Brazil’s President placed a wreath on the grave of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during his visit to Ramallah and called on Israel to remove the West Bank security fence. He reiterated his wish to become more involved in the Middle East peace conference and said he dreamed of a time a free Palestine will be able to live in peace in the Middle East.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva placed a wreath on the grave of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a visit to Ramallah, and called for the removal of the West Bank security fence, saying the world cannot accept fences of any kind.
At a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, da Silva said brave steps were need in order leave behind a half a century of conflict and pain.
Stating that his country would like to play a more active role in the Middle East peace process, da Silva declared support for the Palestinian struggle for an independent state.
"I dream of an independent and free Palestine living in peace in the Middle East," da Silva said during a visit to the West Bank. "I believe the Palestinians and Israelis are going to share the land of their forefathers."
He also said his country deplored Israel’s decision to build 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem, a site where the Palestinians plan to build their future capital, and called for a total building freeze in the West Bank.
Abbas called on Israel to live up to its obligations, and declared only once Israel has imposed a total building freeze in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, will negotiations between the sides resume.
Abbas denied that the Palestinians had stipulated preconditions for the resumption of talks. “We simply want the implementation of international resolutions and the Road map,” the Palestinian leader said.
He urged Brazil’s President and the international community to call for the release of Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails and work towards removing the Israeli imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The two leaders signed a number of bilateral agreements concerning education, sports, health, tourism and agriculture.
On Tuesday, at a meeting in Bethlehem to boost trade between the Palestinian Authority and Brazil, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said the Palestinian economy had improved in recent years mainly due to countries like Brazil, who donate funds. Israel’s occupation he said has prevented the economy from reaching its full potential.
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