23 jan 2020
Nabil Abu Rudeinah, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, said today that the expected visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Palestine later today is evidence of the strong Palestinian-Russian relations dating back to tens of years ago.
Abu Rudeinah praised the historical Palestinian-Russian relations which he said have manifested in various fields, including the diplomatic and political levels.
“The meeting that will take place today between presidents Mahmoud Abbas and [Vladimir] Putin is of great importance, and is a message from the Russian President to Israel and the entire world that Russia stands firmly on the side of the Palestinian people, its just cause and its right to statehood with East Jerusalem as capital [of Palestine]," the presidential spokesman said in a press release.
Abu Rudeinah also hailed yesterday’s visit of French President Manuel Macron to Palestine and underscored the robust Palestinian-French relations, as well as the positive role France has played in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
On the due Palestinian legislative and presidential elections, Abu Rudeinah reiterated the firm position of the leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas that no elections can be held without the Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem enjoying their right to vote.
He said the Palestinian leadership has asked Europe and France in particular to pressure the Israeli occupation to allow Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem to cast their votes in the elections, as done 20 years ago when the legislative and presidential elections took place in East Jerusalem, together with the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
“There will be no peace nor an agreement without Jerusalem. We are committed to international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and no relations [will be resumed] with America and Israel without Jerusalem, and unless Israel agrees to that, there will be no peace and stability for anyone,” he concluded.
Abu Rudeinah praised the historical Palestinian-Russian relations which he said have manifested in various fields, including the diplomatic and political levels.
“The meeting that will take place today between presidents Mahmoud Abbas and [Vladimir] Putin is of great importance, and is a message from the Russian President to Israel and the entire world that Russia stands firmly on the side of the Palestinian people, its just cause and its right to statehood with East Jerusalem as capital [of Palestine]," the presidential spokesman said in a press release.
Abu Rudeinah also hailed yesterday’s visit of French President Manuel Macron to Palestine and underscored the robust Palestinian-French relations, as well as the positive role France has played in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
On the due Palestinian legislative and presidential elections, Abu Rudeinah reiterated the firm position of the leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas that no elections can be held without the Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem enjoying their right to vote.
He said the Palestinian leadership has asked Europe and France in particular to pressure the Israeli occupation to allow Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem to cast their votes in the elections, as done 20 years ago when the legislative and presidential elections took place in East Jerusalem, together with the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
“There will be no peace nor an agreement without Jerusalem. We are committed to international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and no relations [will be resumed] with America and Israel without Jerusalem, and unless Israel agrees to that, there will be no peace and stability for anyone,” he concluded.
The United Nations relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) officially opened a new playground at UNRWA's Jalazon Basic Girls School today to mark the visit of the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, Jalazon refugee camp in 2018.
Gwyn Lewis, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, and Mohammad Mustafa, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), together with the popular committee of Jalazon camp, inaugurated the playground in conjunction with the beginning of the second semester of the scholastic year 2019\2020. The playground inaugurated today was the result of the joint efforts of UNRWA, PIF and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem.
On behalf of Palestine refugees, Lewis, expressed her gratitude to the British Consulate and PIF for their support and work to improve educational facilitates, and the British Royal Household for keeping refugee rights and needs at the top of their public agenda.
For his part, Mustafa said "we are happy with the opening of this playground, as our contribution to its rehabilitation comes as an expression of the PIF commitment to our people everywhere, particularly in refugee camps, and an affirmation of our continued support to improve their living conditions.
The PIF strategy is based on 'impact investing', especially in the entrepreneurial sector, support for emerging and existing projects and investing in strategic sectors, is always supported by our corporate social responsibility policy, which we are proud to see one of its forms here, as is the case in the economic empowerment program for refugees in Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which we are proud of its continuous achievements. We highly appreciate and thank all those who support our refugee communities".
Prince William visited the occupied Palestinian territories on 27 and 28 June 2018, during which he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and visited the old city of Jerusalem, in addition to his visit to UNRWA's Health Centre and Basic Girls' School in Jalazon camp, Ramallah.
Building on Prince William's visit, the British Consulate General is preparing to host his father, Prince Charles, next Friday in Bethlehem, at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. During this visit, he will have the opportunity to hear directly from a wide range of individuals from across Palestinian society, including refugees.
