11 july 2016
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, slammed Iranian Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Khosrow Orouj for his statements in which he accused Hamas of seeking negotiations with Israel via Turkey.
“They are false claims”, Hamas said.
Hamas Movement condemned, in a statement on Sunday, the statements of the Iranian official, stating that they are totally untrue, and added, "Hamas’s policy is clear in this regard as it does not accept any negotiation with the enemy”.
Hamas condemns al-Faisal’s comments
Hamas Movement condemned Sunday evening the Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal’s comments during a conference for the Iranian opposition in Paris, saying that such remarks only serve the Israeli occupation’s agenda and justifies its crimes.
These statements are baseless fabrications, the Movement stressed. Everybody knows very well that Hamas Movement is a Palestinian group that resists Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The group has a Palestinian agenda that only serves its people and holy sites, the statement said.
“Such statements harm Palestinian people, resistance, and noble cause and only serve Israeli occupation and justify its crimes against the Palestinians.”
“They are false claims”, Hamas said.
Hamas Movement condemned, in a statement on Sunday, the statements of the Iranian official, stating that they are totally untrue, and added, "Hamas’s policy is clear in this regard as it does not accept any negotiation with the enemy”.
Hamas condemns al-Faisal’s comments
Hamas Movement condemned Sunday evening the Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal’s comments during a conference for the Iranian opposition in Paris, saying that such remarks only serve the Israeli occupation’s agenda and justifies its crimes.
These statements are baseless fabrications, the Movement stressed. Everybody knows very well that Hamas Movement is a Palestinian group that resists Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The group has a Palestinian agenda that only serves its people and holy sites, the statement said.
“Such statements harm Palestinian people, resistance, and noble cause and only serve Israeli occupation and justify its crimes against the Palestinians.”
8 july 2016
|
|
Leila Khaled, member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian National Council, delivered a keynote speech at the Resistance Festival in Greece. Khaled also joined seminars and met a number of political leaders.
Leila Khaled stressed the collective history of resistance and mutual solidarity between the people of Palestine and Greece. Among others, she underpinned, solidarity at the time when Greece was governed by a |
military dictatorship. Khaled spoke alongside Figen Yuksekdag of the HDP of Turkey, Deborah Santana of the Puerto Rican liberation movement, and Marina Brescia of the Resistance Festival organizing committee.
Khaled highlighted in particular the struggle of political prisoners, focusing on the hunger strike of Bilal Kayed and carrying greetings from PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat to the festival. She described Kayed’s imprisonment for 14 and one-half years, followed by an order of administrative detention against him, urging global mobilization for political prisoners and saluting the struggles of her fellow speakers, calling for freedom for Puerto Rican, Turkish and Kurdish prisoners, and international revolutionary prisoners.
Leila Khaled also denounced the current Greek government’s actions to build a closer relationship with the Zionist occupation as well as its concessions to European powers when SYRIZA was elected by the Greek people to reject these forces. She particularly highlighted the government’s pursuit of natural gas deals with the occupier, noting that such deals were based on the profiteering and plundering from stolen Palestinian gas, and only pose further threats of exploitation to the Greek people.
Khaled met several prominent Greek political figures, including Zoe Konstantopoulou, former Speaker of the Greek Parliament, where she emphasized the need to build stronger mutual solidarity to confront the forces of imperialism and colonialism that threaten the Palestinian and Greek people. She met with Member of European Parliament Sofia Sakorafa, former Olympic athlete and a longtime supporter of the Palestinian people, emphasizing the importance of supporting Palestinian political prisoners and the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Khaled also presented before a political forum at the Agricultural University of Athens before hundreds of activists and cadres of Greek progressive political forces, emphasizing the importance of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign and the need to cut off all forms of political, economic, military, and academic cooperation between Greece and the Zionist state.
Khaled’s visit came despite various attempts and pressures exerted by the Israeli embassy in Athens against the visit of Leila Khaled and attempts to cancel her events, threaten her personally, and silence her speeches. The Greek leftist forces with which she met emphasized their commitment to stand with the Palestinian people and their resistance for return and liberation.
Khaled highlighted in particular the struggle of political prisoners, focusing on the hunger strike of Bilal Kayed and carrying greetings from PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat to the festival. She described Kayed’s imprisonment for 14 and one-half years, followed by an order of administrative detention against him, urging global mobilization for political prisoners and saluting the struggles of her fellow speakers, calling for freedom for Puerto Rican, Turkish and Kurdish prisoners, and international revolutionary prisoners.
