Palestinian activists on Tuesday placed a banner in Gaza streets to pay homage to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Dr. Rima Khalaf for refusing to succumb to pressure to rescind a recent accusing Israel of apartheid.
“Here I step down to leave the stage for other people who dare do what my conscience prevented me to do” the banner read.
Palestinian factions hailed Dr. Rima Khalaf for her brave position at a time when several parties have been taking Israel’s side.
A resignation letter was submitted by ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf in response to the formal request by the UN Secretary-General to withdraw a report that asserts Israel is committing Apartheid against the Palestinians.
“I am not oblivious to the vicious attacks and threats the UN and you personally were subjected to from powerful Member States as a result of the publication of the ESCWA report” Mrs. Khalaf’s letter read verbatim. “It is only normal for criminals to pressure and attack those who advocate the cause of their victims. I cannot submit to such pressure.”
“Not by virtue of my being an international official but simply by virtue of being a decent human being I believe like you in the universal values and principles that have always been the driving force for good in human history and on which this organization of ours the United Nations is founded” added Mrs. Khalaf.
“I cannot but stand by the findings of ESCWA’s report that Israel has established an apartheid regime that seeks the domination of one racial group over another” the letter went on. “The evidence provided by this report drafted by renowned experts is overwhelming. Suffice it to say that none of those who attacked the report had a word to say about its content. I feel it my duty to shed light on the legally inadmissible and morally indefensible fact that an apartheid regime still exists in the 21st century rather than suppressing the evidence.”
