TIRANA, Sept 28 /ATA/- By Maela Marini/Prime Minister Edi Rama stated today from New York that “what is happening in the territories where the people of Israel and the people of Palestine live must come to an end as soon as possible.”
During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Edi Rama participated in an event organized by Jewish organizations titled “Bridging Nations: A Tribute to Prime Minister Edi Rama at the UN General Assembly,” dedicated to Albania and the key role of Prime Minister Edi Rama in promoting unity among Balkan countries and his dedicated efforts to protect the rights and stories of minority communities, including Jews.
Rama stated that he is fully aware of the “elephant” in the room, as it is not easy to hold such a meeting against the backdrop of the immense pain and suffering that the deadly mass attack of October 7 inflicted on the people of Israel, but also the profound pain and suffering that the war in Gaza is causing to many innocent Palestinians.
“I know it would be very easy to set the elephant aside and then try to seek out and extract a true thought from this background that gives Caesar what belongs to Caesar and gives God what belongs to God, without hurting anyone’s feelings. However, let me quote Rabbi Sacks once again: ‘Terror fails and will always fail because it arouses in us a profound instinct for life.’ While the world may be split on how to emerge from this devastating war without witnessing the daily cries of the innocent suffering in Gaza, it is simply madness that could have destructive consequences for all of us not to be united in resolutely defining terror as the common foe,” emphasized Rama.
Rama emphasized that “seeking a proportional response to terror is not only a demand for something unrealistic, but also a way to coexist with terror, recognizing terrorists as legitimate counterparts to be appeased, not as common enemies to be defeated.”
“There is a story in the holy books: Once, a lioness took her cubs out for a walk to teach them about the facts of lion life. The mother said, ‘We, the lions, are the kings of the animal world and can defeat any other creature. Humans are also at our mercy. You should never be afraid of anyone.’ As they continued their walk, they passed by a monument depicting Samson tearing apart a lion. ‘Mother,’ said the startled cub, ‘didn’t you tell me that we can take down even humans and that we should never be afraid?’ ‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘and the monument proves this. If this happened regularly, they wouldn’t have erected a monument!’ Terrorists have their monuments: September 11, October 7, but they should never have victories against our common humanity,” he added.
“Yes, there are many reasons to criticize Israel in its war in Gaza, but none of those who support freedom and democracy should forget that Hamas represents one of the worst anti-democratic entities in this world. Therefore, what many of those who call Gaza an open-air prison need to be told is that the guardian of the prisoners inside that prison is Hamas, not Israel,” the Prime Minister continued.
The Prime Minister emphasized that “we are quite aware that what is happening in the territories where the people of Israel and the people of Palestine live is something that must come to an end as soon as possible.”
“If Hamas were an elected force that, instead of seeking the destruction of Israel with the support of Iran, sought the freedom and prosperity of its people through democratic order, I would be the first to say that Israel is wrong and should be stopped and treated as an aggressor against a neighbour seeking peace. But even though I suffer like any other human being witnessing what is happening in Gaza, I find it impossible to give even a thread of possibility to trust Hamas, which has been the daily executioner of its own people for many years in power, against which, honestly, I find nothing more noble than what I find in the fight of ISIS or Nazism against humanity. Unfortunately, no one has yet invented a method of defeating violence for self-defense without force, and again, we are certainly quite aware that what is happening in the territories where the people of Israel and the people of Palestine live is something that must come to an end as soon as possible,” he emphasized.
Rama emphasized the fact that “Albania has voted more than once at the United Nations in favour of an immediate ceasefire, but, meanwhile, we have never doubted that a ceasefire that does not include the release of all hostages is nothing more than encouragement for Hamas.”
Similarly, the Prime Minister emphasized that “we have long supported and resolutely advocate for a two-state solution as the only way forward toward lasting peace, but for us, this means that Hamas must be sidelined and there should be a credible political representation supported by all Arab countries for the Palestinian side.”
“On the other hand, I am fully aware that it is easier said than done, as there is no doubt that fighting terrorism on the front line is much more difficult than lecturing fighters from afar, while innocent hostages in the hands of executioners are not your people, but citizens of a country that history has taught in the hardest way that when the enemy takes the life of a single person because of their nationality, the life of the entire nation is at risk,” said Rama.
In this common fight against terrorism, anti-Semitism, and radicalism, the Prime Minister emphasized that “Albania stands firm alongside all those who are not ready to forget the tough lessons of history and to relive a past that has inflicted the most terrible pains on humanity.”
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