9 dec 2015
Director of the Palestinian Return Center in Britain Majed al-Zeer said the Palestinians’ right of return to their homes from which they were forcedly displaced is guaranteed by all of the international laws and conventions. No one has the right to waive that, he underlined.
Al-Zeer said the right of return is one of the key issues in the Palestinian Question. Al-Zeer's statements came in a speech in the ceremony organized by the center in the British House of Commons on Monday evening for the celebration of obtaining the consultative membership in the United Nations.
The world has started to recognize the importance of the issue of Palestinian refugees as one of the most significant issues in the Israeli-Arab conflict, al-Zeer pointed out. He opined that getting the membership of the UN is a good evidence for that.
Palestinian politicians and diplomats along with MPs of the British House of Commons delivered speeches at the ceremony. The center honored the diplomatic delegations of the states that voted for its joining of the UN.
The Palestinian Return Center was granted a consultative membership at the UN after 13 states voted for the decision for 16 others voted against it, while 18 States refrained from voting.
Al-Zeer said the right of return is one of the key issues in the Palestinian Question. Al-Zeer's statements came in a speech in the ceremony organized by the center in the British House of Commons on Monday evening for the celebration of obtaining the consultative membership in the United Nations.
The world has started to recognize the importance of the issue of Palestinian refugees as one of the most significant issues in the Israeli-Arab conflict, al-Zeer pointed out. He opined that getting the membership of the UN is a good evidence for that.
Palestinian politicians and diplomats along with MPs of the British House of Commons delivered speeches at the ceremony. The center honored the diplomatic delegations of the states that voted for its joining of the UN.
The Palestinian Return Center was granted a consultative membership at the UN after 13 states voted for the decision for 16 others voted against it, while 18 States refrained from voting.
7 dec 2015
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated his support for the idea of giving the Palestinians a demilitarized state in exchange for their recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Addressing the Saban Forum in Washington Sunday through a video call, Netanyahu said that the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would be to have the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
"The root cause of the conflict with the Palestinians is their refusal to recognize the Jewish state… Settlements and territory are an issue to be resolved, but they are not the core of the conflict."
Addressing the Saban Forum in Washington Sunday through a video call, Netanyahu said that the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would be to have the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
"The root cause of the conflict with the Palestinians is their refusal to recognize the Jewish state… Settlements and territory are an issue to be resolved, but they are not the core of the conflict."
6 dec 2015
Kerry "unclear" on PA survival
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, rejected statements made by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, that Israel is shifting towards being a “bi-national state”.
According to Jpost Israeli news outlet, Netanyahu said “I want to make clear, Israel will not be a bi-national state,” under claims that the Palestinian Authority “does not want peace”, and “calls for incitement” against the occupation.
Netanyahu said, according to the PNN, that when Erekat not only does not condemn the terrorist acts but, rather, pays a condolence call on the family of a terrorist, he “gives backing and encouragement to acts of terror,” referring to Erekat’s condolence call to the family of Mazrn Oraiba, who was shot-dead by Israeli forces at Hizma checkpoint, under the pretext of a car-ramming attack.
Netanyahu’s opposition came after Kerry’s statement at the Saban Forum in Washington, on Saturday, when he said “the truth is that many of those arguing against the PA simply don’t believe in two states.”
During the Israeli cabinet meeting, Netanyahu also took the chance to condemn the comments of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom against the Israeli terrorism, calling them “scandalous.”
John Kerry, speaking at the Saban Forum in Washington D.C., on Saturday, warned that current trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts are leading to a one-state reality. Kerry also said that if the situation continues, it is unclear how long the Palestinian Authority can survive.
“If there is a risk the Palestinian Authority might collapse and Israel wants it to survive, shouldn’t Israel do more to help sustain it?” Kerry said.
According to Haaretz, Kerry added that the two-state solution for the Israeli Palestinian conflict mustn’t become a “slogan,” but warned that “current trends are leading for a one state reality.”
“We have to be honest about what a one-state solution looks like,” Kerry said, warning that Israel couldn’t maintain its character as Jewish and democratic, asking rhetorically what the international reaction would be to such a scenario, and saying that true peace with its neighbors will not be possible under such conditions.
