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Afif Safieh Speaking Tour 2013
Afif Safieh Lecture
Canadian Friends of Sabeel (CFOS) guest lecturer
March 10, 2013
Afif Safieh - The Palestinian Question & International Law
Power & Politics Interview with Ambassador AFIF SAFIEH
Ambassador AFIF SAFIEH rejects Foreign Minister's and Kenney's Statements
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird’s recent comments to the powerful Israel Lobby meeting in Washington has left a firestorm of criticism and disbelief at Canada’s violations of its obligations under international law and its complicity in supporting the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
Baird, in an unannounced message to the AIPAC annual conference, threatened that Palestinians will feel “consequences” from Canada if they seek to have international law implemented and pursues Israel at the International Criminal Court over illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Senior-most Palestinian Ambassador Safieh articulately rejected Baird’s threats to the Palestinian people should the international community meet its obligations to bring Israel to account on its illegal settlement policy, a blatant violation of the IV Geneva Convention. He expressed surprise that this would be of concern to the Canadian government rather than “the daily Israeli blatant daily violation of international law and the sadistic behavior vis-a-vis my society, the Palestinian society.” He noted Palestine, a UN recognized-state, has the right to self-determination and the obligation to non-violently achieve this through diplomatic and legal actions.
In a recent interview with Evan Solomon on CBC’s Power & Politics, Safieh identified himself as a Christian in denouncing the demonization of Islam and other groups. He further responded to Baird’s comments:
“We the Palestinians, we are resorting to international law as we believe the international will should have a say on conflict resolution in the Middle East. What we did was extremely legitimate, going to the United Nations, to the concert of nations… The vote at the UN that took place in November was the following: It gave us the recognition of the principle of Palestinian statehood. It gave us the boundaries of that Palestinian state, the ’67 boundaries, and East Jerusalem as the capital of that state. I believe that international involvement, negotiations to come, which I hope will occur tomorrow, should be on how to implement those and not to discuss the desirability and the legitimacy of those principles that have already been recognized by the last 40 years.”
List of media interviews with Ambassador Afif Safieh
CBC's Power & Politics - Palestinian Aid in Question: Interview with Afif Safieh
The Star - Mideast Peace Hinges on Fair Land Swaps, saya Palestinian Envoy
Rabble.ca - Veteran Diplomat on the Prospects for Palestine: Interview with Afif Safieh
Voice of Palestine - Radio interview with Afif Safieh on his book, the Peace Process: From Breakthrough to Breakdown
Radio Canada International (in Arabic)
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Canadian Friends of Sabeel (CFOS) and the Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation of Canada (NECEF) hosted a four-city Canadian lecture tour by senior-most Ambassador of the Palestinian Diplomatic Corps and author Afif Safieh. Ambassador Safieh’s lectures, entitled "The Palestinian Question and International Law” focused on the current geo-political realities in Palestine.
Afif Safieh is considered the most experienced and skilled Palestinian diplomat having served in three politically significant capitals: London, Washington, and Moscow. During his service, he was involved in the Stockholm negotiations that led to the first official and direct American-Palestinian dialogue.
In his recent book, The Peace Process: From Breakthrough to Breakdown, "Afif Safieh is that rare combination of scholar, diplomat and humanist. There is much to be learned from reading his work - compelling and principled call for examination and engagement." (Sara Roy)