Not only are there no signs of a resolution, but the institutions that are supposed to act have shown themselves powerless to stop the bloodshed. Most depressing of all, the world has been split in two.
In one camp, the masses unconditionally support Israel, in the other, Palestine. One cannot help but notice the negative impact of the streets’ moods on the current situation.
In parallel, certain forces are relentlessly spinning the gears of dirty propaganda, engaging in shameful warmongering. Instead of calling on the parties to exercise prudence and restraint, expand the field of soft power and consolidate peacekeeping efforts, provocateurs are pouring oil on the fire of growing tension.
Their goal is to expand the circle of participants in a violent confrontation, to involve new countries in the critical process and thus pave the way for a major war.
The centers purposefully working to destabilize the situation around the Palestinian-Israeli conflict launch multiple fake stories, trying to undermine the potential not only of diplomacy, but also of soft power. Fake propaganda centers launch false messages about the position of official Baku, imposing mythical ideas about the mindset of Azerbaijani diplomacy on the community.
Emphasizing that Azerbaijan supports only Israel in the conflict, distancing itself from Palestine, not only does not reflect the real state of affairs, but also becomes propaganda sabotage. It serves to discredit the policy of the Azerbaijani state.
The ill-wishers are trying to impose false ideas on the public of the Arab world, the Muslim community about the state of Azerbaijan-Palestine relations, about Azerbaijan’s support for the just struggle of the Palestinians for the establishment of their state.
The fictitious allegations have no basis of credibility because they are built on pure lies. Azerbaijan has always and consistently advocated compliance with international law on all international platforms and respected the decisions of the UN Security Council, knowing that only playing by the rules strengthens the pillars of international security.
In the context of the long-standing Middle East problem, Baku has supported at all levels the UN decision of 1947, according to which a Palestinian state should be established alongside a Jewish state. Not only the leaders of the Palestinian people, but also the political elites of Arab and Muslim countries, leaders of Western states and Israel are well aware of Baku’s approach.
Official Baku is faithful to the stabilizing concept, which makes a real contribution to the development of constructive trends in all global calculations. As Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has consistently stressed his country’s fidelity to the Bandung Principles. Adopted as the basis for strengthening the international order in Indonesia back in 1955, they are still relevant today because Azerbaijan stands for the interests and rights of all peoples struggling for their sovereign rights.
Palestinian representatives have always supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other important platforms. The atmosphere of mutual trust that has been established in the ties makes it possible to conduct a dialogue and develop relations on the basis of the principle of progressiveness.
In its efforts in the NAM, Baku has always advocated unconditional respect for human rights, recognition of the equality of all races and nations, the supremacy of the principles of peaceful settlement of problems and disputes, and full promotion of mutual interests and cooperation.
Baku has always recognized the Palestinian people’s right to East Al-Quds as the capital of an Arab state. Having opened an embassy in Israel quite recently, Baku immediately decided to establish a diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv. In this matter, the main thing for Azerbaijani diplomacy has been and remains the consideration of the interests of the brotherly people of Palestine.
Recently, a decision was made at the highest level in Azerbaijan to provide assistance to the people of Palestine. By the order of the head of the Azerbaijani state 1.6 million US dollars were transferred to the relevant UN agency in order to deliver the allocated resource to the recipient. Additional aid is also being provided.
At the latest OIC meeting, Azerbaijan was represented at the level of foreign ministers along with 21 Muslim countries and again supported initiatives aimed at supporting the just struggle of the Palestinians for statehood.
Humanitarian issues occupy a special place in bilateral relations. A project to build a school for Palestinian children stands out in the current agenda, and targeted grants are provided to students of Azerbaijani universities.
It is in the spirit of the policy of the Azerbaijani state to prove loyalty in relations not in words, but by providing practical assistance in the most important areas.
Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Palestine follow the logic of common sense. No fabrications and insinuations about Baku’s unilateral attitude to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can drive a wedge into the established ties, which have been growing stronger by the year. The guarantee of their reliability is the high level of trust that characterizes the mood of the political elites of the two sides.
Tofig Abbasov
Translated from Minval.az