- 11 hours ago
“When you mention Bethlehem, when you mention Jerusalem, think about Palestine.”
This is the message of Palestinian Ambassador to the Philippines Mounir Anastas ahead of the holiday and Christmas season, as he sits down with Pia Arcangel to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Watch this special episode of Power Talks as Ambassador Anastas discusses the ongoing story of conflict in their region and advocates for the two-state solution— a resolution he believes is the key to security, justice, and long-lasting peace for Palestine and Israel.
This is the message of Palestinian Ambassador to the Philippines Mounir Anastas ahead of the holiday and Christmas season, as he sits down with Pia Arcangel to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Watch this special episode of Power Talks as Ambassador Anastas discusses the ongoing story of conflict in their region and advocates for the two-state solution— a resolution he believes is the key to security, justice, and long-lasting peace for Palestine and Israel.
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00:00As the United Nations commemorates the International Day of Solidarity for the Palestinian people,
00:05State of Palestine Ambassador to the Philippines, Munir Anastas,
00:09revisits the long story of conflict in the region
00:11and his hope that one day, long-lasting peace will finally be achieved.
00:16Well, Ambassador, good afternoon. Thank you so much for taking time to be with us today.
00:21Thank you for having me.
00:22We know that the State of Palestine will be celebrating the International Day of Solidarity.
00:28Can you tell us about that?
00:29Of course, of course.
00:31The 29th of November of each year is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people
00:37following a resolution adopted by the UN in New York in 1977.
00:45This date was chosen to commemorate the date of the adoption of another resolution,
00:51the Resolution 181, that has been adopted on the 29th of November 1947.
00:57This resolution is also known as the Partition Plan, Partition Resolution of Palestine.
01:04At that time, there was a proposal to create two states already in Palestine.
01:12And to commemorate this resolution, the UN decided in 1977 to have the 29th of November
01:23as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.
01:26So this year, we decided to celebrate it together with the National Day or the proclamation of the State of Palestine.
01:37The State of Palestine was proclaimed in 15 November 1988 in Algeria by the PLO.
01:46At that time, it was the first time that Palestine, the PLO, accepted the Resolution 242,
01:57which means indirectly it was a kind of a recognition of the State of Israel, which was not the case before.
02:04So 15th of November is the proclamation of the state, which is our national day.
02:10And 29th of November, the International Day of Solidarity.
02:14But we decided to celebrate both together on the 18th of November last for logistic questions and things like that.
02:25And so we did it together with the UN office in Manila.
02:33But can you tell us the specific significance of the International Day of Solidarity?
02:38What is it specifically commemorating?
02:40It is commemorating the decision or the resolution of the UN calling for the two states,
02:48which means that something that we are advocating for, it is what we call nowadays the two-state solution.
02:55This is the lonely way we, as Palestinian government, we think that the lonely way to guarantee peace,
03:05lasting peace and security for all, for both Palestine and Israel,
03:10it is through this solution, the two-state solution, that is also supported by a huge majority of members of the UN.
03:20Nowadays, we are talking about 160 countries recognizing the state of Palestine,
03:28which means 160 countries in favor of this solution, the two-state solution.
03:34You mentioned that for logistical purposes you decided to celebrate on the 18th of November.
03:39But this celebration in particular, this year you didn't have the cake-cutting ceremony, no toasting.
03:47Yes, here in this country, whenever there is a National Day, the tradition is that there is a toast and there is a cake-cutting.
03:54But we decided to skip this tradition and I announced it in the reception,
03:59saying that we will not have a toast and we will not have a cake-cutting because of the situation in Gaza.
04:09Our people in Gaza is suffering famine, they don't have water to drink,
04:15so having a toast, it would have been, you know, somehow too much for the situation.
04:21There is no toast or there is no real joy to have with the situation of our people in Gaza.
04:29So that's why we decided to skip these two things.
04:33So on November 29, will there still be any activities on the actual day itself?
04:38No activities as such for public, no, but there will be some lectures in some universities and that's it.
04:44Here in the Philippines?
04:46Yes, yes, yes.
04:47We already have given other lectures, so we didn't stop.
04:52It's not only on the date itself.