In a related context, in May of 2014, Israeli Minister of Economy and head of the Jewish Home party Naftali Bennett suggested the demolition of a portion of the apartheid wall which surrounds the West Bank,, offering an incentive of full Israeli citizenship for Palestinians affected by the move, but with the more strategical intention of annexing Area C to the state of Israel, amidst of new wave of increased settlement expansion.
During the 2013 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks led by none other than Kerry, Israeli officials announced and, eventually, carried out in full force, plans to build thousands of additional homes in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, while continuing to further seize lands, demolish homes and agricultural resources and, thus, leaving scores of Palestinian families severely disenfranchised and without so much as a roof over their heads to shelter them from inclement weather.
Gazans were already surviving on a mere 8 hours per day of electricity when the Palestinian negotiating team finally resigned in protest, in mid-November. Israel, soon after, made quite clear its position on securing peace with Palestinians when Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting with young Likud Party supporters, boasted:
“I was threatened in Washington: ‘not one brick’ [of settlement construction] … after five years, we built a little more than one brick…”
Asked about "peace talks with the Palestinians”, the PM reportedly replied, according to +972 online Israeli magazine: “about the – what?” to which his audience responded with a round of chuckling.
“The one-state solution is no solution at all for a Jewish, democratic Israel living in peace,” Kerry went on to say, Saturday.
Editor's note: In stark contrast with Kerry's statement, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. ~ Wikipedia
Kerry said that the distrust between the two sides has never been more profound. “President Abbas feels great despair – more than I have ever heard him,” Kerry said.
Saying that peace is the best way to achieve security, Kerry added that first of all, the violence must stop. “There’s no justification for violence against civilians. Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself,” he said.
“We need people to act in restraint. The Palestinian leadership should stop the incitement and condemn terror attacks,” he said.
Regarding the fight against Islamic State, Kerry seemed to be rebutting statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon the day before about a lack in U.S. leadership, and laid out U.S. actions and policy against ISIS and in Syria.
“We want a transition to a unified non-sectarian Syria,” Kerry said, adding that the U.S. isn’t naïve about the diplomatic effort in Syria. “It’s difficult,” he admitted. However, he added that the Vienna talks were “the most promising diplomatic effort regarding Syria in the last years.”
Regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, Kerry addressed Israel directly, saying that he knows Israel still has concerns, but that the U.S. is “convinced that we will know what Iran is doing.”
“Under the nuclear deal all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb are blocked,” he said, adding that it was the deal was the right thing to do, “regardless of whether they will change their behavior or not.”
Also of interest: Hotovely: "The whole land of Israel belongs to the Jews”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, rejected statements made by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, that Israel is shifting towards being a “bi-national state”.
According to Jpost Israeli news outlet, Netanyahu said “I want to make clear, Israel will not be a bi-national state,” under claims that the Palestinian Authority “does not want peace”, and “calls for incitement” against the occupation.
Netanyahu said, according to the PNN, that when Erekat not only does not condemn the terrorist acts but, rather, pays a condolence call on the family of a terrorist, he “gives backing and encouragement to acts of terror,” referring to Erekat’s condolence call to the family of Mazrn Oraiba, who was shot-dead by Israeli forces at Hizma checkpoint, under the pretext of a car-ramming attack.
Netanyahu’s opposition came after Kerry’s statement at the Saban Forum in Washington, on Saturday, when he said “the truth is that many of those arguing against the PA simply don’t believe in two states.”
During the Israeli cabinet meeting, Netanyahu also took the chance to condemn the comments of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom against the Israeli terrorism, calling them “scandalous.”
John Kerry, speaking at the Saban Forum in Washington D.C., on Saturday, warned that current trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts are leading to a one-state reality. Kerry also said that if the situation continues, it is unclear how long the Palestinian Authority can survive.
“If there is a risk the Palestinian Authority might collapse and Israel wants it to survive, shouldn’t Israel do more to help sustain it?” Kerry said.
According to Haaretz, Kerry added that the two-state solution for the Israeli Palestinian conflict mustn’t become a “slogan,” but warned that “current trends are leading for a one state reality.”
