“In order to accomplish the right of self determination leading to an independent Palestinian state, all 159 countries that have recognized Palestine are obliged to immediately help end the Israeli occupation.”

This was the theme of author Daoud Kuttab as he made a tour in Bologna, Bergamo and Milan of the Italian version of his book State of Palestine NOW. The book is also available in English, Spanish, German and French.

Published by Altreconomia and translated by Stefano Nanni, the Italian book tour March 13-15 included six locations, in which the March 15^th event at one of the biggest solidarity fairs in Milano, was attended by around hundred participants.

The Rome Statues were signed in 1988, yet your own prime minister is cooperating with an Israeli premier wanted by the international court

Daoud Kuttab spoke about the schism between the support of the Italian people to Palestine and the refusal of the Georgia Meloni administration to recognize Palestine despite her earlier pledge to do so. “Your country’s capital was the location of the signing of the Rome Statues in 1988, yet your own prime minister is cooperating with an Israeli prime minister wanted by the international court that was signed into international law in Italy,” Kuttab told audiences.

Kuttab’s participation via teleconferencing due to his impossibility to fly caused by the Iran war included a video of the main themes in the book, a Q&A session with Italian audiences that covered various features surrounding ways to end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Among the topics covered, the difference in approach between calling for an independent Palestinian state on part of historic Palestine versus dealing theoretically with the dream of a single state with equal rights. “At a time that one side refuses to share power and insists on Jewish supremacy on all the land between the river and the sea, such a dream looks impossible”, Kuttab argued.

The award-winning Palestinian author didn’t negate the one state idea but recalled the quote by the late Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) who said that “Palestinians want a Palestinian state for five minutes” and then they will decide future alliances including the possibility to confederations or federations with other nations.

Also discussed was the upcoming April municipal elections and the eight Fatah congress in May including the future of the popular imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti and his supporters within the leading PLO faction.

Another Italian tour is being planned in May, potentially touching locations like Rome, Florence and Torino.