Response to the U.S. President's proposal to take over Gaza and relocate its residents to neighbouring countries

The forced relocation or deportation of Palestinians from Gaza would constitute a blatant violation of a fundamental achievement of modern international society: the right of states and nations to determine their own destiny. This right was successfully exercised by the Jewish people with the establishment of Israel, which came with the support of the international community. The same opportunity must be afforded to Palestinians so that they can live safely and with dignity on their own land. 

I therefore call for a resolute stand against policies that undermine this principle. The solutions to the so-called Palestinian “problem” advocated by the current Israeli government could tomorrow become the solutions to the “problem” of any nation in the world. The international community must not allow this to happen. As the President of a country whose own history includes the breaking up of our territory and the suffering of mass deportations, I reject all proposals that are in stark contradiction to international law or could even be classified as crimes against humanity. Slovenia has taken a clear stance on Palestine: Palestinians deserve to exist as a nation, with their own state. This state – equal to Israel and all other nations – must have the freedom to determine its own future.