“We have to be honest about what a one-state solution looks like,” Kerry said, warning that Israel couldn’t maintain its character as Jewish and democratic, asking rhetorically what the international reaction would be to such a scenario, and saying that true peace with its neighbors will not be possible under such conditions.
In a related context, in May of 2014, Israeli Minister of Economy and head of the Jewish Home party Naftali Bennett suggested the demolition of a portion of the apartheid wall which surrounds the West Bank,, offering an incentive of full Israeli citizenship for Palestinians affected by the move, but with the more strategical intention of annexing Area C to the state of Israel, amidst of new wave of increased settlement expansion.
During the 2013 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks led by none other than Kerry, Israeli officials announced and, eventually, carried out in full force, plans to build thousands of additional homes in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, while continuing to further seize lands, demolish homes and agricultural resources and, thus, leaving scores of Palestinian families severely disenfranchised and without so much as a roof over their heads to shelter them from inclement weather.
Gazans were already surviving on a mere 8 hours per day of electricity when the Palestinian negotiating team finally resigned in protest, in mid-November. Israel, soon after, made quite clear its position on securing peace with Palestinians when Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting with young Likud Party supporters, boasted:
“I was threatened in Washington: ‘not one brick’ [of settlement construction] … after five years, we built a little more than one brick…”
Asked about "peace talks with the Palestinians”, the PM reportedly replied, according to +972 online Israeli magazine: “about the – what?” to which his audience responded with a round of chuckling.
“The one-state solution is no solution at all for a Jewish, democratic Israel living in peace,” Kerry went on to say, Saturday.
Editor's note: In stark contrast with Kerry's statement, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. ~ Wikipedia
Kerry said that the distrust between the two sides has never been more profound. “President Abbas feels great despair – more than I have ever heard him,” Kerry said.
Saying that peace is the best way to achieve security, Kerry added that first of all, the violence must stop. “There’s no justification for violence against civilians. Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself,” he said.
“We need people to act in restraint. The Palestinian leadership should stop the incitement and condemn terror attacks,” he said.
Regarding the fight against Islamic State, Kerry seemed to be rebutting statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon the day before about a lack in U.S. leadership, and laid out U.S. actions and policy against ISIS and in Syria.
“We want a transition to a unified non-sectarian Syria,” Kerry said, adding that the U.S. isn’t naïve about the diplomatic effort in Syria. “It’s difficult,” he admitted. However, he added that the Vienna talks were “the most promising diplomatic effort regarding Syria in the last years.”
Regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, Kerry addressed Israel directly, saying that he knows Israel still has concerns, but that the U.S. is “convinced that we will know what Iran is doing.”
“Under the nuclear deal all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb are blocked,” he said, adding that it was the deal was the right thing to do, “regardless of whether they will change their behavior or not.”
Also of interest: Hotovely: "The whole land of Israel belongs to the Jews”
2 dec 2015
By Dr. Fayez Rasheed
They’re killing our people in genocides, they’re torturing and arresting our children and they’re burning them alive. Israelis wish for the Palestinians to disappear from the face of the earth, so that they may rest, but we will not grant them any of their wishes. They hate Arabs and Muslims and the whole religion of Islam. They even tried to exploit the terrorist attack that hit Paris. A spokeswoman for Israeli Minister of Housing, Nira Yadin, attacked the holy Qur’an, desecrated and abused it verbally, connecting one of its verses to the events in Paris.
The Palestinian Mizan organisation for human rights called for an investigation of Yadin and for her to be fired from her position for her racist anti-Muslim remarks and slander against the Qur’an in saying that its verses are an incitement to violence. “Nira Yadin, journalist and spokeswoman for Minister of Housing Yoav Galant, said on social media that ‘what happened in France comes from chapter number 18 of the Koran’ [sic],” said Mizan. “We condemn such hateful statements and the underestimating of the Qur’an, and we consider these statements to be racist, exceeding all red lines when it comes to freedom of expression.” The Mizan statement added the group’s belief that Yadin’s statements violate the religion of Islam and the emotions of Muslims.