04:54For example, last week we have had the chance to have our Minister of Foreign Affairs and expatriates visiting the Philippines.
05:04And she has the occasion also, we went to two universities, the University of La Salle and Ateneo.
05:11And at Ateneo there was more than, there were more than 350 students in the amphitheater and it was an excellent meeting.
05:23Students were very, how to say, very interested, many questions.
05:29So yes, this kind of activities we will continue it for the International Day.
05:36But as celebration with the diplomatic corps and the officials, no, it was only November 18.
05:43So was the two-state solution discussed in these lectures?
05:47Of course, of course.
05:48It comes very often everywhere.
05:50The question is always raised and our position is always very clear.
05:55We are in favor of this solution.
05:57Actually, we are in favor of any solution that guarantees just and lasting peace.
06:05Actually, with no justice, there wouldn't be peace and it wouldn't be sustainable.
06:10So no lasting peace without justice.
06:13And we think that the two-state solution is a just solution.
06:17So it could be a lasting peace, of course.
06:20So the contentious part about it is just like how the two states will be divided exactly, the borders.
06:27But how do you tackle the situation?
06:31No, actually it's not the problem of the borders.
06:33The borders are defined by the international resolutions.
06:37We are talking about the borders of what we call 4th of June 1967, commonly called the 1967 borders.
06:49And in that case, it includes Gaza, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
06:57This is what we call the 1967.
06:59So the borders as such, there is no ambiguity on it.
07:03But the problem for the viability of the future state of Palestine is the problem of the illegal settlements in the West Bank by the Israelis.
07:14Nowadays, we are having settlements surrounding all Palestinian cities around East Jerusalem, around Bethlehem, around Hebron, around Ramallah, what have you.
07:27All cities are surrounded by settlements.
07:31And the settlers, they are reaching around 800,000.
07:37And with the expansion, continuous expansion of the settlements, maybe they will reach very quickly one million.
07:47This is the first problem.
07:48Second problem, it is the communication between the cities and the crossing for the Palestinian citizens between the cities.
07:59For example, I am from the city of Bethlehem.
08:02When I want to go to Ramallah, I have to check several Israeli checkpoints.
08:08And very often, the Israeli soldiers on the checkpoints, they decide to have a break.
08:14They close the checkpoint and simply like this.
08:17So you can't cross.
08:18Usually, in the past, it used to take us maximum half an hour to go from Bethlehem to Ramallah.
08:23Nowadays, if it takes you two hours, you are lucky.
08:28Same thing for Jericho, from Bethlehem to Jericho, or from Bethlehem to Hebron.
08:33When it is open, when you can go.
08:35So the viability of the state, of the future, let's say, the state of Palestine exists.
08:41But we are under occupation.
08:43This is our problem for the public, and this is a question very oftenly raised.
08:50I have to explain that, for example, in my city, Bethlehem, we, as Palestinian authority, we are in charge of everything.
09:01Everything.
09:01The educational system, health, security, everything is managed by our government.
09:08Same thing in Ramallah, same thing in Hebron, in Tulkarem, in Naples, in Jericho, but inside the cities.
09:17Now, outside the city, it's the Israeli army.
09:21This is the problem.
09:22And going from one city to another, it is controlled by the Israeli.
09:27This is the occupation.
09:28So the viability due to the occupation and the settlements is in question.
09:34Here is the difficulty.
09:36Now, in the past, during the negotiations in the 90s, there were many ideas talking about land swap, for example.
09:48If they don't want to evacuate some settlements, then they should give another land and things like that.
09:54There are solutions.
09:56Where there is a will, there is a way.
09:58But it is very clear that the current government of Israel has no will to reach any solution.
10:06And they declared it, that they are against the two-state solution.
10:11But you have the support of the international community.
10:13I said 160 countries, including, well, in the, you know, in the Security Council, there are 15 members.
10:21Out of them, there are the P5, the permanent members.
10:25Out of the P5, we have four recognizing Palestine.
10:29It's only USA who doesn't.
10:33Even if, historically, the USA used to say that they are in favor also of the two-state solution.
10:41It's not only the U.S.
10:43Some, still few European countries, they pretend being in favor of the two-state solution.