The UK is a long-term supporter of UNRWA and Palestinian refugees, providing £65.5m in 2019 in Gaza, the West Bank and the region. Making the UK one of the top five donors to UNRWA. This support helps UNRWA provide basic services in education, secondary health care and social relief services.
Gwyn Lewis, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, and Mohammad Mustafa, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), together with the popular committee of Jalazon camp, inaugurated the playground in conjunction with the beginning of the second semester of the scholastic year 2019\2020. The playground inaugurated today was the result of the joint efforts of UNRWA, PIF and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem.
On behalf of Palestine refugees, Lewis, expressed her gratitude to the British Consulate and PIF for their support and work to improve educational facilitates, and the British Royal Household for keeping refugee rights and needs at the top of their public agenda.
For his part, Mustafa said "we are happy with the opening of this playground, as our contribution to its rehabilitation comes as an expression of the PIF commitment to our people everywhere, particularly in refugee camps, and an affirmation of our continued support to improve their living conditions.
The PIF strategy is based on 'impact investing', especially in the entrepreneurial sector, support for emerging and existing projects and investing in strategic sectors, is always supported by our corporate social responsibility policy, which we are proud to see one of its forms here, as is the case in the economic empowerment program for refugees in Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which we are proud of its continuous achievements. We highly appreciate and thank all those who support our refugee communities".
Prince William visited the occupied Palestinian territories on 27 and 28 June 2018, during which he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and visited the old city of Jerusalem, in addition to his visit to UNRWA's Health Centre and Basic Girls' School in Jalazon camp, Ramallah.
Building on Prince William's visit, the British Consulate General is preparing to host his father, Prince Charles, next Friday in Bethlehem, at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. During this visit, he will have the opportunity to hear directly from a wide range of individuals from across Palestinian society, including refugees.
The UK is a long-term supporter of UNRWA and Palestinian refugees, providing £65.5m in 2019 in Gaza, the West Bank and the region. Making the UK one of the top five donors to UNRWA. This support helps UNRWA provide basic services in education, secondary health care and social relief services.
20 jan 2020
Following a six-day visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller, called on the international community to ensure continued commitment and consistent and sustained funding to help alleviate the challenges faced by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
“My visit leaves me concerned,” Mueller declared, according to WAFA. “The challenges here are immense, but recent positive steps, along with the extraordinary people I met, give me hope that there are opportunities for improvement. We must seize them.”
The Assistant Secretary-General was a key note speaker at the sixth international conference on preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters, held in Tel Aviv. During her visit, she met with Israeli authorities, and commended Israel on its contribution to global emergency relief efforts.
She also met with Palestinian authorities and citizens to better understand the challenges of the crisis. She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to address humanitarian needs across the oPt, and advocate for longer-term solutions, including lifting of the blockade in Gaza and a fair planning and zoning regime, and more conducive living conditions in the West Bank.
In the oPt, Mueller met Mohammed Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, and Major General Yousef Nassar, Director General of Palestinian Civil Defense, to identify areas for strengthened cooperation. She visited the central West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where she met with vulnerable communities who are exposed to a coercive environment that reduces their access to shelter, basic services and natural resources, placing them at risk of forcible transfer.
In Gaza, she visited a major hospital, vulnerable women and men benefitting from the support of a women’s center and youth leaders, learning more about the deprivations of life under blockade and the negative impact of the Palestinian political divide.
“Until there is a viable political solution, it is critical that the international community continues to render support in a consistent and sustained manner to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Palestinians,” Mueller said. “Member States must continue to support humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.
At the same time, they must work to rekindle a robust political dialogue and promote long-term solutions, to address the root causes of this crisis.”
“My visit leaves me concerned,” Mueller declared, according to WAFA. “The challenges here are immense, but recent positive steps, along with the extraordinary people I met, give me hope that there are opportunities for improvement. We must seize them.”
The Assistant Secretary-General was a key note speaker at the sixth international conference on preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters, held in Tel Aviv. During her visit, she met with Israeli authorities, and commended Israel on its contribution to global emergency relief efforts.
She also met with Palestinian authorities and citizens to better understand the challenges of the crisis. She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to address humanitarian needs across the oPt, and advocate for longer-term solutions, including lifting of the blockade in Gaza and a fair planning and zoning regime, and more conducive living conditions in the West Bank.