The budget for the Israeli army takes up a huge portion of government spending, at the expense of public services. The published general budget of the state of Israel reveals the ongoing racial discrimination against Palestinian citizens. Representatives of Arab municipal and rural councils are expected to demonstrate in front of the Knesset against the financial crisis from which they are suffering. Israel’s general budget for the current year and next is between $93 and 96 billion, of which $16 billion is allocated to the ministry of defence. Further millions are spent on border guards, who are part of the police and thus come under the ministry of the interior. Illegal settlers and the settlements take another large slice of public money. According to recent research, one third of the Israeli budget is usually spent on war and occupation policies.
Israeli sources reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his visit to Washington last week to lobby for an increase in US military aid from next year instead of 2019. The sources claim that the official US response is “positive”. Israel receives $3.1 billion annually from the United States as fixed military support; this does not include the hundreds of millions of dollars that Washington spends on the projects to develop weapons and military equipment. Israel is now demanding an increase to $5 billion per annum.
Meanwhile, other official statistics report that 4,597 births were registered in the Gaza Strip during the month of October; an average of 148 babies a day. Figures released by the Interior Ministry in Gaza show that the distribution of births is greater in the Gaza governorate, at 2,092, and Khan Younis governorate, with 971. The Central, Rafah and Northern governorates had 575, 537 and 422 births respectively.
People should take note of all of this information. For while the Israelis and their allies seek to wipe the Palestinians off the face of the earth, and are spending huge sums on genocidal massacres and ethnic cleansing in order to do so, our people keep producing babies. Our numbers continue to grow as we continue to struggle for our rights, despite the best efforts of Israel and the billions it allocates towards its wars and occupation.
(Translated by MEMO from Arabi21, November 19, 2015.)
They’re killing our people in genocides, they’re torturing and arresting our children and they’re burning them alive. Israelis wish for the Palestinians to disappear from the face of the earth, so that they may rest, but we will not grant them any of their wishes. They hate Arabs and Muslims and the whole religion of Islam. They even tried to exploit the terrorist attack that hit Paris. A spokeswoman for Israeli Minister of Housing, Nira Yadin, attacked the holy Qur’an, desecrated and abused it verbally, connecting one of its verses to the events in Paris.
The Palestinian Mizan organisation for human rights called for an investigation of Yadin and for her to be fired from her position for her racist anti-Muslim remarks and slander against the Qur’an in saying that its verses are an incitement to violence. “Nira Yadin, journalist and spokeswoman for Minister of Housing Yoav Galant, said on social media that ‘what happened in France comes from chapter number 18 of the Koran’ [sic],” said Mizan. “We condemn such hateful statements and the underestimating of the Qur’an, and we consider these statements to be racist, exceeding all red lines when it comes to freedom of expression.” The Mizan statement added the group’s belief that Yadin’s statements violate the religion of Islam and the emotions of Muslims.
The budget for the Israeli army takes up a huge portion of government spending, at the expense of public services. The published general budget of the state of Israel reveals the ongoing racial discrimination against Palestinian citizens. Representatives of Arab municipal and rural councils are expected to demonstrate in front of the Knesset against the financial crisis from which they are suffering. Israel’s general budget for the current year and next is between $93 and 96 billion, of which $16 billion is allocated to the ministry of defence. Further millions are spent on border guards, who are part of the police and thus come under the ministry of the interior. Illegal settlers and the settlements take another large slice of public money. According to recent research, one third of the Israeli budget is usually spent on war and occupation policies.
Israeli sources reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his visit to Washington last week to lobby for an increase in US military aid from next year instead of 2019. The sources claim that the official US response is “positive”. Israel receives $3.1 billion annually from the United States as fixed military support; this does not include the hundreds of millions of dollars that Washington spends on the projects to develop weapons and military equipment. Israel is now demanding an increase to $5 billion per annum.
Meanwhile, other official statistics report that 4,597 births were registered in the Gaza Strip during the month of October; an average of 148 babies a day. Figures released by the Interior Ministry in Gaza show that the distribution of births is greater in the Gaza governorate, at 2,092, and Khan Younis governorate, with 971. The Central, Rafah and Northern governorates had 575, 537 and 422 births respectively.
