16 May 2012
MUSCAT -- A leading Palestinian expert says "Our leaders have welcomed the EU Council's statement on the Middle East Peace Process adopted on May 14, emphasising the need to heed the aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood. The emphasis on statehood assumes importance because this is a crucial element for lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region, said Hisham Wasef, a high-ranking official in the Palestinian embassy here.
Wasef said, "This emphasis came at the eve of Al Nakbah (May 15) when Palestinians commemorate their forced exodus and express their determination to achieve their right to self-determination". He said resolving the conflict and establishing an independent Palestinian state is in the best interest of the entire region and the world at large.
Meanwhile, said Wasef, "We continue to be alarmed by the fact that a peace settlement cannot be reached with the current Israeli acceleration of settlement construction, legalisation of settlements outposts, and the relocation of settlers from Migron because such policies stand in stark contravention to the peace process".
The Israeli policies in East Jerusalem al Quds, including the ongoing evictions, house demolitions, changes to the residency status as well as expansions of settlements within and around the city and denying Palestinians their connection to the city and the deterioration of the living conditions for Palestinians living there which represents 60 per cent of the West Bank need to stop forthwith, he quoted Palestine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying.
Israel cannot be allowed to continue its attempts to jeopardise Palestinian achievements in state-building. The international community must put pressure on Israel to end such policies as they only contribute to the deterioration of the peace process and security in the region.
The European Union and the Quartet must adopt policies to ensure that Israeli settlement activity is stopped and that international law and human rights law are implemented. Palestinians hope that concrete steps will be adopted by all EU members and the Commission to implement the existing EU legislation and the bilateral agreements applicable to settlement products.
Palestinian leaders have called on EU states to adopt steps that will ensure Palestine's continued official presence in East Jerusalem al Quds and that the EU policy on the city is reinforced. EU countries need to promote economic development and increase visibility and accountability for the delivery of aid in this city.
Wasef said "Incitement is a major concern as we have lately been exposed to all kinds of incitement and violence; therefore our leaders have called upon the EU and Israel to reactivate the Anti-Incitement Trilateral Committee to ensure that such acts are prohibited on all sides. In this regard, we have requested several times through international dignitaries to revive the work of the committee and were met by an Israeli rejection".
Meanwhile, said Wasef, Al Nakba of May 15, 1948 is being commemorated this month throughout the world in general and in the Middle East and Palestine in particular with many seminars, exhibitions, conferences, rallies and protests.
Al Nakba is the day of May 15 (1948) when Palestine was destroyed by the collaboration of Britain, Israeli forces and Zionist activists.
Nakba, for Palestine, is about reducing a vibrant and highly accomplished culture into one filled with bitter-sweet memories consumed by the national cause of return and justice. Entire villages were destroyed, then rebuilt and renamed; books, music collections and works of art were left behind as people ran for their lives, expecting to return a few weeks later; sports clubs and social organisations disappeared with the communities of which they were a part. It was a systematic campaign of death, destruction, and cultural obliteration, carried out against a nation whose vibrant culture was forcibly stunted.
Wasef said a Palestinian refugee rightly commented recently that "Al Nakba to me means that you are forced to live with your country inside you, instead of living inside your country.
"Alarmingly enough, the Al Nakba continues to this day with the Israeli settlement activity, destruction of homes and expulsion of Palestinian from their homeland. The so-called champions of human rights and peace are looking the other way".
MUSCAT -- A leading Palestinian expert says "Our leaders have welcomed the EU Council's statement on the Middle East Peace Process adopted on May 14, emphasising the need to heed the aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood. The emphasis on statehood assumes importance because this is a crucial element for lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region, said Hisham Wasef, a high-ranking official in the Palestinian embassy here.
Wasef said, "This emphasis came at the eve of Al Nakbah (May 15) when Palestinians commemorate their forced exodus and express their determination to achieve their right to self-determination". He said resolving the conflict and establishing an independent Palestinian state is in the best interest of the entire region and the world at large.
Meanwhile, said Wasef, "We continue to be alarmed by the fact that a peace settlement cannot be reached with the current Israeli acceleration of settlement construction, legalisation of settlements outposts, and the relocation of settlers from Migron because such policies stand in stark contravention to the peace process".
The Israeli policies in East Jerusalem al Quds, including the ongoing evictions, house demolitions, changes to the residency status as well as expansions of settlements within and around the city and denying Palestinians their connection to the city and the deterioration of the living conditions for Palestinians living there which represents 60 per cent of the West Bank need to stop forthwith, he quoted Palestine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying.
Israel cannot be allowed to continue its attempts to jeopardise Palestinian achievements in state-building. The international community must put pressure on Israel to end such policies as they only contribute to the deterioration of the peace process and security in the region.
The European Union and the Quartet must adopt policies to ensure that Israeli settlement activity is stopped and that international law and human rights law are implemented. Palestinians hope that concrete steps will be adopted by all EU members and the Commission to implement the existing EU legislation and the bilateral agreements applicable to settlement products.
Palestinian leaders have called on EU states to adopt steps that will ensure Palestine's continued official presence in East Jerusalem al Quds and that the EU policy on the city is reinforced. EU countries need to promote economic development and increase visibility and accountability for the delivery of aid in this city.
Wasef said "Incitement is a major concern as we have lately been exposed to all kinds of incitement and violence; therefore our leaders have called upon the EU and Israel to reactivate the Anti-Incitement Trilateral Committee to ensure that such acts are prohibited on all sides. In this regard, we have requested several times through international dignitaries to revive the work of the committee and were met by an Israeli rejection".
Meanwhile, said Wasef, Al Nakba of May 15, 1948 is being commemorated this month throughout the world in general and in the Middle East and Palestine in particular with many seminars, exhibitions, conferences, rallies and protests.
Al Nakba is the day of May 15 (1948) when Palestine was destroyed by the collaboration of Britain, Israeli forces and Zionist activists.
Nakba, for Palestine, is about reducing a vibrant and highly accomplished culture into one filled with bitter-sweet memories consumed by the national cause of return and justice. Entire villages were destroyed, then rebuilt and renamed; books, music collections and works of art were left behind as people ran for their lives, expecting to return a few weeks later; sports clubs and social organisations disappeared with the communities of which they were a part. It was a systematic campaign of death, destruction, and cultural obliteration, carried out against a nation whose vibrant culture was forcibly stunted.
Wasef said a Palestinian refugee rightly commented recently that "Al Nakba to me means that you are forced to live with your country inside you, instead of living inside your country.
"Alarmingly enough, the Al Nakba continues to this day with the Israeli settlement activity, destruction of homes and expulsion of Palestinian from their homeland. The so-called champions of human rights and peace are looking the other way".
© Oman Daily Observer 2012
