Embassy of the State of Palestine

In response to a recent European Union binding directive banning dealings with Israeli settlements, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said:

“We welcome this significant move that calls for all EU projects to be conducted within pre-1967 lines and not in East Jerusalem, the West Bank or Golan Heights. This includes the prohibition of funding, cooperation and research funding, among other things, to any individual or institution in the illegal settlements.”

Any Israeli entity seeking funding from or cooperation with the European Union will have to submit a declaration stating that the entity has no direct or indirect links to the West Bank, East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights, according to the new EU guidelines.
The guidelines, which condition all future agreements on Jerusalem’s acknowledgement that its occupied territories are not part of Israel, have strained relations with the EU to unprecedented level.
The full text of the guidelines obtained by Haaretz states that any Israeli entity that wants to receive funding, participate in a project or apply for grants or prizes from EU foundations or institutions will have to submit such a declaration.
The guidelines also state that “only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel’s pre-1967 borders will be considered eligible” for consideration.”
The place of establishment “is understood to be the legal address where the entity is registered, as confirmed by a precise postal address corresponding to a concrete physical location. The use of a post office box is not allowed.”
The guidelines, which were drawn up by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm are expected to be officially released on Friday. The document was circulated among all the EU institutions, foundations, investment funds and aid organizations two weeks ago, as well as to all 28 EU member states. They go into effect on January 1.

B'Tselem, an Israeli Human Rights Organisation released a video capturing Israeli soldiers arresting a 5-year-old Palestinian in Hebron for allegedly throwing a stone at a settler's car in a checkpoint near Hebron's Tomb of the Patriarchs.

B'Tselem complained to the legal advisor in the West Bank that the IOF acted illegally according to Israeli law by detaining a child under the age of 12.

On the Ninth Anniversary of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Construction of Israel’s Apartheid Wall Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, PLO Executive Committee member and Head of the PLO Department of Culture and Information, affirms the following:

"Pursuing Israel in the international judicial arena is long overdue, and it is high time that Israel is held accountable for its flagrant violations of international law and the human rights of the Palestinian people.

3 July 2013 – A senior United Nations humanitarian official today urged the Israeli Government to lift restrictions on the free movement of people and goods in the Gaza Strip, as he met with Palestinian farmers and fishermen whose livelihoods have been ruined by the measures.

Veteran PLO official Hanan Ashrawi has stressed that the rights of the Palestinian people are inalienable, and the right of return is at the top of those rights. Citing UN Resolution 194 and the Geneva Convention of 1951 on the Status of Refugees, the PLO executive Committee member insisted that such rights, individually and collectively, cannot be waived and will not become obsolete with the passage of time.

Israeli-owned fast-food franchise rejects Ariel invitation, citing long-term policy not to operate across pre-1967 green line.

In the coming days, President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman to talk about the stalled peace process. The Palestinian leadership has supported Secretary Kerry’s initiative and expressed, on several occasions, their confidence that Secretary Kerry’s intentions are genuine. Unfortunately, the Israeli government continues with policies on the ground that contradict and prejudice the very outcome of negotiations, while Israeli officials and members of the ruling coalition have made a number of clear statements reaffirming that the Israeli government are not serious about the two-state solution, or a just and lasting peace.

Abbas called on Grandi to intensify work to help the Palestinian refugees in Syria due to the ongoing conflict.

In return, Grandi briefed Abbas on the agency’s work to help the Palestinian refugees whether in Syria or abroad and to ease their suffering.

They exchanged suggestions on how to mobilize on the United Nations or the Arab League’s level in order to speed providing the necessary humanitarian supplies.

A United Nations human rights body accused Israeli forces on Thursday of mistreating Palestinian children, including by torturing those in custody and using others as human shields.