People should take note of all of this information. For while the Israelis and their allies seek to wipe the Palestinians off the face of the earth, and are spending huge sums on genocidal massacres and ethnic cleansing in order to do so, our people keep producing babies. Our numbers continue to grow as we continue to struggle for our rights, despite the best efforts of Israel and the billions it allocates towards its wars and occupation.
(Translated by MEMO from Arabi21, November 19, 2015.)
Vice President of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs, Hasan Yilmaz, declared during his visit to Gaza the start of the Turkish campaign to rebuild and restore the mosques that were destroyed during Israel’s recent aggression.
During the opening of al-Safa Mosque in Bureij refugee camp in the central of Gaza, Yilmaz said that his visit came with the aim of laying the foundation stone of the Turkish project of Gaza mosques reconstruction that was earlier declared during the Turkish Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Kormaz’s visit to the Strip a month ago.
"We are proud of the Palestinian heroic resistance and strong steadfastness in front of the Israeli enemy", he said during the opening ceremony.
Yilmaz stressed the importance and sacredness of occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque for the Islamic nation.
He also pointed to the Turkish people’s strong support for the Palestinian cause and people.
The Turkish Ministry for Religious Affairs works at developing Muslim religious tourism to occupied Jerusalem through organizing trips for Turkish pilgrims to the occupied city before heading to Makkah.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Baher, first deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, expressed his gratitude to the Turkish authorities and people for their political and financial support for the Palestinian people.
He also thanked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his positive position in support of the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada.
The first phase of the Turkish campaign includes the reconstruction of nine demolished mosques with a coast of $ 4.7 million.
During the three Israeli aggressions on Gaza, 110 mosques were totally destroyed while 436 others were partially demolished.
During the opening of al-Safa Mosque in Bureij refugee camp in the central of Gaza, Yilmaz said that his visit came with the aim of laying the foundation stone of the Turkish project of Gaza mosques reconstruction that was earlier declared during the Turkish Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Kormaz’s visit to the Strip a month ago.
"We are proud of the Palestinian heroic resistance and strong steadfastness in front of the Israeli enemy", he said during the opening ceremony.
Yilmaz stressed the importance and sacredness of occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque for the Islamic nation.
He also pointed to the Turkish people’s strong support for the Palestinian cause and people.
The Turkish Ministry for Religious Affairs works at developing Muslim religious tourism to occupied Jerusalem through organizing trips for Turkish pilgrims to the occupied city before heading to Makkah.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Baher, first deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, expressed his gratitude to the Turkish authorities and people for their political and financial support for the Palestinian people.
He also thanked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his positive position in support of the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada.
The first phase of the Turkish campaign includes the reconstruction of nine demolished mosques with a coast of $ 4.7 million.
During the three Israeli aggressions on Gaza, 110 mosques were totally destroyed while 436 others were partially demolished.
30 nov 2015
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has met the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday afternoon at the UN Climate Summit.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper said that Netanyahu and Abbas shake hands at the conference, pointing out that the meeting was the first face to face exchange since 2010.
According to the newspaper, Netanyahu and Abbas shook hands during a “family photo” of the nearly 150 world leaders gathered here for the climate conference.
The meeting comes as tensions remain high in the occupied territories where 106 Palestinians were shot and killed while thousands others were injured since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada on October 1 in protest against Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper said that Netanyahu and Abbas shake hands at the conference, pointing out that the meeting was the first face to face exchange since 2010.
According to the newspaper, Netanyahu and Abbas shook hands during a “family photo” of the nearly 150 world leaders gathered here for the climate conference.
The meeting comes as tensions remain high in the occupied territories where 106 Palestinians were shot and killed while thousands others were injured since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada on October 1 in protest against Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.
29 nov 2015
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that there are no plans to deliver any lands from West Bank Area C to Palestinians.
In a meeting for Likud ministers, on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that there will be no transfer of land to the Palestinian Authority, "not 40 thousand dunams, not 10 thousand, not one meter," he said.
The Cabinet demanded answers, Sunday, after reports surfaced that Civil Administration, under orders from Netanyahu, was preparing to deliver 10,000 dunams (2,471 acres) of land from Area C to the PA, as a confidence-building measure.
According to Al Ray, the Yesha Council also strongly denounced the plan, accusing Netanyahu of giving "concessions" instead of attacking the PA and its leaders who "encourage terrorism."