Leila Khaled also denounced the current Greek government’s actions to build a closer relationship with the Zionist occupation as well as its concessions to European powers when SYRIZA was elected by the Greek people to reject these forces. She particularly highlighted the government’s pursuit of natural gas deals with the occupier, noting that such deals were based on the profiteering and plundering from stolen Palestinian gas, and only pose further threats of exploitation to the Greek people.
Khaled met several prominent Greek political figures, including Zoe Konstantopoulou, former Speaker of the Greek Parliament, where she emphasized the need to build stronger mutual solidarity to confront the forces of imperialism and colonialism that threaten the Palestinian and Greek people. She met with Member of European Parliament Sofia Sakorafa, former Olympic athlete and a longtime supporter of the Palestinian people, emphasizing the importance of supporting Palestinian political prisoners and the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Khaled also presented before a political forum at the Agricultural University of Athens before hundreds of activists and cadres of Greek progressive political forces, emphasizing the importance of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign and the need to cut off all forms of political, economic, military, and academic cooperation between Greece and the Zionist state.
Khaled’s visit came despite various attempts and pressures exerted by the Israeli embassy in Athens against the visit of Leila Khaled and attempts to cancel her events, threaten her personally, and silence her speeches. The Greek leftist forces with which she met emphasized their commitment to stand with the Palestinian people and their resistance for return and liberation.
3 july 2016
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of hindering popular efforts for internationalizing the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails especially at the UN.
Mohammad al-Khatib, PFLP member and coordinator of “Samedoun” Network in Europe, said in a press statement that the PA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki had not sent any circulation to the embassies of Palestine on the issue of Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for two weeks.
Khatib pointed out that the role by Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee in this regard is not enough. The Committee has been incapable to act due to its affiliation with the PA, he said.
Mohammad al-Khatib, PFLP member and coordinator of “Samedoun” Network in Europe, said in a press statement that the PA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki had not sent any circulation to the embassies of Palestine on the issue of Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for two weeks.
Khatib pointed out that the role by Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee in this regard is not enough. The Committee has been incapable to act due to its affiliation with the PA, he said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly denounced Israel's persistence in its violations against the Palestinian people, their holy sites and land and criticized the Middle East Quartet's report on Palestine.
"The unabated construction of settlements, the unchecked terror committed by settlers, the Judaization of al-Quds (Jerusalem) and its imposed isolation, the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the apartheid policies of the Israeli authorities and the failure of the international community to enforce its own resolutions related to the Palestinian issue are forming the environment and cause that invite violence, propagate tension and deepen the sense of frustration, injustice and helplessness among Palestinians,"
OIC secretary-general Iyad Madani stated in a press release published on the organization's website on Saturday. Madani also expressed his disappointment over the content of the recent report by the Quartet Committee on the Middle East.
The report, Madani said, assigned equal blame on the oppressed Palestinians and their oppressor. "In using the term, 'Palestinian violence' the report glosses over the fact that the Palestinians are an occupied people, of whom more than 2420 have been killed, some by burning to death, during the last two years alone," the OIC chief was quoted as saying.
He added that "Palestinians have been living under the yoke of a racist occupation for 50 years, collectively punished by destroying their homes and infrastructure, depriving them of water and electricity supplies, and seizing their financial and natural resources."
He also said the Quartet's report lacked objectivity when it failed to see the Israeli occupation, policies and illegal practices as the main obstacle and fundamental cause that hinder any progress in the political process.
He expressed the need for the Quartet to assume its political, legal and moral responsibility fully and be an honest mediator in sponsoring a multi-track political process based on a specific timeframe, clear international references and definite steps for ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Madani also deplored the unjustified use of veto power and the submission to the far-right parties in order to prevent any attempt to compel Israel to respect international resolutions and human rights conventions.
"The unabated construction of settlements, the unchecked terror committed by settlers, the Judaization of al-Quds (Jerusalem) and its imposed isolation, the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the apartheid policies of the Israeli authorities and the failure of the international community to enforce its own resolutions related to the Palestinian issue are forming the environment and cause that invite violence, propagate tension and deepen the sense of frustration, injustice and helplessness among Palestinians,"
OIC secretary-general Iyad Madani stated in a press release published on the organization's website on Saturday. Madani also expressed his disappointment over the content of the recent report by the Quartet Committee on the Middle East.
