Palestine Embassy Charge D’ Affairs to Tanzania Derar Ghannam, briefs the Director of the Middle East Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr Abdallah Kilima (centre) on liberation photos at the Tanzania-Mozambique Center for Foreign Relations (CRF) centre yesterday during an exhibition to mark Palestiniane International Day of Solidarity in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | ANTHONY SIAME
What you need to know:
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict started in the late 19th century. The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century are marked by the birth of two major nationalist movements among the Jews and among the Arabs, both geared towards attaining sovereignty for their people in the Middle East. The conflict is still going on in various levels.
Dar es Salaam. The government yesterday pledged to continue supporting Palestinians in their fight for their rights and total freedom.
Speaking during the Palestinians International Day of Solidarity commemorated at Tanzania-Mozambique Center for Foreign Relations (CRF), the Director for the Middle East Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Abdallah Kilima, said Tanzania will always advocate for peace, unity and equality in the Middle East.
He said the day reminds Tanzanians of their relationship with the Palestinians, which was cemented in the 1960s by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and former Palestinian leader, the late Yasser Arafat.
“This day reminds Palestinians and other people about solidarity and the need to fight for peace, rights and equality,” he said.
Earlier, CFR deputy director-administration Dr Bernard Achiula, said the event should show commitment and solidarity in advocating for Palestinians’ freedom. He said Mwalimu Nyerere was committed to supporting Palestine and that he met Mr Arafat several times to discuss the situation.
“Mwalimu Nyerere met Mr Arafat several times, and he always advocated for Palestine’s total freedom. We should continue with the same spirit to ensure Palestinians overcome the challenges they are facing,” he said.
Dr Achiula stressed that Tanzanians should always stand with Palestinians as they fight for their freedom.
“We should not leave Palestinians alone. Let’s support them and ensure they flourish as we did for the liberation of many African countries. We have vast experience to understand what Palestinians are going through,” he said.
Chairman of the Tanzania-Palestine solidarity committee Prof. Josephat Kanywanyi, said the day brings together all peoples in the world as they stand to fight for their rights and freedom.
He said the world should always remember that Palestine is still under colonial rule and that they need support to get rid of oppression.
“We all understand that South Africa has successfully overcome apartheid and all other forms of oppression, but Palestine is still fighting for total freedom,” he said.
He said Tanzania has always stood to support Palestine to be recognised as a full member of the United Nations and that he believes such efforts will bear fruit in the near future.
