2015
Fruitful discussions and outcomes between the visiting Foreign minister of New Zealand and his Palestinian counterpart in Ramallah
The Hon Murray McCully, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand has visited Palestine on Thursday , June 4 and met with HE Dr Riad Malki, the Foreign minster of the State of Palestine. Mr Murray also met with HE Mr Mahmoud Abbas, the President of Palestine and HE Dr Rami Al Hamdallah, the Prime Minister.
During these important meetings, the two sides had an extensive and deep discussion on the latest developments in Israel- Palestine conflict and the current attempts to revive the frozen peace process.
Fruitful Discussions and Outcomes Take Place between Visiting Foreign Minister of New Zealand and His Palestinian Counterpart in Ramallah
The Minister for Foreign Affairs in New Zealand, The Hon. Murray McCully visited Palestine on Thursday 4 June where he met with the Foreign Minister of the State of Palestine, H.E. Dr Riad Malki.
Mr. McCully also met with the President of the State of Palestine Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, and the Prime Minister Dr. Rami Al Hamdallah.
UN Push to Blacklist IDF
A push is currently being made in the United Nations to have the Israeli Defense Forces added to the blacklist of the council for Children and Armed Conflict.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui of Armenia, has recommended the IDF be included because of the 500 Palestinian children killed and 3,300 wounded during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge.
May 26, 2015 - Dr. Ashrawi: "The annexation of settlement blocs is unacceptable and illegal"
In response to media inquiries regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statements regarding the annexation of illegal settlement blocs, PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi commented:
“This is a disingenuous and manipulative exercise of political and legal deception. All settlements are illegal and in flagrant contravention of international law and consensus, and any efforts to annex and to legalize the settlements blocs is a blatant attempt to steal more Palestinian land and to legitimize Israel’s ongoing system of apartheid, land theft and expansion.
Strangled: Gaza Collapsing in the Grip of a Humanitarian Crisis
In a press release issued on May 20th, The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor urgently calls on the international community to:
1.Bring all available pressures to bear on the Israeli government to end the blockade of Gaza.
2.Call on the Israeli government to end the targeting of innocent fishermen, farmers and other citizens, a practice in violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention.
3.Prevail upon the Egyptian government, using foreign aid as a lever, to open the Rafah crossing, without any restrictions.
4.Investigate and hold the Israeli government accountable when it is charged with war crimes and ongoing violations of human rights. No barriers should be placed that hinder the ability of Palestinians or others to seek relief from third parties such as the International Criminal Court.
5.Support the Palestinian call for a commercial seaport in Gaza that guarantees the free import and export of goods and private international travel.
Abbas responds to Netanyahu: No Mideast peace without East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital
President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Palestinian news agency Wafa on Monday that there would be no peace or stability in the Mideast unless the Palestinians can claim East Jerusalem as their capital.
He also said Netanyahu's remarks were a clear violation of UN resolutions, and the stances of the international community and the Arab League.
After the budget last week, overall aid allocated to Palestine has been reduced.
total Official Development Assistance to Palestine for 2015-16 is expected to total $42.1 million, down from $56.5 million in 2014-15, a total cut of 25% ($14.4 million).
To place this in context, total Australian Official Development Assistance for its world program fell by 20% ($1 billion) with this year’s budget.
May 13, 2015 - Dr. Ashrawi: “The Nakba did not end with the creation of Israel; rather, it is an ongoing process that seeks to displace Palestine and replace it with ‘Greater Israel’ at the expense of its people and their rights”
On the occasion of the 67th anniversary of the Nakba, PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi stated:
"In 1948, Israel destroyed 531 Palestinian towns and villages and took control of an additional 774, and more than 800,000 Palestinians were forced to become refugees.
Dr. Ashrawi on the Vatican’s recognition of the State of Palestine
PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi stated:
“On behalf of the Palestinian leadership and people, we welcome the Vatican’s recognition of the State of Palestine as a genuine contribution to peace and justice. The significance of this recognition goes beyond the political and legal into the symbolic and moral domains and sends a message to all people of conscience that the Palestinian people deserve the right to self-determination, formal recognition, freedom, and statehood.
Canonization of Two Palestinian Sisters by Pope Francis Vatican – Sunday May 17, 2015
On Sunday May 17. 2015, His Holiness Pope Francis will declare two Nuns from Palestine as Saints. St. Marie Alphonsine Ghattas from Jerusalem and St. Mariam Bawardy from Ibilin village in the Galilee, both of whom lived in the 19th century , will be canonized in a mass celebrated at Vatican's St. Peter's Square at 11 AM (Palestine Time).