Embassy of the State of Palestine

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, strongly condemned the passing of a new Israeli Knesset bill that was sponsored by MK Yariv Levin of the Likud Party and that explicitly distinguishes between Muslim and Christian Palestinian citizens of Israel. Furthermore, she denounced Knesset’s discussion of a proposal initiated by right-wing MK Moshe Feiglin regarding the extension of Israeli sovereignty over the Al-Aqsa Mosque:

“These moves demonstrate that Israel is transforming its military occupation into an outright religious confrontation and an ideological component of official policy as demonstrated in its insistence on the recognition of the ‘Jewishness of the state.’”

The present report is the final report of the current Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Richard Falk, submitted in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/2 A and Human Rights Council decision 2/102.
In the report, the Special Rapporteur addresses Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the wall in the context of the tenth anniversary of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and considers the policies and practices of Israel in occupied Palestine in light of the prohibition on segregation and apartheid.
He also addresses concerns in relation to the deterioration of the human rights situation of Palestinians living under the Israeli blockade in the Gaza Strip

Dr. Ashrawi briefed the J Street delegation on the latest political developments, the ongoing negotiations, and Israel’s violations of international law and their impact on prospects for peace and on the region. The discussion also covered issues of mutual concern.

“Israel is willfully sabotoging U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry’s efforts and using the negotiations as a cover to continue with its illegal settlement activities, particularly in and around Jerusalem, and the theft of Palestinian lands and resources, among other violations. For any agreement to succeed, it has to be firmly embedded in international law, and it must safeguard fundamental Palestinian rights, foremost which is the right to self-determination,” stressed Dr. Ashrawi.

Israel’s finance minister made a passionate plea for peace Monday, saying his country must do everything in its power to reach an accord with the Palestinians since the current situation posed a “threat to the future of the state of Israel.”

Yair Lapid, who heads the second largest party in parliament Yesh Atid, told a group of visiting Jewish-American leaders that if current peace talks collapse it will be “nothing less than devastating” to the welfare of Israeli citizens. But beyond risks to the economy, he said failure to establish a Palestinian state would leave Israel facing a demographic threat that could undermine its Jewish and democratic nature.

Following the Knesset debate today, B'Tselem publishes a short FAQ about inequality in the distribution of water between Palestinians and Israelis.

ANY confusion about Israel’s settlements in the West Bank can be easily resolved. There is a file in the office of the Israeli Prime Minister that will do it.
The file would be handy for John Kerry as he attempts to broker a peace. It would help Julie Bishop, who told The Times of Israel on January 15 she’d like to see advice that says settlements are illegal.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she is “deeply concerned” by reports Israeli armed forces are removing Palestinian children from their homes in night-time raids.

Unlike the previous Labor government, Ms Bishop has refused to condemn Israeli settlements, and has not altered her position following the airing of the disturbing footage on ABC television on Monday night. Nor would the Foreign Minister commit to registering her concerns directly with the Israeli government.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishop-deeply-concerned-by-mistreatment-of-palestinian-children-in-tv-report-20140211-32fo6.html#ixzz2t3Ypx3bQ

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat asserted Monday that the Palestinian Authority (PA) would not recognize Israel as a Jewish state – only hours after Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni hinted that the Palestinians might accept the longstanding Israeli demand in order to secure a peace deal.

The Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations
in New York prepares this report on a yearly basis following every session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This Session bore witness to several historic events. On 18 November 2013, the State of Palestine cast its first vote in the UNGA for the election of an International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) judge. On 27 December 2013, the UNGA adopted a decision by consensus on the “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations”, allowing the State of Palestine to contribute towards the Organization’s expenses. Additionally, on 26 November 2013, the UNGA adopted resolution 68/12 declaring 2014 the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

A controversial lawsuit to outlaw the sanctions campaign against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is set to resume in the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday.

The suit says Jake Lynch of Sydney University, a prominent supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, violated Australia’s race discrimination laws by refusing to support a research application by an Israeli academic.

The case was filed last year by Israeli legal centre Shurat HaDin on behalf of Hebrew University academic Dan Avnon after Lynch declined to sign a form in support of his application to conduct research in Australia.