14 apr 2017
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki met with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday, during which time Wang reiterated the Chinese government’s commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling the current lack of such a state a “terrible injustice.”
Palestinian Authority (PA)- owned Wafa news agency reported on the meeting and and subsequent joint press conference between the two, saying that the meeting focused on political developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the region and internationally.
According to Wafa, al-Malki briefed Wang on “political and diplomatic efforts to revive the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis.”
Al-Maliki and Wang addressed the role of the US President Donald Trump’s role in peace talks, as al-Maliki expressed hope “that the US would play a balanced and constructive role in the peace process.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet with Trump in Washington next month.
Al-Maliki also spoke about “the continuous Israeli violations against the Palestinians, especially Jewish settlements’ expansion in Palestinian territories,” to which Wang responded by affirming the necessity of finding a “just and comprehensive solution to the conflict.”
Israeli news daily Haaretz reported that according to Yi, China supports Palestinian efforts to create an independent state based on pre-1967 borders with what is now occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.
"Seventy years later, what we see is that our Palestinian brothers have yet to establish an independent state with full sovereignty," Haaretz reported Wang as saying. "This is unfair, and this terrible injustice must be addressed, and it cannot continue."
Both al-Maliki and Wang agreed to continue coordination in the future through the formation of a joint Palestinian-Chinese committee and through supporting the establishment of industrial zones in Palestine.
Palestinian Authority (PA)- owned Wafa news agency reported on the meeting and and subsequent joint press conference between the two, saying that the meeting focused on political developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the region and internationally.
According to Wafa, al-Malki briefed Wang on “political and diplomatic efforts to revive the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis.”
Al-Maliki and Wang addressed the role of the US President Donald Trump’s role in peace talks, as al-Maliki expressed hope “that the US would play a balanced and constructive role in the peace process.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet with Trump in Washington next month.
Al-Maliki also spoke about “the continuous Israeli violations against the Palestinians, especially Jewish settlements’ expansion in Palestinian territories,” to which Wang responded by affirming the necessity of finding a “just and comprehensive solution to the conflict.”
Israeli news daily Haaretz reported that according to Yi, China supports Palestinian efforts to create an independent state based on pre-1967 borders with what is now occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.
"Seventy years later, what we see is that our Palestinian brothers have yet to establish an independent state with full sovereignty," Haaretz reported Wang as saying. "This is unfair, and this terrible injustice must be addressed, and it cannot continue."
Both al-Maliki and Wang agreed to continue coordination in the future through the formation of a joint Palestinian-Chinese committee and through supporting the establishment of industrial zones in Palestine.
11 apr 2017
The Palestinian government in Ramallah has decided to deprive hundreds of Gazan families of regular financial aid allocated for them by the social affairs ministry.
The local newspaper al-Eqtesadia quoted an informed official source from the Palestinian Authority as saying that the ministry of finance decided to withhold financial allocations given to 630 families by the social affairs ministry.
The source pointed out that the ministry of social affairs had already examined the lists of beneficiaries of its cash transfer program and made sure that they deserved financial aid.
He affirmed that the step was taken by minister of finance Shukri Bishara without the knowledge of the social affairs ministry.
The local newspaper al-Eqtesadia quoted an informed official source from the Palestinian Authority as saying that the ministry of finance decided to withhold financial allocations given to 630 families by the social affairs ministry.
The source pointed out that the ministry of social affairs had already examined the lists of beneficiaries of its cash transfer program and made sure that they deserved financial aid.
He affirmed that the step was taken by minister of finance Shukri Bishara without the knowledge of the social affairs ministry.
8 apr 2017
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, called for fair distribution of the financial burden, suffered by the Palestinian government, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He urged Palestinians to take into consideration the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza due to four Israeli wars and the siege conditions sustained by Gazan people.
Sama news agency quoted Mladenov as saying that Gaza suffers a serious humanitarian crisis with high unemployment rates, rather than the continuous power crisis and the lack of a political horizon.
He urged officials to work together in order to reach a solution for the current crisis and called on all factions to support the Palestinian government so that it can fulfill its duties in Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinian Authority (PA) employees in the Gaza Strip protested the PA government’s decision to cut their salaries by approximately 30%. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah along with his government.
Sama news agency quoted Mladenov as saying that Gaza suffers a serious humanitarian crisis with high unemployment rates, rather than the continuous power crisis and the lack of a political horizon.
He urged officials to work together in order to reach a solution for the current crisis and called on all factions to support the Palestinian government so that it can fulfill its duties in Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinian Authority (PA) employees in the Gaza Strip protested the PA government’s decision to cut their salaries by approximately 30%. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah along with his government.