In a meeting for Likud ministers, on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that there will be no transfer of land to the Palestinian Authority, "not 40 thousand dunams, not 10 thousand, not one meter," he said.
The Cabinet demanded answers, Sunday, after reports surfaced that Civil Administration, under orders from Netanyahu, was preparing to deliver 10,000 dunams (2,471 acres) of land from Area C to the PA, as a confidence-building measure.
According to Al Ray, the Yesha Council also strongly denounced the plan, accusing Netanyahu of giving "concessions" instead of attacking the PA and its leaders who "encourage terrorism."
Ashrawi releases statement
Today is the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Thirty years after the UN partition plan of Palestine, the General Assembly passed a new resolution proclaiming an annual observation, on November 29th, to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The Palestine News Network (PNN) reports that, according to the United Nations (UN), this date “was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people… Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being.”
Also, as described by the UN, today is “an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remained unresolved and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property from which they had been displaced.”
Today, messages from the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority are being seeing across the internet.
Below, it is a press release from PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
“Three years ago, 138 countries overwhelmingly voted in support of Palestine’s enhancement of status at the United Nations. The international community made a powerful statement that Palestinian self-determination and freedom trump Israel’s military occupation, and voted in favor of Palestine as a non-member observer state.
Three years later, we, the Palestinian people, are witnessing an end to the two-state solution as Israel works to destroy the chances for peace and stability with its systematic and deliberate plans to establish “Greater Israel” on historical Palestine.
In spite of the disastrous and alarming conditions on the ground, we extend our gratitude to the members of the international community that have expressed their genuine solidarity with us, courageously stood on the right side of peace, justice and dignity, and actively supported Palestinian aspirations for independence and liberty.
We thank those individual countries and parliaments that have upheld their principles and recognized Palestine, and we are grateful to the global solidarity movements that have boldly worked to hold Israel accountable, end the occupation, guarantee the protection of the Palestinians, and preserve Palestinian human rights.
We are currently witnessing genuine solidarity for Palestine—in this month alone, the European Commission adopted new guidelines for labeling products and goods produced in the illegal settlements in Occupied Palestine (This move is a modest first step, and such labeling should develop into a total boycott of all settlements and settlers); the American Anthropological Association became the largest U.S. academic organization to approve a boycott of Israeli institutions and to affirm the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; and the British Labour Party’s National Executive Committee voted to boycott private security company G4S for its direct involvement with Israeli prisons.
Such examples of active and positive engagement send an important message of hope and encouragement to our people—the popular non-violent struggle for Palestinian inalienable rights in the face of the belligerent occupier is possible, and our continued steadfastness and commitment to freedom will not end in vain.
We are determined to continue working with our international solidarity partners and to persist in our political, legal and diplomatic efforts to ensure that the chances for peace and freedom have not been destroyed indefinitely. It is our hope that the Palestinian people will finally experience a situation free of the occupation and the grave injustices that they have been subjected to for decades.”
Today is the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Thirty years after the UN partition plan of Palestine, the General Assembly passed a new resolution proclaiming an annual observation, on November 29th, to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The Palestine News Network (PNN) reports that, according to the United Nations (UN), this date “was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people… Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being.”
Also, as described by the UN, today is “an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remained unresolved and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property from which they had been displaced.”
Today, messages from the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority are being seeing across the internet.
Below, it is a press release from PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
“Three years ago, 138 countries overwhelmingly voted in support of Palestine’s enhancement of status at the United Nations. The international community made a powerful statement that Palestinian self-determination and freedom trump Israel’s military occupation, and voted in favor of Palestine as a non-member observer state.
Three years later, we, the Palestinian people, are witnessing an end to the two-state solution as Israel works to destroy the chances for peace and stability with its systematic and deliberate plans to establish “Greater Israel” on historical Palestine.
In spite of the disastrous and alarming conditions on the ground, we extend our gratitude to the members of the international community that have expressed their genuine solidarity with us, courageously stood on the right side of peace, justice and dignity, and actively supported Palestinian aspirations for independence and liberty.