10:50But meanwhile, they recognize only one state over two.
10:54If they were really in favor of the two states, then they should start by recognizing the two states.
10:59So, indeed, we have 160 countries recognizing Palestine.
11:07But this is not enough.
11:10Because what we need, it's not only the declaration of recognition.
11:15We need the implementation.
11:16And to have the implementation, we need Israel to implement it first.
11:20Because they are the occupying power.
11:22And in order to push Israel to do so, we need to have pressure from the international community,
11:29and especially by those who recognize Palestine.
11:31So, they have the responsibility now to pressure Israel to end the occupation.
11:36I think the solution wouldn't occur without ending the occupation.
11:41Do you think that the recently implemented ceasefire might help bring you closer to some sort of resolution?
11:50I mean, I know it's been many, many years, but how has Gaza been faring since the ceasefire?
11:56Well, now, about the ceasefire, it's another story.
12:01We were happy when the ceasefire was announced.
12:06Of course, we were not so happy of the content, of the whole content of the Trump plan.
12:12The most important thing for us in this plan was the end of the genocide, of killing our people in Gaza,
12:23and allowing the humanitarian aid, which means ending also the starvation, the famine in Gaza.
12:31These were essential for us.
12:33Now, for the rest, it remains discussable, of course.
12:37But nevertheless, we welcomed it, because we want, as I said, to end the starvation, to end the genocide.
12:46We thought that it will work.
12:47Well, the first two days, it was somehow working.
12:52So, is it a real ceasefire?
12:55Here, it is not a hundred percent ceasefire, but it slowed down the genocide, the killing, and the famine.
13:05Well, for example, the humanitarian aid following the Trump plan, it was supposed to be 600 trucks per day minimum.
13:13In reality, it was 100, 200, 150.
13:18It depends on the Israeli mood, how many trucks.
13:24But it is, even though, it is better than nothing, because before this, between brackets, ceasefire, it was zero trucks per day.
13:33People were not finding anything, even water, simply water, drinkable water, was not available.
13:40Now, at least, they have some water.
13:42They have less than the minimum.
13:45Somebody said from the UNRWA that what arrives, it covers barely, it covers 30 percent of the needs of the population in Gaza.
13:57But what is interesting to say, I would like to quote the representative of the Office of the Humanitarian Affairs, the OCHA,
14:10the Office of the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs, who visited Gaza, his name is Tom Fletcher.
14:19He said something very, very powerful.
14:24He said, visiting Gaza, while I was going to Gaza, it was as if I was going through the ruins of Hiroshima.
14:36Imagine, he mentioned the ruins of Hiroshima.
14:40Do you imagine the gravity of such a thing?
14:45Gaza nowadays, it's mainly rebels, mainly rebels.
14:50So the population need absolutely to recover.
14:55And we have a plan for early recovery.
14:59We, our government, is ready.
15:01We submitted our plan to the Arab League and then to the OIC, and it was adopted, and it was welcomed by the international community.
15:12And now we have talks with the American administration in order to be involved very early in the process for the reconstruction of Gaza.
15:25So would you say that rebuilding has begun?
15:27No, not yet.
15:29No, no, it's the early relief.
15:3030 percent of the needs, electricity is not there, water is not there.
15:35There is nothing, there is nothing for the moment.
15:39It is less than the minimum.
15:41So we are in the very, very early stage.
15:45The lonely thing, as I mentioned, the genocide slowed down.
15:49It's, this is the most important thing.
15:52And there is some humanitarian aid arriving.
15:55This is the change in the Gaza Strip.
15:59What we heard, it was only condemnations and regrets and deplores and so on.
16:06But no concrete measures.
16:09Since few weeks or since few months, there have been some concrete measures, but not enough to exercise pressure on the government.
16:21It's against persons and what we expect them to do, to take measures and to take decisions against the Israeli government itself.
16:31Is there anything in particular that you want to see from the Philippine government?
16:35And how would you describe the relationship between the Philippines and Palestine?
16:38I mean, we did have the Palestinian foreign minister here just a few weeks, a few days ago.
16:46No, no, it's last week.
16:47It's last week.
16:47A few days ago.
