Foreign Minister Varsen: Peace Impossible Whilst Palestinian Rights Continue to Be Violated
Munich (ANTARA) - Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen said on Sunday (15/2) that peace with Israel is impossible as long as violations of Palestinian rights continue. She affirmed that international law must be upheld and unilateral measures must cease.
Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Shaheen stated that “peace with Israel under conditions of continuous violations of Palestinian rights is impossible to achieve.”
She assessed that Israel’s unilateral actions in the occupied territories, the West Bank and East Jerusalem — such as the expansion and legalisation of illegal settlements — undermine the prospects for a negotiated settlement.
“Everything Israel does unilaterally in the occupied territories must be considered null and void,” she said, affirming that annexation violates international law and constitutes a crime that must be stopped.
Shaheen also addressed the ceasefire process in Gaza. She said progress to the next phase depends on the full implementation of initial commitments. “We want to move to the second phase, but we need to ensure that the obligations of the first phase have been fulfilled,” she said.
The first phase concludes after the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, whilst the second phase encompasses the reconstruction of the Gaza enclave, devastated by two years of Israeli bombardment.
According to Shaheen, the current ceasefire is not yet fully comprehensive. She described the situation as still being a partial ceasefire, with humanitarian aid not entering as needed and the Rafah crossing only partially open. She added that additional steps are required for a smooth transition.
Calling for stronger international action, Shaheen referred to existing legal and diplomatic frameworks. She stated that the world needs to take a firm stance by upholding international law, referencing international rulings and UN resolutions that declare settlements and the occupation as illegal.
She said recent attacks reinforce her view that Israel is not demonstrating commitment to peace. According to her, if Israel genuinely wanted peace, it would cease its violations of international law and Palestinian rights. Instead, she assessed that Israel continues to pursue annexation and colonisation measures whilst seeking to legitimise actions that breach the law.
Responding to questions about her calls for Germany and Finland to follow other European nations in recognising Palestine, Shaheen said both countries would consider this at the appropriate time. She added that the vision for recognition already exists, but the process depends on each country’s own deliberations.
“For me, the matter is very clear. If you support a two-state solution, if you believe in international law and wish to abide by it, then you need to recognise it, because there is no reason whatsoever not to do so,” she said.
Regarding regional diplomacy, Shaheen described Türkiye as an important actor in reconciliation efforts and humanitarian assistance. “Türkiye is a key player. Türkiye’s humanitarian aid and development assistance in Palestine are vital, and we hope that Türkiye, as a key regional actor, will continue to play that role towards peace,” she said.