Media Advisory: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the United Nations on 29 November each year.

The date of 29 November was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people. On that day in 1947, the General Assembly adopted resolution 181(II), which came to be known as the Partition Resolution. That resolution provided for the establishment in Palestine of a "Jewish State" and an "Arab State", with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime. Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being.

The Palestinian people, who now number more than 8 million, live primarily in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including East Jerusalem, part of which is now administered by the Palestinian Authority; in Israel; in neighbouring Arab States; and in refugee camps in the region.

The International Day of Solidarity has traditionally provided an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine is still unresolved and that the Palestinian people have yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty and the right to return to their homes and property from which they had been displaced.

In response to the call of the United Nations, various activities are undertaken annually by Governments, civil society, academic institutions and others in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. These activities include the issuance of special messages of solidarity with the Palestinian people, the organization of meetings, the dissemination of publications and other information material and the screening of films. Meetings in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People are also held at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna.

The latest and other background information on the question of Palestine can be obtained from the UN website (the Question of Palestine under Peace and Security) and through UNISPAL (http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf).

Media are invited to the ceremony to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People as follows:

Order of Proceedings:

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE

29 NOVEMBER 2006 - UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA - 19H00 - 20H00

1. NATIONAL ANTHEMS
· Palestinian national anthem
· South African national anthem
· South African Police Band

2. WELCOME

3. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI
· Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom

4. MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, KOFI ANNAN
Ms Margaret Novicki, Director: United Nations Information Centre

5. VIDEO

6. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE PALESTINE NATIONAL AUTHORITY, MAHMOUD ABBAS
Mr Jibril Rajoub National Security Advisor to president Abbas

7. MUSICAL ITEM

8. VOTE OF THANKS
Palestinian Ambassador Ali Halimeh

9. COCKTAIL RECEPTION

DATE : Wednesday 29 November 2006
TIME : 18h30 for 19h00
VENUE : Musaion Hall University of Pretoria
Lynwood Road, Pretoria (Please present press cards)

ENQUIRIES/RSVPs : Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Tshwane
0001
27 November 2006