16:49So how would you describe the relationship between the Philippines and Palestine?
16:52And what is it that you want to see from the Philippine government?
16:55Well, actually, we have good relations.
16:57And that's why our minister was here for four days.
17:01She stayed here.
17:02She met with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
17:05We spent almost one day since the morning together, and they hold a press conference, a joint press conference together as well.
17:17And it was the occasion to sign the first memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations.
17:24I think that the Philippines has a position that is a balanced position.
17:33Your president and many officials from your country always repeat that the Philippines is front to all, enemy to nobody.
17:43And this is the strategy of the Philippines.
17:47Nevertheless, the things that we appreciate from the Philippines, it's commitment to the international law, international humanitarian law.
17:57And that's why the Philippines always vote in favor of the resolution of Palestine in the UN and the different UN agencies,
18:07because they are committed, really, to the international law and to the respect of human rights everywhere.
18:19This is the most important thing for us.
18:23Now, could the Philippines do more?
18:27It's up to the government.
18:29They know what to do.
18:32But for the moment, we expect them to continue advocating.
18:38And they declared it several times in favor of the two-state solution.
18:43They said it several times.
18:45They supported, and we appreciate it.
18:47And we hope that they can influence others around them to go through the same path,
18:54voting in favor of our resolutions and advocating for the two-state solution,
18:59which means when you are in favor of the two-state solutions,
19:03it means that you are in favor of ending the occupation.
19:07And this is very important for us.
19:09So, Ambassador, given the situation now, everything that's been happening,
19:13how do you see Palestine and Israel moving forward from this situation?
19:18Well, the problem, as I mentioned,
19:22if the international community does not take its role seriously and its responsibilities,
19:33I think we will continue on the same path, which is the current situation.
19:40First, the destruction and the killing.
19:43Then, the attacks of settlers, the expansion of settlements,
19:51the increase of the checkpoints, unless, again, the international community take concrete measures
20:01and apply real pressure on the Israeli government.
20:06Otherwise, we are heading nowhere, even if our president continuously advocates for peace.
20:14He said that he wants resistance, but peaceful resistance through peaceful means and legal means.
20:23We are trying not to use violence, but till when can we bear it?
20:31We are trying our best to head towards a solution through legal instruments
20:40and the legal ways with the international community, especially through the UN.
20:47Well, Ambassador, thank you so much for sharing with us your thoughts.
20:52For those who want to learn more, you mentioned that you'll be having another series of lectures.
20:58Are there activities you'd like to invite them to a celebration with?
21:01Actually, I invite all young people and elders as well to follow our Facebook account
21:12on which we announce the activities, the different activities or lectures or whatever upcoming,
21:20or the past one and the upcoming ones.
21:23And the most important thing, we have a personal message.
21:29You know, I told you I'm from Bethlehem.
21:32Our minister who was here, she's from Jerusalem, East Jerusalem,
21:35and especially a quarter in the old city of Jerusalem.
21:41You know, the old city contains the major important holy sites for Christians and Muslims as well.
21:50But, you know, the Holy Sepulchre, it's in the old city of Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
21:55And you see them here, the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
21:59So, these two cities, East Jerusalem, the old city, and Bethlehem, my city, are Palestinian cities.
22:08So, keep in mind, Christmas is coming.
22:11Keep in mind that Christmas that is related to Bethlehem is in a Palestinian city.
22:17It's not Israel. It's not Israel.
22:21Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, the old city of Jerusalem, and Bethlehem are Palestinian cities.
22:27Unfortunately, East Jerusalem is still under Israeli occupation.
22:32It's not the case of Bethlehem for the moment, but it is the case of Jerusalem.
22:36So, this is my message.
22:37When you mention Bethlehem, when you mention Jerusalem, think about Palestine.
22:43Thank you very much, Ambassador.
22:45Thank you for being with us today.
22:47Thanks for watching.
22:48Don't forget to like, subscribe, and download PowerTalks with PR Kanghel on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,
22:54GMA Integrated News Streaming Platforms, or wherever you listen.
22:59Till the next episode.
23:15Take care.
23:24Thank you very much.
23:24Take care.
23:25Bye-bye.
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