Palestinian Ambassador Causes Criticism with Statement at Vienna Demo

"And therefore, this state must be brought to an end," Shafi said at the rally on Saturday afternoon in Vienna. The Israeli embassy condemned the statements in the strongest terms on Monday. "They are a hate-filled call for the annihilation of a sovereign state," the Israeli embassy stated in a release.

Stir over statement by Palestinian ambassador at demo in Vienna

"With these words at a demonstration in Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, 'representative' of the Palestinians in Austria, revealed his true stance," the Israeli embassy further stated. "This is not a diplomatic misunderstanding, but a program." This rhetoric confirms the true goal: not the establishment of a state, but the delegitimization and elimination of Israel. The embassy also pointed out that Shafi refuses to condemn Hamas for the atrocities committed on October 7.

Thousands of people participated in demo in Vienna

The Palestinian representation indicated upon APA inquiry that Shafi was misunderstood. "The ambassador's statement referred to the fact that Israel disregarded the UN resolution on ending the occupation of September 18, 2024, as well as the fact that Israel generally disregards international law." This must be brought to an end. "The end of Israel as a state was by no means intended," explained an assistant to the ambassador.

At the demonstration in Vienna, attended by thousands of people, Shafi sharply criticized Western governments. Three months ago, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke the truth with the words "Israel does the dirty work for us," Shafi stated in a speech at the beginning of the event at Christian-Broda-Platz in the sixth district of Vienna. Dirty work, meaning work outside international law, is Israel's role. Israel acts as the outpost of the West in the Middle East to carry out dirty work. "And therefore, this state must be brought to an end," said the representative of the Palestinian territories.

(APA/Red)

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