In the oPt, Mueller met Mohammed Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, and Major General Yousef Nassar, Director General of Palestinian Civil Defense, to identify areas for strengthened cooperation. She visited the central West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where she met with vulnerable communities who are exposed to a coercive environment that reduces their access to shelter, basic services and natural resources, placing them at risk of forcible transfer.
In Gaza, she visited a major hospital, vulnerable women and men benefitting from the support of a women’s center and youth leaders, learning more about the deprivations of life under blockade and the negative impact of the Palestinian political divide.
“Until there is a viable political solution, it is critical that the international community continues to render support in a consistent and sustained manner to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Palestinians,” Mueller said. “Member States must continue to support humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.
At the same time, they must work to rekindle a robust political dialogue and promote long-term solutions, to address the root causes of this crisis.”
17 jan 2020
Although the Palestinian-Israeli conflict takes place within a relatively small geographic region, it receives great political and media attention, due to the involvement of many international parties and even major countries in the conflict.
This is a result of sensitivity in the Arab world and the Middle East region, and their countries’ richness in many natural resources. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has become the central issue in the region given its Arab and Islamic aspects.
Military occupation is carried out by an authority over an independent territory and the region is known as an occupied territory. However, what historical Palestine is facing goes beyond typical military occupation, which usually does not demand complete sovereignty over the occupied territory and citizenship rights are limited to the dominant authority, which does not grant citizens of the occupied land its nationality.
Such occupation has been practiced by many empires and states in the past and present. They occupy the land to loot its wealth and make it a base to secure the “centre” from where its armies came, and of course subjugate the people and land of the occupied country and exploit its wealth. The types of occupation in Palestine can be summarised as follows:
1. Direct military occupation, as in 1917, when the British forces occupied Palestine and imposed colonial rule on it, in which Europe rejoiced, as Jerusalem fell under Western rule for the first time since October 1187. Since the beginning of its occupation, Britain announced that one of its goals was to fulfil the Balfour Declaration, i.e. opening the door to Jewish immigration to Palestine, establishing a national homeland for them, and even encouraging and supporting them to secure control of the eastern bank of the Suez Canal.
By doing so, they fragmented the Arabs with the implantation of an entity that also ensures the removal of Jews from Europe in general. At the time, organisations that acted as the nucleus of what would later be known as the Israeli Defence Forces were founded and formed. Such terrorist organisations in Palestine included Hashomer, Hagana, and Palmach, which is the military wing of the World Zionist Organisation, as well as Irgun and Stern, which the British authorities considered terrorist organisations.
2. The Zionist settler colonial occupation that complements the aforementioned occupation. This is the most dangerous occupation because its goal is to instil itself after seizing the land, exploiting its inhabitants and uprooting them from their lands and homes by annihilation or displacement. This type of colonialism transformed Palestine into a “land without a people,” in order to seize the land without its indigenous people.
This occupation has expanded in the West Bank since 1967, as settlers are given the opportunity to implement their plans with their own hands, with the support of Israeli governments, after creating a popular organisational structure for themselves and penetrating most of the state institutions, including legislative, executive, and judicial institutions, as well as the Israeli military security institution.
The danger posed by them has escalated after they deepened their radical religious and extremist nationalist rationale that justifies ethnic and religious cleansing, taking advantage of the presence of their representatives in the government, the increase in their numbers in the army, in addition to the increase in official support represented by the government and the Knesset (the Israeli parliament).
3. Direct and indirect economic occupation, which guarantees the occupation’s control of wealth, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development “UNCTAD” report at the end of 2019: “Geologists and natural resources economists have confirmed that the Occupied Palestinian Territory lies above sizeable reservoirs of oil and natural gas wealth, in Area C of the occupied West Bank and the Mediterranean coast off the Gaza Strip.
However, occupation continues to prevent Palestinians from developing their energy fields so as to exploit and benefit from such assets. As such, the Palestinian people have been denied the benefits of using this natural resource to finance socioeconomic development and meet their need for energy.
The accumulated losses are estimated in the billions of dollars. The longer Israel prevents Palestinians from exploiting their own oil and natural gas reserves, the greater the opportunity costs and the greater the total costs of the occupation borne by Palestinians become.”
The Israeli occupation also seized control of many aspects and means of life, the most important of which is water. The occupation has taken control of water sources and deprived the Palestinians of them, as well as fought Palestinian farmers in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948, the West Bank, and in the Gaza Strip, in order to eliminate the Palestinian presence.