30 mar 2017
The fifth Free Movement Palestine Marathon is set to kick off in Bethlehem on Friday, according to the Palestine Olympic Committee (POC). Over 6,000 runners from all over the world have so far registered for the run including 500 of the disabled, POC said.
The marathon is expected to start at 8 in the morning from Manger Square outside the Nativity Church in the city.
Major General Jibreen Al- Bakri, Governor of Bethlehem, said that "the marathon has several messages; most significant, increasing the awareness of international runners of matters such as the restrictions that Palestinians face, with relation to the freedom of movement, on a daily basis because of the occupation in addition to the confiscation of the Palestinian land and the Separation Wall.”
This year marathon will be the largest Palestine Marathon ever. The highest number of participants will be from Britain with a number of 150 runners.
Runners from Gaza Strip, 6 Arab countries as well as 20 foreign states will compete in the marathon. Some athletes, however, have not been granted permits from Israeli authorities in order to be able to enter Bethlehem.
The marathon is expected to start at 8 in the morning from Manger Square outside the Nativity Church in the city.
Major General Jibreen Al- Bakri, Governor of Bethlehem, said that "the marathon has several messages; most significant, increasing the awareness of international runners of matters such as the restrictions that Palestinians face, with relation to the freedom of movement, on a daily basis because of the occupation in addition to the confiscation of the Palestinian land and the Separation Wall.”
This year marathon will be the largest Palestine Marathon ever. The highest number of participants will be from Britain with a number of 150 runners.
Runners from Gaza Strip, 6 Arab countries as well as 20 foreign states will compete in the marathon. Some athletes, however, have not been granted permits from Israeli authorities in order to be able to enter Bethlehem.
27 mar 2017
Hamas Movement on Sunday lashed out at Palestinian Authority president Mamoud Abbas for ignoring the Palestinian people’s right in historical Palestine.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said, in a press release, that his Movement viewed with utmost concern Abbas’s statement that asked for 22% of historical Palestine for the Palestinians and gave up the rest to Israel, describing it as a “national crime”.
Nobody, regardless of his position, has the right to abandon one inch of the Palestinian land, he highlighted.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said, in a press release, that his Movement viewed with utmost concern Abbas’s statement that asked for 22% of historical Palestine for the Palestinians and gave up the rest to Israel, describing it as a “national crime”.
Nobody, regardless of his position, has the right to abandon one inch of the Palestinian land, he highlighted.
14 mar 2017
Israeli forces stormed Tuesday morning the office of Khalil Tufkaji, Director of Cartographic Section of the Arab Studies Society, in Beit Hanina town, north of occupied Jerusalem, and ordered its closure.
The decision to shut down the office was issued by the Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli police, the office threatens Israel’s settlement ambitions as it was dedicated to the research of land in the Palestinian territories including settlement monitoring, soil surveys, land confiscation. It further threatens "Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem", according to the statement.
The Arab Studies Society was established in 1980, registered in Israel as a public institute and was located in the historic Orient House building. Like any think tank, the society organized lectures and conferences and housed a big public library.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces arrested Tufakji and confiscated all computers in the Society along with numerous files.
The decision to shut down the office was issued by the Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli police, the office threatens Israel’s settlement ambitions as it was dedicated to the research of land in the Palestinian territories including settlement monitoring, soil surveys, land confiscation. It further threatens "Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem", according to the statement.
The Arab Studies Society was established in 1980, registered in Israel as a public institute and was located in the historic Orient House building. Like any think tank, the society organized lectures and conferences and housed a big public library.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces arrested Tufakji and confiscated all computers in the Society along with numerous files.
13 mar 2017
The leader in the Hamas Movement, Ismail Radwan, said on Monday that Israel is trying, through internationalizing the issue of Gaza, to evade granting the Palestinian people their rights and to bypass the new reality imposed by the resistance in the Gaza Strip during the recent years.
Radwan affirmed during a political seminar organized by al-Aqsa University on the internationalization of Gaza that Hamas does not oppose establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. However, he added, this does not mean recognizing Israel because the entire land of historical Palestine belongs to the Palestinian and Muslim generations.
He stressed Hamas's absolute rejection of the negotiations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel, pointing to the deadlock they have reached after 23 years of negotiations.
He emphasized that the negotiations achieved nothing for the Palestinian cause, but instead, they aggravated the pain of the Palestinian people by arresting and pursuing resistance fighters.
