Ramallah: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has expressed concerns about the comprehensive settler-colonial project targeting Palestinians. He stated that this project aims to uproot Palestinians from their land, undermine their national rights, impose annexation and displacement, weaken Palestinian institutions, and reshape the political and legal reality in favor of force rather than international law and justice.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, Mustafa made these remarks during the National Conference of the Bar Association, which was held under the theme "Settler-Settlement in Palestine: Between Policies of Annexation and Displacement and the Obligations of International Justice," coinciding with Palestinian Lawyers' Day observed annually on July 9th. He emphasized that the occupation project not only involves land confiscation but also the confiscation of time, identity, and narrative to make the occupation permanent and prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Mustafa highlighted that the current Israeli government is advancing a "Decisive Plan" to undermine the two-state solution, despite international support for it. This strategy unfolds in two tracks: ongoing war and displacement in Gaza and settlement expansion and annexation in the West Bank, coupled with financial strangulation and withholding Palestinian funds.
The Prime Minister underscored that these efforts aim to break the people's will, weaken institutions, and prevent the realization of a Palestinian state. He affirmed that Palestinians have historically shown resilience against exclusion and displacement, and their social cohesion and steadfastness remain crucial defenses against the colonial project.
Mustafa outlined a comprehensive national strategy to counter this project, focusing on citizen resilience, social solidarity, the rule of law, and institutional building. He stressed that the Palestinian issue tests international justice's credibility and its enforcement capacity, as international law clearly rejects settlements and forced displacement.
He called for making Palestine a model of a law-based state despite the occupation and emphasized that reforms are crucial for achieving the national project of statehood. Mustafa noted significant progress in public administration reform, digital transformation, and transparency, with a particular focus on the justice sector, which is vital for maintaining citizens' trust in the system.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of building strong institutions and upholding the rule of law as integral to the battle for an independent Palestinian state. He emphasized the need for efficient and transparent justice systems that protect citizens' rights promptly and effectively.