4. Cultural occupation, which aims to plunder and erase the history of Palestine, and even the memory of Palestinians, who cherish their Arab history, language, and culture. The Zionist state is fully aware that unless this memory is erased, it will never achieve its goal of erasing the Arab-Muslim identity of the Palestinian people. Herein lies the danger of the Nation-State law, which shifts the situation from the current racist reality to legislating this racist reality, making Palestinians foreign refugees in their own land.
They are facing an attempt to eradicate their political and cultural existence, which is a new, old reality in historical Palestine. Historical Palestine was proof of the lively Palestinian human existence, which refutes the Zionist claim of “a land without a people for a people without a land.”
Hence, military and colonial occupation are exercising the policy of ethnic cleansing, which continues until today, through an unconventional long-lasting process of ethnic cleansing, the essence of which is colonial expansion on the ground, even if this leads to the annihilation of the indigenous people.
Zionism’s goal is to occupy the Palestinian people’s homeland and replace them with Jewish Zionists.
This is a result of sensitivity in the Arab world and the Middle East region, and their countries’ richness in many natural resources. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has become the central issue in the region given its Arab and Islamic aspects.
Military occupation is carried out by an authority over an independent territory and the region is known as an occupied territory. However, what historical Palestine is facing goes beyond typical military occupation, which usually does not demand complete sovereignty over the occupied territory and citizenship rights are limited to the dominant authority, which does not grant citizens of the occupied land its nationality.
Such occupation has been practiced by many empires and states in the past and present. They occupy the land to loot its wealth and make it a base to secure the “centre” from where its armies came, and of course subjugate the people and land of the occupied country and exploit its wealth. The types of occupation in Palestine can be summarised as follows:
1. Direct military occupation, as in 1917, when the British forces occupied Palestine and imposed colonial rule on it, in which Europe rejoiced, as Jerusalem fell under Western rule for the first time since October 1187. Since the beginning of its occupation, Britain announced that one of its goals was to fulfil the Balfour Declaration, i.e. opening the door to Jewish immigration to Palestine, establishing a national homeland for them, and even encouraging and supporting them to secure control of the eastern bank of the Suez Canal.
By doing so, they fragmented the Arabs with the implantation of an entity that also ensures the removal of Jews from Europe in general. At the time, organisations that acted as the nucleus of what would later be known as the Israeli Defence Forces were founded and formed. Such terrorist organisations in Palestine included Hashomer, Hagana, and Palmach, which is the military wing of the World Zionist Organisation, as well as Irgun and Stern, which the British authorities considered terrorist organisations.
2. The Zionist settler colonial occupation that complements the aforementioned occupation. This is the most dangerous occupation because its goal is to instil itself after seizing the land, exploiting its inhabitants and uprooting them from their lands and homes by annihilation or displacement. This type of colonialism transformed Palestine into a “land without a people,” in order to seize the land without its indigenous people.
This occupation has expanded in the West Bank since 1967, as settlers are given the opportunity to implement their plans with their own hands, with the support of Israeli governments, after creating a popular organisational structure for themselves and penetrating most of the state institutions, including legislative, executive, and judicial institutions, as well as the Israeli military security institution.
The danger posed by them has escalated after they deepened their radical religious and extremist nationalist rationale that justifies ethnic and religious cleansing, taking advantage of the presence of their representatives in the government, the increase in their numbers in the army, in addition to the increase in official support represented by the government and the Knesset (the Israeli parliament).
3. Direct and indirect economic occupation, which guarantees the occupation’s control of wealth, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development “UNCTAD” report at the end of 2019: “Geologists and natural resources economists have confirmed that the Occupied Palestinian Territory lies above sizeable reservoirs of oil and natural gas wealth, in Area C of the occupied West Bank and the Mediterranean coast off the Gaza Strip.
However, occupation continues to prevent Palestinians from developing their energy fields so as to exploit and benefit from such assets. As such, the Palestinian people have been denied the benefits of using this natural resource to finance socioeconomic development and meet their need for energy.
The accumulated losses are estimated in the billions of dollars. The longer Israel prevents Palestinians from exploiting their own oil and natural gas reserves, the greater the opportunity costs and the greater the total costs of the occupation borne by Palestinians become.”
The Israeli occupation also seized control of many aspects and means of life, the most important of which is water. The occupation has taken control of water sources and deprived the Palestinians of them, as well as fought Palestinian farmers in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948, the West Bank, and in the Gaza Strip, in order to eliminate the Palestinian presence.