We thank those individual countries and parliaments that have upheld their principles and recognized Palestine, and we are grateful to the global solidarity movements that have boldly worked to hold Israel accountable, end the occupation, guarantee the protection of the Palestinians, and preserve Palestinian human rights.
We are currently witnessing genuine solidarity for Palestine—in this month alone, the European Commission adopted new guidelines for labeling products and goods produced in the illegal settlements in Occupied Palestine (This move is a modest first step, and such labeling should develop into a total boycott of all settlements and settlers); the American Anthropological Association became the largest U.S. academic organization to approve a boycott of Israeli institutions and to affirm the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; and the British Labour Party’s National Executive Committee voted to boycott private security company G4S for its direct involvement with Israeli prisons.
Such examples of active and positive engagement send an important message of hope and encouragement to our people—the popular non-violent struggle for Palestinian inalienable rights in the face of the belligerent occupier is possible, and our continued steadfastness and commitment to freedom will not end in vain.
We are determined to continue working with our international solidarity partners and to persist in our political, legal and diplomatic efforts to ensure that the chances for peace and freedom have not been destroyed indefinitely. It is our hope that the Palestinian people will finally experience a situation free of the occupation and the grave injustices that they have been subjected to for decades.”
Ziyad Hammouri, director and a founder of the Jerusalem Center for Social & Economic Rights, warned of the repercussions of the Israeli resolution of withdrawing residency from Jerusalemites and described the decision as "ethnic cleansing".
Israeli media said Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is deliberating on whether to withdraw residencies from more than 80,000 Jerusalemites residing behind the Israeli Separation Wall.
However, Palestinian statistics show that more than 120,000 Palestinians reside in the neighborhoods behind the Wall. These neighborhoods are now geographically connected to the West Bank, with Israeli military checkpoints separating them from Jerusalem, and the Palestinian residents of that region continuously pay taxes to the Israeli occupation government.
Israeli racist concerns
Hammouri clarified in an interview with the PIC that Israel is concerned about the demographic situation in Occupied Jerusalem, and is exerting all efforts to achieve a complete Judaization of Jerusalem through exiling Palestinians and bringing 300,000 Israeli settlers to live in their place. He warned of Israel's next escalations that would include demolishing Palestinian houses and putting economic pressures on Jerusalemites, making their lives miserably unlivable.
Hammouri warned of the negative impacts of the Israeli measures that would completely seclude these Palestinians from Jerusalem, and affect the Palestinian education, too.
Economic losses
According to Hammouri, the Palestinian economy would suffer formidable losses, especially in the commercial sector of the Old City, due to the Israeli high taxes imposed on Palestinian shops owners, which may oblige them to work in Israeli facilities to make livelihood.
He pointed out that all the Israeli ministries have special budgets for Jerusalem, especially for funding the settlement projects. On the other hand, the PLO's budget for Jerusalem is only $5-8 million.
According to Hammouri, 80% of Jerusalemites are under the poverty line, with deterioration in the economic and social conditions in the Old City due to the population density.
Absence of strategies
Hammouri lamented the absence of a Palestinian strategy to face the Israeli schemes. He insisted that the PLO has to cut some budgets from some ministries to provide financial support for the Jerusalemites. He mentioned that 20% of the Palestinian shops in the Old City are closed due to the bad economic conditions, threatening the livelihood of tens of thousands of Palestinian.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Jerusalem, according to Hammouri, fosters the social epidemics among Palestinians, which is something immensely preferred by the Israeli occupation.
Civil administration
Hammouri said the Israeli plans aim at turning the regions behind the Separation Wall into " civil administration", i.e. putting them under military rule. Therefore, the PLO, rather than the Israel municipality, would be responsible for providing services to these areas.
He stated that Jerusalem is a crucial issue for Israel, insisting that less than 12,000 Jerusalemites have Israeli nationalities.
Since 1967, the Israeli authorities have withdrawn the residency from 14,900 Jerusalemites.
Israeli media said Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is deliberating on whether to withdraw residencies from more than 80,000 Jerusalemites residing behind the Israeli Separation Wall.
However, Palestinian statistics show that more than 120,000 Palestinians reside in the neighborhoods behind the Wall. These neighborhoods are now geographically connected to the West Bank, with Israeli military checkpoints separating them from Jerusalem, and the Palestinian residents of that region continuously pay taxes to the Israeli occupation government.
