Portrait of Lula da Silva
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Lula da Silva on Palestine

Strong two-state advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Lula da Silva strongly advocates for the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel based on pre-1967 borders.

Key Points

  • He has explicitly stated that there is no more appropriate word than genocide to describe the situation in Gaza, citing the systematic undermining of Palestinian territory, population, and government structures.

  • Brazil decided to become a party to the case submitted by South Africa to the International Court of Justice concerning the situation in Gaza.

  • He advocates for strengthening controls on imports from illegal settlements in the West Bank and maintaining a suspension of defense material exports that could be used in crimes against humanity.

Summary

Lula da Silva's core position is the strong and unequivocal advocacy for a two-state solution, asserting that sustainable peace requires both Israel and Palestine to negotiate on equal terms, which necessitates a fully recognized, independent Palestinian State integrated into the international community. He has been emphatic in condemning Hamas's terrorist acts but argues that the right to defense does not permit the indiscriminate killing of civilians in Gaza, leading him to characterize the Israeli assault as genocide and an attempt to exterminate the Palestinian people.

The President's stance is framed within a commitment to strengthening multilateralism and rectifying historical injustices, noting that Brazil recognized Palestine in 2010 and supported the two-state perspective since the UN Partition Plan debate chaired by a Brazilian. He further demonstrated his commitment by announcing Brazil's decision to become a party to the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and pledging to strengthen controls on imports from illegal West Bank settlements while suspending defense material exports. He also supports creating a body inspired by the Special Committee against Apartheid to secure Palestinian self-determination.

Key Quotes

The Palestinian people are at risk of disappearing

Frequently Asked Questions

Lula da Silva's position is strongly in favor of the realization of an independent Palestinian State, emphasizing that it is the only path to sustainable peace in the region. He consistently calls for the international community to support this two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders. The president views the conflict as emblematic of the obstacles to multilateralism.

The provided context indicates a consistent and evolving strong commitment rather than a change in core principles. He confirmed Brazil's previous recognition of Palestine from 2010 and has escalated his rhetoric by using terms like 'genocide' to describe the actions in Gaza. His commitment to the two-state solution has been a long-standing theme of his foreign policy.

The president has fiercely condemned Israel's military operation, calling it a 'premeditated genocide' and an effort to 'exterminate the Palestinian people.' While he stated Hamas's terrorist acts are unacceptable, he stressed that the right to defense does not authorize the indiscriminate killing of civilians, destruction of homes, or the use of hunger as a weapon of war.