4. Cultural occupation, which aims to plunder and erase the history of Palestine, and even the memory of Palestinians, who cherish their Arab history, language, and culture. The Zionist state is fully aware that unless this memory is erased, it will never achieve its goal of erasing the Arab-Muslim identity of the Palestinian people. Herein lies the danger of the Nation-State law, which shifts the situation from the current racist reality to legislating this racist reality, making Palestinians foreign refugees in their own land.
They are facing an attempt to eradicate their political and cultural existence, which is a new, old reality in historical Palestine. Historical Palestine was proof of the lively Palestinian human existence, which refutes the Zionist claim of “a land without a people for a people without a land.”
Hence, military and colonial occupation are exercising the policy of ethnic cleansing, which continues until today, through an unconventional long-lasting process of ethnic cleansing, the essence of which is colonial expansion on the ground, even if this leads to the annihilation of the indigenous people.
Zionism’s goal is to occupy the Palestinian people’s homeland and replace them with Jewish Zionists.
15 jan 2020
Jamie McGoldrick, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, arrived in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday via the Beit Hanun (Erez) crossing.
McGoldrick is expected to inspect life conditions and latest developments in the besieged coastal enclave in light of the ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions in the Strip.
The UN, Egypt and Qatar have been exerting efforts over the past few months to reach a calm agreement between Israel and the resistance factions in Gaza Strip based on easing the Israeli siege on the Strip in return for halting the weekly border protests launched by the Gaza residents.
McGoldrick is expected to inspect life conditions and latest developments in the besieged coastal enclave in light of the ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions in the Strip.
The UN, Egypt and Qatar have been exerting efforts over the past few months to reach a calm agreement between Israel and the resistance factions in Gaza Strip based on easing the Israeli siege on the Strip in return for halting the weekly border protests launched by the Gaza residents.
3 jan 2020
Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), called upon the European Union, on Friday, to reconsider its new conditions for funding Palestinian civil society organizations, calling for fair and equal access for all, the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA) reported.
Erekat’s call came in response to recently approved measures by the EU which stipulate the signing of so-called anti-terrorism clauses and policies as a prerequisite for Palestinian NGOs to obtain funding. These policies include labeling a number of Palestinian political and resistance factions as terror groups.
In an official letter to European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, Erekat said the new funding conditions binding to all contracting parties to the European Union, raise concern among Palestinian NGOs, especially civil society organizations that serve the Palestinian public without discrimination and in line with international legal standards.
He pointed out that among the organizations included in the EU blacklist are Palestinian political parties, which means that the conditions are aimed at disrupting Palestinian political and civil activity, which places a new burden on Palestinian institutions.
“These restrictions directly affect the Palestinian rights under international law, and in particular the right to self-determination. They are not in line with the European Union’s commitment to a two-state solution, peace and stability in the region,” Erekat said.
He added that the newly approved conditions come at a time of heated anti-Palestinian campaign by the United States and Israel, with the goal of liquidating the collective rights of the Palestinian people.
Erekat stressed that the Palestinians reject all attempts to criminalize their legitimate national struggle and brand it as “terrorism“. He implored the European Union to cancel the new financing conditions and recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Erekat’s call came in response to recently approved measures by the EU which stipulate the signing of so-called anti-terrorism clauses and policies as a prerequisite for Palestinian NGOs to obtain funding. These policies include labeling a number of Palestinian political and resistance factions as terror groups.
In an official letter to European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, Erekat said the new funding conditions binding to all contracting parties to the European Union, raise concern among Palestinian NGOs, especially civil society organizations that serve the Palestinian public without discrimination and in line with international legal standards.
He pointed out that among the organizations included in the EU blacklist are Palestinian political parties, which means that the conditions are aimed at disrupting Palestinian political and civil activity, which places a new burden on Palestinian institutions.
“These restrictions directly affect the Palestinian rights under international law, and in particular the right to self-determination. They are not in line with the European Union’s commitment to a two-state solution, peace and stability in the region,” Erekat said.
He added that the newly approved conditions come at a time of heated anti-Palestinian campaign by the United States and Israel, with the goal of liquidating the collective rights of the Palestinian people.
Erekat stressed that the Palestinians reject all attempts to criminalize their legitimate national struggle and brand it as “terrorism“. He implored the European Union to cancel the new financing conditions and recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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