The Hamas leader accused the PA of covering up the Israeli crimes with its security coordination, noting that Israel is the biggest beneficiary of the Oslo Agreement which led to differences and divisions in the Palestinian arena.
Radwan asserted that no state will be established in Gaza, and no Palestinian state will be established without Gaza, noting that Hamas is keen on the unity of the Palestinian lands and people.
Regarding the news published by some media outlets about establishing a Palestinian state in Gaza that extends to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, Radwan said that Hamas does not accept any replacement for Palestine.
Radwan affirmed during a political seminar organized by al-Aqsa University on the internationalization of Gaza that Hamas does not oppose establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. However, he added, this does not mean recognizing Israel because the entire land of historical Palestine belongs to the Palestinian and Muslim generations.
He stressed Hamas's absolute rejection of the negotiations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel, pointing to the deadlock they have reached after 23 years of negotiations.
He emphasized that the negotiations achieved nothing for the Palestinian cause, but instead, they aggravated the pain of the Palestinian people by arresting and pursuing resistance fighters.
The Hamas leader accused the PA of covering up the Israeli crimes with its security coordination, noting that Israel is the biggest beneficiary of the Oslo Agreement which led to differences and divisions in the Palestinian arena.
Radwan asserted that no state will be established in Gaza, and no Palestinian state will be established without Gaza, noting that Hamas is keen on the unity of the Palestinian lands and people.
Regarding the news published by some media outlets about establishing a Palestinian state in Gaza that extends to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, Radwan said that Hamas does not accept any replacement for Palestine.
A mass rally swept Ramallah streets, in the central occupied West Bank, afternoon Monday, calling for bringing the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas before court.
Reporting from the scene, a PIC news correspondent said the rally goers spoke out against the aggressions carried out by the PA forces against the Palestinian protesters and called for ceasing all forms of security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
The demonstrators pushed for prosecuting Abbas and all those involved in crackdowns against Palestinian anti-occupation activists.
Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank Sheikh Sa’id Nakhla said the PA suppressive policies and monopolization of decision-making are likely to bring about a state of unpredictable turmoil that will turn the de facto situation upside down.
Nakhla added that the investigation committee announced by the PA is only “an anesthesia needle” that aims to “pull the wool over Palestinians’ eyes.”
The Islamic Jihad leader urged the PA to halt security coordination with the Israeli occupation, dubbing it a “gallows on Palestinians’ neck.”
Other Palestinian factions and NGOs condemned, in the strongest terms, the oppressive policies pursued by the PA and crackdowns on the Palestinian protesters in a Sunday rally staged outside the PA courts in protest at the trial of slain anti-occupation youth Basil al-A’raj and his fellows.
Reporting from the scene, a PIC news correspondent said the rally goers spoke out against the aggressions carried out by the PA forces against the Palestinian protesters and called for ceasing all forms of security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
The demonstrators pushed for prosecuting Abbas and all those involved in crackdowns against Palestinian anti-occupation activists.
Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank Sheikh Sa’id Nakhla said the PA suppressive policies and monopolization of decision-making are likely to bring about a state of unpredictable turmoil that will turn the de facto situation upside down.
Nakhla added that the investigation committee announced by the PA is only “an anesthesia needle” that aims to “pull the wool over Palestinians’ eyes.”
The Islamic Jihad leader urged the PA to halt security coordination with the Israeli occupation, dubbing it a “gallows on Palestinians’ neck.”
Other Palestinian factions and NGOs condemned, in the strongest terms, the oppressive policies pursued by the PA and crackdowns on the Palestinian protesters in a Sunday rally staged outside the PA courts in protest at the trial of slain anti-occupation youth Basil al-A’raj and his fellows.
28 feb 2017
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, arrived in the blockaded Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning.
Mladenov, accompanied by six delegates, arrived in Gaza via the Israel-controlled Beit Hanun (Erez) border-crossing, a security source told PIC.
The UN envoy is expected to meet with Palestinian ministers and UN representatives in Gaza.
Mladenov and his accompanying delegates will be leaving the besieged enclave afternoon Tuesday.
No details were revealed as regards the issues to be tackled during Mladenov’s stopover in Gaza.
Mladenov, accompanied by six delegates, arrived in Gaza via the Israel-controlled Beit Hanun (Erez) border-crossing, a security source told PIC.
The UN envoy is expected to meet with Palestinian ministers and UN representatives in Gaza.
Mladenov and his accompanying delegates will be leaving the besieged enclave afternoon Tuesday.
No details were revealed as regards the issues to be tackled during Mladenov’s stopover in Gaza.