Free election is best solution to Palestinian issue: Iranian president

TEHRAN,Dec.1(MNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the best solution to the Palestinian issue is to hold a free election with the participation of all Palestinians, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a message issued on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November 29, which was read out by the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Khazaee, at a meeting of the UN General Assembly on Palestine in New York on Thursday. The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to grant Palestinians limited recognition of statehood, prompting exuberant celebrations across the West Bank and Gaza Strip and immediate condemnations from the United States and Israel, according to the Washington Post. The 193-member UN body voted 138 to 9, with 41 abstentions, to recognize Palestine as a “non-member observer state,” a status that falls well short of independence but provides Palestinians with limited privileges as a state, including the right to join the International Criminal Court and other international treaty bodies. Iranian president’s message read, “The great Iranian nation expresses their complete solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and will continue their moral support for them, and believes that it is not possible to find a just solution to the issue without paying attention to the Palestinian people’s legitimate demands, including their right to self-determination, putting an end to mischievous acts and occupation, and returning to justice and respect.” Elsewhere in the message, Ahmadinejad said that the international community, particularly the United Nations, should play its important, effective, and legal role in helping resolve the issue of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. In addition, he said that undoubtedly, the era of Zionism and occupation has come to an end and the future belongs to the great Palestinian nation.