Israeli racist concerns
Hammouri clarified in an interview with the PIC that Israel is concerned about the demographic situation in Occupied Jerusalem, and is exerting all efforts to achieve a complete Judaization of Jerusalem through exiling Palestinians and bringing 300,000 Israeli settlers to live in their place. He warned of Israel's next escalations that would include demolishing Palestinian houses and putting economic pressures on Jerusalemites, making their lives miserably unlivable.
Hammouri warned of the negative impacts of the Israeli measures that would completely seclude these Palestinians from Jerusalem, and affect the Palestinian education, too.
Economic losses
According to Hammouri, the Palestinian economy would suffer formidable losses, especially in the commercial sector of the Old City, due to the Israeli high taxes imposed on Palestinian shops owners, which may oblige them to work in Israeli facilities to make livelihood.
He pointed out that all the Israeli ministries have special budgets for Jerusalem, especially for funding the settlement projects. On the other hand, the PLO's budget for Jerusalem is only $5-8 million.
According to Hammouri, 80% of Jerusalemites are under the poverty line, with deterioration in the economic and social conditions in the Old City due to the population density.
Absence of strategies
Hammouri lamented the absence of a Palestinian strategy to face the Israeli schemes. He insisted that the PLO has to cut some budgets from some ministries to provide financial support for the Jerusalemites. He mentioned that 20% of the Palestinian shops in the Old City are closed due to the bad economic conditions, threatening the livelihood of tens of thousands of Palestinian.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Jerusalem, according to Hammouri, fosters the social epidemics among Palestinians, which is something immensely preferred by the Israeli occupation.
Civil administration
Hammouri said the Israeli plans aim at turning the regions behind the Separation Wall into " civil administration", i.e. putting them under military rule. Therefore, the PLO, rather than the Israel municipality, would be responsible for providing services to these areas.
He stated that Jerusalem is a crucial issue for Israel, insisting that less than 12,000 Jerusalemites have Israeli nationalities.
Since 1967, the Israeli authorities have withdrawn the residency from 14,900 Jerusalemites.
28 nov 2015
On Friday, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) -- the UN's biggest entity in Africa -- hoisted the flag of the state of Palestine at its headquarters, in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, to show solidarity with the cause of the Palestinian people in securing their right to statehood.
World Bulletin/Al Ray reports that resident ambassadors of numerous countries, UN and African Union officials, as well as Ethiopian government representatives, attended the flag-raising ceremony that was accompanied by the Palestinian anthem.
"On this international day of solidarity, let us reaffirm our commitment to bring about the justice and peace that the people of Israel and Palestine deserve," said United nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon through his representative.
"Today, 136 countries recognize the state of Palestine and its flag flies at the United Nation next to those of member states. However, these advances are not felt by children in Gaza or by residents of Nablus, Hebron and east Jerusalem," he said.
He said that both Israel and Palestine "should" make necessary compromises to put an end to the conflict which has claimed numerous lives in past decades. "Both sides must reject incitement and inflammatory public statements," he said.
The Palestinian ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Nasir Abu Jaish, called on the international community to take responsibility to end the suffering of Palestinians from forced deportation and incarceration of by Israeli forces.
World Bulletin/Al Ray reports that resident ambassadors of numerous countries, UN and African Union officials, as well as Ethiopian government representatives, attended the flag-raising ceremony that was accompanied by the Palestinian anthem.
"On this international day of solidarity, let us reaffirm our commitment to bring about the justice and peace that the people of Israel and Palestine deserve," said United nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon through his representative.
"Today, 136 countries recognize the state of Palestine and its flag flies at the United Nation next to those of member states. However, these advances are not felt by children in Gaza or by residents of Nablus, Hebron and east Jerusalem," he said.
He said that both Israel and Palestine "should" make necessary compromises to put an end to the conflict which has claimed numerous lives in past decades. "Both sides must reject incitement and inflammatory public statements," he said.
The Palestinian ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Nasir Abu Jaish, called on the international community to take responsibility to end the suffering of Palestinians from forced deportation and incarceration of by Israeli forces.