Palestine marks 38th anniversary of Declaration of Independence
Palestinians commemorate the 38th anniversary of their Declaration of Independence, proclaimed on November 15, 1988.
The State of Palestine was declared 38 years ago on November 15, 1988, by late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Algiers, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Arafat made the announcement during a meeting of the Palestinian National Council, the parliament in exile of the Palestine Liberation Organization, where he read out the Palestinian Declaration of Independence written by renowned poet Mahmoud Darwish.
The declaration had been adopted earlier with 253 votes in favor, 46 against, and 10 abstentions, and it marked a significant turning point in the Palestinian national liberation movement, as the PLO formally endorsed the two-state solution to the decades-long conflict.
This paved the way for widespread Arab, Islamic, and international recognition of the State of Palestine, and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and statehood has been affirmed in several United Nations General Assembly resolutions.
The Palestinian National Council also elected Arafat as the first President of the State of Palestine in April 1989, further solidifying the declaration's impact.
The declaration of independence remains a cornerstone of Palestinian identity and a key milestone in their struggle for statehood.
The United Nations has consistently supported the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, with resolutions such as 3236, 2649, and 2672 reaffirming their inalienable rights, including the right to independence and sovereignty.
Today, the Palestinian people continue to seek recognition and support from the international community for their statehood aspirations.