The report, Madani said, assigned equal blame on the oppressed Palestinians and their oppressor. "In using the term, 'Palestinian violence' the report glosses over the fact that the Palestinians are an occupied people, of whom more than 2420 have been killed, some by burning to death, during the last two years alone," the OIC chief was quoted as saying.
He added that "Palestinians have been living under the yoke of a racist occupation for 50 years, collectively punished by destroying their homes and infrastructure, depriving them of water and electricity supplies, and seizing their financial and natural resources."
He also said the Quartet's report lacked objectivity when it failed to see the Israeli occupation, policies and illegal practices as the main obstacle and fundamental cause that hinder any progress in the political process.
He expressed the need for the Quartet to assume its political, legal and moral responsibility fully and be an honest mediator in sponsoring a multi-track political process based on a specific timeframe, clear international references and definite steps for ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Madani also deplored the unjustified use of veto power and the submission to the far-right parties in order to prevent any attempt to compel Israel to respect international resolutions and human rights conventions.
Meretz Party head, Israeli Member of Knesset (MK) Zehava Gal-On, stated Saturday that the theory of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of running the conflict has failed, and added that the only solution is ending this conflict through a political solution.
“Israel cannot just ignore the Quartet Committee report,” Gal-On said, “Israel must understand that the only solution to stopping the attacks and the escalation is reaching a political soliton to the conflict, and ending this occupation.”
“The conflict is running us; the recent attacks and threats have proven that the calm we’ve seen was temporary,” the Israeli official said, “Netanyahu’s theory of running the conflict has completely collapsed, and now this conflict is running us.”
The Israeli MK also said that what several politicians are proposing is the use of more military force, and iron fist policies that only kill hope.
“What they are suggesting is not different than witchcraft and deception,” she added, “It’s like placing a small bandage on a severed hand.”
In its July 1st report, the Quartet Committee (UN, Russia, EU and USA) reiterated the need for a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to reach a lasting peace agreement that ensures Israel’s security and the meets the Palestinian aspirations of independence and sovereignty, by ending the occupation that began in 1967, and resolving all permanent status issues.
It also denounced the “ongoing construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories”, and the Palestinian Authority’s “lack of control in Gaza, and called on both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume meaningful negotiations that resolve all final status issues.”
The Quartet Committee also called on the Israelis and Palestinians to “independently demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to the two-state solution and refrain from unilateral steps that prejudge the outcome of final status negotiation.”
“Israel cannot just ignore the Quartet Committee report,” Gal-On said, “Israel must understand that the only solution to stopping the attacks and the escalation is reaching a political soliton to the conflict, and ending this occupation.”
“The conflict is running us; the recent attacks and threats have proven that the calm we’ve seen was temporary,” the Israeli official said, “Netanyahu’s theory of running the conflict has completely collapsed, and now this conflict is running us.”
The Israeli MK also said that what several politicians are proposing is the use of more military force, and iron fist policies that only kill hope.
“What they are suggesting is not different than witchcraft and deception,” she added, “It’s like placing a small bandage on a severed hand.”
In its July 1st report, the Quartet Committee (UN, Russia, EU and USA) reiterated the need for a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to reach a lasting peace agreement that ensures Israel’s security and the meets the Palestinian aspirations of independence and sovereignty, by ending the occupation that began in 1967, and resolving all permanent status issues.
It also denounced the “ongoing construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories”, and the Palestinian Authority’s “lack of control in Gaza, and called on both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume meaningful negotiations that resolve all final status issues.”
The Quartet Committee also called on the Israelis and Palestinians to “independently demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to the two-state solution and refrain from unilateral steps that prejudge the outcome of final status negotiation.”
2 july 2016
PLO Secretary General Dr. Saeb Erekat said, in a statement on the Quartet Report which was published yesterday, that the Quartet Report is clear:
“It does not meet our expectations as a nation living under a foreign colonial military occupation; wherein it attempts to equalize the responsibilities between a people under occupation and a foreign military occupier.”
Evidently, certain parties of the international community insist on trying to avoid their own legal and moral responsibilities to implement international law and conventions; to protect the Palestinian people and to ensure the fulfillment of our right to self-determination, he added.
