognition of the Palestinian state is part of the Brazilian certainty that a negotiation resulting in two peacefully and safely coexisting states is the best path for peace in the Middle East, a goal that is of interest to all humanity.
Since 1975, Brazil recognizes the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Over the last few years, the country has strengthened its ties with Palestine. President Abbas came to Brazil on two occasions, in May 2005, to attend the I Summit of South American-Arab Countries, and in November 2009. On the other hand, president Lula met with Abbas in Palestine in March this year, when he headed a business delegation to the Arab country.
In addition to the Brazilian support to the recognition of the Palestinian state in various international conferences, the country donated US$ 20 million to the PNA, which were used in food security, healthcare, education and rural development projects.
Read below Abbas’ letter to Lula and, next, the Brazilian president’s reply:
Letter from Abbas to Lula
"To Your Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Brasil
Brasília
24/11/2010
Greetings,
Initially, we would like to extend Your Excellency our congratulations on the success of the general elections in Brazil, which were praiseworthy for their high transparency and the high level of the democratic process, which have led to your party’s candidate being elected the new President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It is with great joy that we also enthusiastically salute your Government, witness to a period of economic prosperity and qualitative political change, which inscribes Your Excellency into the modern political history of Brazil.
Mister President,
The present situation in Palestinian territories is characterized by a strong rise in Israeli actions. The Government of Israel refuses to cease its activities at settlements. This has led to the halting of direct negotiations, in spite of the positions and requests of countries around the world for Israel to put an end to the settlements, and thus not only make negotiation possible, but also give peace a chance. However, Israel still challenges the entire world and insists on its colonizing activities. Such stance renders any possibility of reaching agreement through negotiation impossible, and it also brigns about a new reality in the terrain, making the two-state solution impossible.
As we express to Your Excellency our pride in the valuable and historical Brazilian-Palestinian relations, which reflect your firm stances with regard to our people through the years and in our recent meetings, we hope, our dear friend, that Your Excellency will decide to recognize the State of Palestine with its 1967 borders. This will be an important and historical decision, because it will encourage other countries in your continent and in other regions of the world to follow your decision of recognizing the Palestinian state. The decision will also lead to progress in the peace process and the promotion of the Palestinian position, which seeks the international recognition of the State of Palestine. We hope that our request will be met with your kind acceptance, and we also hope that it may take place before your term in office ends.
Please accept our highest esteem and consideration.
Mahmoud Abbas
President of the State of Palestine
Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Board
President of the Palestinian National Authority"
Lula’s reply
"To Your Excellency
Mahmoud Abbas
President of the Palestinian National Authority
Mister President,
I have attentively read the letter from November 24th, by means of which Your Excellency requests that Brazil recognizes the Palestinian state with its 1967 borders.
As your excellency is aware, Brazil has traditionally defended, in particular during my administration, the coming to being of the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspiration to a cohesive, safe, democratic and economically viable state, coexisting in peace with Israel.
We have been working to favour the peace negotiations, seek stability in the region and alleviate the humanitarian crisis that a large share of the Palestinian people is experiencing. We condemn any terrorist act whatsoever, inflicted under any pretext whatsoever.
Over the last few years, Brazil has strengthened its diplomatic relations with all countries in the region, be it by opening new diplomatic representations, including a Representative Office in Ramallah; by more frequent high-level visits, an example of which the visit that I paid to Israel, Palestine and Jordan last March; or by establishing closer trade ties, as shown by the series of free trade agreements either signed or under negotiation.
By means of bilateral contacts, the Brazilian government has perceived the Palestinian National Authority’s successful efforts to make the West Bank’s economy more dynamic, provide services to its population and improve the safety conditions in the Occupied Territories.
Because it believes that the request made by Your Excellency is fair and coherent with the principles championed by Brazil regarding the Palestinian Issue, Brazil, by means of the present letter, recognizes the Palestinian state with its 1967 borders.
On doing so, I would like to reaffirm the Brazilian government’s belief that only conversation and peaceful coexistence with its neighbours shall enable the Palestinian cause to truly move further. I am certain that Your Excellency will agree.
The recognition of the Palestinian state is part of the Brazilian certainty that a negotiation process resulting in two states coexisting peacefully and safely is the best path to peace in the Middle East, a goal that is of interest to all humanity. Brazil will always be willing to help with whatever is needed.
I wish Your Excellency and the Palestinian National Authority success in the implementation of a process that will lead to the construction of the democratic, prosperous and peaceful Palestinian state to which we all aspire.
I take the occasion to renew to Your Excellency my highest esteem and consideration."
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum