Ambassador Rami Tahboub to Al-Qabas: Organizing the status of 8,500 Palestinians residing in Kuwait
May Al-Sukkar – The Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait, Rami Tahboub, announced a comprehensive plan to regularize the status of approximately 8,500 Palestinians residing in Kuwait. In statements to Al-Qabas, Tahboub indicated that procedures have begun to transfer the residency permits of Palestinians “holding Egyptian, Lebanese, and Syrian documents” to Palestinian passports. He emphasized that this step is part of an effort to regularize the status of Palestinian citizens residing in Kuwait, stressing the necessity for every Palestinian currently residing in Kuwait to obtain a Palestinian passport as a prerequisite for completing residency transfer procedures.
He affirmed that the Palestinian Embassy will continue to follow up on procedures and coordinate with the relevant Kuwaiti authorities, ensuring the facilitation of the transition process and the completion of transactions within established frameworks and procedures. Tahboub called on all concerned Palestinian citizens to take the necessary steps to obtain a Palestinian passport and to follow the Embassy’s instructions regarding the required steps for transferring residency.
Regarding bilateral relations, Ambassador Tahboub stressed that Kuwait is the largest supporter of the Palestinian cause. He affirmed that Kuwait’s stance supporting the imposition of sanctions and the boycott of Israeli settlement goods stems from Kuwait’s firm, steadfast, and principled position standing with the Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate rights to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the June 4, 1967 borders. He further emphasized that the Palestinian cause has triumphed and that blind American support for Israel must end.
Tahboub stated, “We see that the international community is beginning to side with the right side of history, and that the Palestinian cause has triumphed. The world’s awareness and acknowledgment of the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people have led to the recognition of the State of Palestine and its capital, East Jerusalem.”
The following are the details:
Ambassador Rami Tahboub announced a comprehensive plan to regularize the status of 8,500 Palestinians residing in Kuwait. In statements to Al-Qabas, Tahboub pointed to the initiation of procedures to transfer the residency permits of Palestinians “holding Egyptian, Lebanese, and Syrian documents” to Palestinian passports, noting that this step is part of regularizing the status of Palestinian citizens in Kuwait. He stressed the necessity for every Palestinian currently residing in Kuwait to obtain a Palestinian passport to facilitate the completion of residency transfer procedures. He affirmed that the Palestinian Embassy will continue to follow up on procedures and coordinate with relevant Kuwaiti authorities to ensure the facilitation of the transition and the completion of transactions according to established frameworks. He called on all concerned Palestinian citizens to take the necessary steps to obtain a Palestinian passport and to follow the Embassy’s instructions regarding the steps required for transferring residency.
On the level of joint relations, Ambassador Tahboub stressed that Kuwait is the largest supporter of the Palestinian cause. He affirmed that Kuwait’s position supporting the imposition of sanctions and the boycott of Israeli settlement goods is part of Kuwait’s firm, steadfast, and principled stance standing with the Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate rights to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, within the June 4, 1967 borders. He stated that Kuwait’s supportive position toward the decision by 12 Western countries to boycott settlement goods and impose sanctions “comes within Kuwait’s firm, steadfast, and principled stance of standing with the Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate rights to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, within the June 4, 1967 borders.”
Regarding his evaluation of Kuwait’s role in supporting the Palestinian cause in international forums, and whether Kuwait’s stance is among the clearest Arab positions in confronting settlement, annexation, and displacement, Tahboub affirmed that Kuwait’s support for the Palestinian cause in international forums “is not new; rather, it is an unwavering position since the day Kuwait joined the United Nations after independence.”
On the Kuwaiti call for other countries to follow the lead of nations that have imposed restrictions on settlement products, and whether he expects the circle of countries taking such measures to expand, Tahboub considered the Kuwaiti call “very important.”
He said, “Kuwait is a country with high credibility in the international community, and we expect other countries to join the boycott if they truly believe in the two-state solution and the illegitimacy of settlements from the outset in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Regarding the British, French, Spanish, and Canadian positions specifically, and whether the announcements by Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Britain, and other European countries mark the beginning of forming an international economic front against Israeli settlements, Tahboub affirmed that the Palestinian leadership appreciates the positions of these countries. He stated, “We see that the positions of all these countries are appreciated by the Palestinian leadership, and we view them as a step in the right direction. More practical measures must be taken against everything related to the illegal settlements on the lands of the occupied State of Palestine.”
On Kuwait’s categorical rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, and whether the State of Palestine has received genuine international guarantees to prevent any plans to displace Palestinians, or if international rejection remains more political than practical, Tahboub said, “Kuwait, all Arab countries, and the entire world stand against displacement, whether forced or voluntary.” He added, “The Palestinian leadership, the Palestinian people, and the entire world will confront displacement with all the determination at their disposal. The steadfastness of our people on their land is the greatest guarantee against all attempts to end the Palestinian cause.”
Regarding the recognition of more states of Palestine, coinciding with Western countries beginning to take measures against settlement products, and whether Israel has begun to lose its diplomatic battle, Tahboub said, “We see that the international community is beginning to side with the right side of history, and that the Palestinian narrative based on justice has triumphed.” He clarified that “the world’s awareness and acknowledgment of the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people have led to the recognition of the State of Palestine and its capital, East Jerusalem.”
Rejecting Israeli Arrogance
Ambassador Rami Tahboub called on the international community to take the correct practical steps to put an end to Israeli arrogance and to restore the full rights of the Palestinian people on their entire national territory, and to establish their independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Palestinian Cause is a Priority for Kuwait
The Palestinian Ambassador clarified that “the Palestinian cause has been and remains a priority of Kuwait’s foreign policy,” noting that Kuwait’s position “is among the most stable and clear regarding everything related to the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people.” Tahboub stated that “coordination with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuous on all matters related to the Palestinian cause.” He added, “Kuwait does not need coordination to support Palestine and its cause; Kuwait is with us step by step in any political move that serves the interests of the Palestinian cause, and we have full confidence in it.”