“We continue to insist that in order for meaningful negotiations to succeed, all signed agreements must be implemented with clear terms of reference and a time frame; including a full cessation of Israeli settlement activities and the freedom of all the pre-Oslo prisoners.
The goal must be the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital and the realization of the internationally recognized and long overdue inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
We continue to encourage the international community to support the French Peace Initiative for a multilateral peace conference as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.”
In the coming two days, the Fateh Central Committee and the PLO Executive Committee will respectively meet to analyze the situation. An official response to the Quartet Report should be expected following the PLO Executive Committee meeting on Sunday, according to the PNN.
“It does not meet our expectations as a nation living under a foreign colonial military occupation; wherein it attempts to equalize the responsibilities between a people under occupation and a foreign military occupier.”
Evidently, certain parties of the international community insist on trying to avoid their own legal and moral responsibilities to implement international law and conventions; to protect the Palestinian people and to ensure the fulfillment of our right to self-determination, he added.
“We continue to insist that in order for meaningful negotiations to succeed, all signed agreements must be implemented with clear terms of reference and a time frame; including a full cessation of Israeli settlement activities and the freedom of all the pre-Oslo prisoners.
The goal must be the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital and the realization of the internationally recognized and long overdue inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
We continue to encourage the international community to support the French Peace Initiative for a multilateral peace conference as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.”
In the coming two days, the Fateh Central Committee and the PLO Executive Committee will respectively meet to analyze the situation. An official response to the Quartet Report should be expected following the PLO Executive Committee meeting on Sunday, according to the PNN.
30 june 2016
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated, Wednesday, that Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and pose a serious threat to prospects of establishing a viable, independent, Palestinian state.
His statements came in a message delivered by Michael Moeller, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), during the United Nations International Conference in Support of Israeli-Palestine Peace.
“During my trip, I reminded the leadership on both sides of the imperative of taking prompt action to restore hope in a peaceful future and to preserve the Two-State solution – the only way to meet the national aspirations of both peoples,” Ki-moon said in his message.
The official also said that Israel’s settlement activities in Area C of the occupied West Bank are very troubling, especially since Area C (more than 60% of the West Bank) is under the full control of the Israeli army, and its “Civil Administration Office.”
Area C is an important part of the West Bank, with various hills, meadows, and natural resources, but is almost exclusively used by Israel for its settlement activities, and military control.
[Israel strictly limits Palestinian settlement, construction and development in Area C, while ignoring the needs of the Palestinian population. This policy means Palestinian residents must subsist in very rudimentary living conditions. They are denied any legal avenue to build homes or develop their communities, so they face the constant fear that their homes might be demolished, and that they be expelled and lose their livelihood] B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.
He added that Israel’s construction and expansion of its colonies in the West Bank and Jerusalem “undermine trust and constitute a significant threat to a viable Palestinian State,” and added that the “Palestinian leadership must live up to its responsibility to speak clearly and act firmly against violence and incitement.”
In addition, the UN Chief said that the United Nations remains committed to supporting the two-state solution, based on “negotiated, just, comprehensive and enduring solution for the people of Israel and Palestine.”
The United Nations said the conference, which is convened by the UN Palestinian Rights Committee, brings together “experienced peace negotiators, international experts, including from the UN, Israel and Palestine, civil society and academics, to discuss lessons learned from past initiatives related to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and assess recent initiatives by key actors.”
The UN chief also stressed the importance of the efforts meant to gather international consensus for the resumption of direct peace talks, especially amidst France Conference, and the upcoming report of the Quartet Committee.
He urged both the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to conduct all needed and urgent measures to prepare for what he called “a peaceful future, based on the two-state solution.”
His statements came in a message delivered by Michael Moeller, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), during the United Nations International Conference in Support of Israeli-Palestine Peace.
“During my trip, I reminded the leadership on both sides of the imperative of taking prompt action to restore hope in a peaceful future and to preserve the Two-State solution – the only way to meet the national aspirations of both peoples,” Ki-moon said in his message.
The official also said that Israel’s settlement activities in Area C of the occupied West Bank are very troubling, especially since Area C (more than 60% of the West Bank) is under the full control of the Israeli army, and its “Civil Administration Office.”
Area C is an important part of the West Bank, with various hills, meadows, and natural resources, but is almost exclusively used by Israel for its settlement activities, and military control.
