The General Delegation of Palestine is the diplomatic representation for Palestine to Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste and the Pacific.
As the diplomatic representation for Palestine, the General Delegation works to strengthen and deepen friendly relations between the Palestinian people and the people of the Australia-Pacific region. The General Delegation liaises directly with all levels of government, developing political, social and economic initiatives and projects that are of interest and benefit to both peoples.
Through its office in Canberra, the Delegation provides a range of consular and information services to Palestinians living in Australia, and to Australians interested in Palestine.
For details on the how to contact the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, go to the Contact tab above.
Welcome to the General Delegation of Palestine
Media Alert
14 April 2014
April 17 is the National & International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian Prisoners: “Free all Palestinian Political Prisoners”
The Palestinian Ministerial Cabinet decided to declare April 17 a national and International day of solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners, the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific (GDOP) would like to seize this occasion to urge civil society organizations in Australia and New Zealand to observe the day in solidarity of the Palestinian Political prisoners and to support their freedom.
According to statistics by Prisoner support and Human rights Association (Addameer) “Over 5,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including 183 children and 175 held under administrative detention, a form of detention without trial that Israel uses to hold Palestinians, indefinitely, on secret information.
In many cases Palestinian children are tortured, ill-treated, placed in solitary confinement and coerced into signing a confession in Hebrew, a language which most Palestinian children do not understand. Under Israeli military law, Palestinians can be interrogated for a period of 90 days and denied access to a lawyer for the first 60 days. Since 1967, 73 Palestinian detainees have died as a result of torture while under Israeli interrogation, the most recent of which was Arafat Jaradat, who was tortured to death in a secured interrogation centre in February 2013” .
Recently, Israel has cancelled the release of the 4th patch of the pre – Oslo prisoners, a commitment Israel had already made 20 years ago as part of the “Oslo Accord”. Israel has agreed to release these prisoners as a part of a deal with the Palestinian Authority to start the peace negotiations on July 2013. The failure to release these prisoners has led to the current impasse of the negotiations.
The General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific (GDOP), raises concerns about Israel’s unchanged policies towards detention and impunity towards international law. It urges the Government of Australia to exert pressure on the Israeli government to respect its international human rights obligations towards all Palestinian prisoners, and to release the 4th patch of the pre – Oslo prisoners and all other Palestinians being arbitrarily detained.
2014 The International Year of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People
This day was launched at the opening of the 2014 session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on 16 January 2014.
On 26 November 2013, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 2014 the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (IYSPP), and requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to organize activities to be held during the year, in cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations.
The objective of the IYSPP would be to promote solidarity with the Palestinian people as a central theme, contributing to international awareness of
(a) Core themes regarding the question of Palestine.
(b) Obstacles to the ongoing peace process, particularly those requiring urgent action such as settlements, Jerusalem, the blockade of Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
(c) Mobilization of global action towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
A Summer Experience for Diaspora
Palestinian Youth
(Age 15-25)
The Palestinian Higher Council for Youth and Sport is providing a unique experience for diaspora youth with Palestinian connections and roots. Under the guidance of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas, the Higher Council for Youth and Sport is organizing an annual summer camp in Palestine for Diaspora Palestinian Youth age (15-25).
The aim of the Summer Camp is to encourage Palestinian Youth in the Diaspora to reconnect with Palestine, to exchange experiences with other Palestinian youth and to enhance collaboration and cooperation among them.
The 2014 Summer Camp will take place between 15-25 /08/2014
Accommodation and transportation costs are fully covered. Participants are only responsible for their traveling cost.
The General Delegation of Palestine is now accepting applications for the 2014 Summer Camp (15-25/08/2014).
To Participate
Please contact the General Delegation of Palestine, email auemb@mofa-gov.ps to receive the participation form.