[Israel strictly limits Palestinian settlement, construction and development in Area C, while ignoring the needs of the Palestinian population. This policy means Palestinian residents must subsist in very rudimentary living conditions. They are denied any legal avenue to build homes or develop their communities, so they face the constant fear that their homes might be demolished, and that they be expelled and lose their livelihood] B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.
He added that Israel’s construction and expansion of its colonies in the West Bank and Jerusalem “undermine trust and constitute a significant threat to a viable Palestinian State,” and added that the “Palestinian leadership must live up to its responsibility to speak clearly and act firmly against violence and incitement.”
In addition, the UN Chief said that the United Nations remains committed to supporting the two-state solution, based on “negotiated, just, comprehensive and enduring solution for the people of Israel and Palestine.”
The United Nations said the conference, which is convened by the UN Palestinian Rights Committee, brings together “experienced peace negotiators, international experts, including from the UN, Israel and Palestine, civil society and academics, to discuss lessons learned from past initiatives related to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and assess recent initiatives by key actors.”
The UN chief also stressed the importance of the efforts meant to gather international consensus for the resumption of direct peace talks, especially amidst France Conference, and the upcoming report of the Quartet Committee.
He urged both the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to conduct all needed and urgent measures to prepare for what he called “a peaceful future, based on the two-state solution.”
28 june 2016
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon traveled to Gaza Monday, following a meeting with the Israeli President in Tel Aviv.
In a press statement following his meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Ban condemned an attack by a Palestinian several weeks ago in which four Israelis were killed. In 2016 so far 66 Palestinians have been killed, and 6 Israelis.
But Ban did not mention the Palestinians who were killed during his meeting with the President.
He did, however, point to the illegality of the Israeli military occupation that has lasted nearly fifty years. He said that the occupation “has had a devastating impact on Palestinian lives, undermining the belief in a peaceful resolution to this conflict. It also has not brought security for Israelis.”
In Gaza, he told a group of reporters and dignitaries, “The UN stands with the people of Gaza.” He also stated, “Refugees are people, just like you and me.”
Ban’s visit to Israel and Palestine occurred on the same day that Israel and Turkey negotiated an end to their six years of reduced trade and cooperation. The Turkish government cut off relations with Israel following an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza, in which nine Turkish aid workers were killed.
The negotiated agreement includes the launching of a Turkish aid ship to Gaza – the first foreign vessel of any kind to be allowed to travel to Gaza since Israel imposed the siege six years ago.
In an op-ed published in the Huffington Post regarding Ban ki-Moon’s visit, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor railed against the United Nations for his perception that the international organization is somehow biased against Israel. He compared Ban to the warden at a mental institution in which, “the inmates have taken over the asylum and the warden has been glad to give them the keys.”
But Prosor gave little evidence to support his theory that the United Nations unfairly criticizes Israel or holds it to a different standard than any other country.
In a press statement following his meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Ban condemned an attack by a Palestinian several weeks ago in which four Israelis were killed. In 2016 so far 66 Palestinians have been killed, and 6 Israelis.
But Ban did not mention the Palestinians who were killed during his meeting with the President.
He did, however, point to the illegality of the Israeli military occupation that has lasted nearly fifty years. He said that the occupation “has had a devastating impact on Palestinian lives, undermining the belief in a peaceful resolution to this conflict. It also has not brought security for Israelis.”
In Gaza, he told a group of reporters and dignitaries, “The UN stands with the people of Gaza.” He also stated, “Refugees are people, just like you and me.”
Ban’s visit to Israel and Palestine occurred on the same day that Israel and Turkey negotiated an end to their six years of reduced trade and cooperation. The Turkish government cut off relations with Israel following an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza, in which nine Turkish aid workers were killed.
The negotiated agreement includes the launching of a Turkish aid ship to Gaza – the first foreign vessel of any kind to be allowed to travel to Gaza since Israel imposed the siege six years ago.
In an op-ed published in the Huffington Post regarding Ban ki-Moon’s visit, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor railed against the United Nations for his perception that the international organization is somehow biased against Israel. He compared Ban to the warden at a mental institution in which, “the inmates have taken over the asylum and the warden has been glad to give them the keys.”
But Prosor gave little evidence to support his theory that the United Nations unfairly criticizes Israel or holds it to a different standard than any other country.
