Palestine Monitor

Targeting Peace Activists: Stop The Wall Offices Raided

2010-02-09T13:04:08Z

Late Sunday night Israeli Army raided the Stop the Wall Campaign (a Palestinian grassroots coalition) offices in Ramallah, West Bank. Some 10 military jeeps, hummers and an armoured bus surrounded the building, where the offices are located.

: Photo: Stop The Wall

Following a three-hour search, Israeli soldiers confiscated computer hard disks, laptops, and video cameras along with paper documents, CDs, and video cassettes.

: Photo: Stop The Wall

During the press conference held on Monday at Wattan TV building, the Coordinator of the Stop the Wall Campaign commented:

“This is part of the continuous targeting of the popular grassroots movement and the struggle of the Palestinian human rights defenders to hold Israel accountable for human rights violations.” Palestinians will not be intimidated by this. The struggle against the Wall will only stop once the decision of the International Court of Justice, which calls for the Wall to be torn down, is implemented. We call on the international community and in particular the European Union to step up pressure on Israel to ensure it respects international law and human rights and ends its repression of Palestinian and international human rights defenders working on the ground.”

This attack on the Campaign offices comes after the arrests of Jamal Juma' and Mohammed Othman, the youth coordinator with Stop the Wall, who were both released following a period of detention and significant international pressure. (see Palestine Monitor's article about Jamal Juma's detention's conditions : http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spi...

Currently, some 40 anti-Wall activists are held for their grassroots mobilizing and international advocacy efforts in Israeli jails.

The most staggering wave of Israeli repression of grassroots activists has lately occurred in Ni'lin. To date some 130 residents - whether protesting or not - have been arrested, some 500 injured (50 with life bullets), 10 permanently injured and 5 killed since their demonstrations began. 20 people were arrested in January. One has been released, and the rest remain jailed. 15 were arrested between January 12 and January 24, in what has been the most serious campaign of arrests targeting the grassroots anti-Wall movement in the village. 80,000 NIS in fines and bails have been paid to the Occupation authorities.

The arrests and violence inflicted on individuals is not sporadic or accidental but instead follow an established pattern.

Stop the Wall and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association have issued “Repression Allowed, Resistance denied”, a detailed report on the repression of activists and communities involved in the popular resistance against the Apartheid Wall. The report can be downloaded at: http://stopthewall.org/activistreso...

Fabulous Nablus

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-09T11:56:54Z

Look through the Rough Guide to Israel & the Palestinian Territories and you will find barely 20 pages devoted to Palestine. From that the city of Nablus receives just a few skinny paragraphs and a map, reinforcing the popular perception that the 7000 year old city stands for little more than the violence and occupation that has scarred it.

That is, until Project Hope, an international NGO based in Nablus, unveiled the first ever web guide last month, both in French and English. We spoke with director Abdul Hakim Sabbah.


Old city market: overflowing with delicacies

“It first occurred to me in 2003, when I saw the ‘Guide for Jordan', that there was no similar guide for Palestine!” explained Hakim. “At the time I was in France. When people asked me questions about my city, I could not lead them toward any other website than Arabic-written ones”, he continued. “A guide on the whole of Palestine would have been time consuming, so I decided to focus on Nablus, where I am from”.


Project Hope Director Abdul Hakim Sabbah

Nablus Guide was born from an individual initiative, a one man dream that has been growing since a smaller scale version launched in 2008, with the help of a volunteering French web designer. “At the start, the website aimed mostly at intern use. The volunteers at Project Hope and our friends could discover the city through it. It was pretty modest but contained useful information”.


New city park

This has now become a gift for the city, as well as promoting the work of Project Hope. Its influence will raise Nablus' profile, which in turn should help to attract tourists; “It is a way to help develop the district”, believes Hakim. “The main goal of such a website is simple: Make foreigners discover the city. I care about where I come from and I would like people to see the city the way I do.”


The city at night

Unfortunately, Nablus' most enchanting features are not well known. 7000 years old, with a population of 200,000 including four refugee camps, the character of the city is reflected best by its idiosyncrasies. “Many initiatives have been taken to promote Nablus's cultural heritage,” explained Project Hope treasurer Salem Hantoli, “we wanted to be in the Guinness book of records for the world's biggest Kanafeh.” “This guide seeks to fill in the blanks”, agrees Hakim. “Nablus is a place that deserves to be visited”.


Al Najah University

For Salem Hantoli this web site is a way for internationals to experience a fresh perspective on Palestine. “We don't want people to see Nablus as an area of war and crisis anymore”, he said. “We want to tell the world that our city exists through other things: its diversity of communities, their cultures and their ways of living”, adding “for us, the website is a way to build bridges between and among the people so they can understand and learn from each other”. Moreover, internationals are eyewitnesses taking testimonies back to their own countries, lending a solidarity to a population that has suffered greatly. “During the second Intifada, as long as there were internationals in Nablus, the violence from the Israeli decreased”.


Turkish baths in the old city cure all aches and pains

Although the guide is mainly directed at potential tourists, it has gained widespread support among locals. “Many people ask us ‘why am I not in the Website?'” laughs Hakim.

“Cooperation is the only way to achieve the project”, added Salem. No empty words these. The website is run by Palestinians, with contributions and ideas from Project Hope's international volunteers. The aim of serving the city and raising its popularity is a passionately shared goal.


Jacob's Well

The guide delivers historical facts, rather than emotive appeals. But despite this there is an unavoidable sympathy for an oppressed community. “We are a neutral NGO, we are not meant to do politics”, says Hakim. When pressed Salem concedes that “putting Nablus back on the map and exposing the life of its people's life is our way to resist the occupation. We can't fight Israel with weapons. I think that the only and most valuable way to resist is to lead a normal life”. The website seeks to highlight that another life in Nablus is possible and does exist.


The soap the city is famed for

Nablus is beginning to recover after ten years under siege, during which time many businesses and industries chose to leave, restricting its citizen's choices and freedoms. Salem now sees light at the end of the tunnel; “since 2008, people go out more and enjoy themselves again, but still the occupiers try to restrict our social life. This is about being or not being. Today, the only choice we have is to stay and live, like normal people do.”


Roman ruins

Even if the future of Nablus remains unclear, Hakim has faith that he will see his city come back to life. “We are ‘Project Hope' after all, how could we give hope to people if we gave it up ourselves?”

Learn more about the city by checking out the guide here www.nablusguide.com

Danny Ayalon's Arrival Sparks Outrage In London

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-08T13:38:30Z

A protest march will be held in London today against the arrival of deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and British Muslim Initiative are co-ordinating the march, expected to number several hundred, to highlight the ongoing human rights abuses perpetrated by the Israeli government. Ayalon is the first Knesset member to visit Britain since arrest warrants were submitted for Tzipi Livni in December.

Livni, along with defense minister Ehud Barak, were spared a legal trial through the diplomatic immunity they enjoyed as ministers on a state visit. Prosecution lawyers argued the Knesset members were implicated in war crimes relating to Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, with Michael Massih QC stating international law "places a direct responsibility not only on those who pull the trigger, but on those higher up the chain of command". Ayalon's last visit to the capital, in October 2009, was marked by a large scale student demonstration while he spoke at the London School of Economics.

Student demonstration during Danny Ayalon's speech to the LSE

The deputy foreign minister will meet with British representatives on foreign policy and with special responsibilities to the middle east. High on his priorities list for discussion will be Britain's active role in the BDS campaign, proposed law changes to guarantee immunity for Israeli politicians in the UK and a combined strategy to curb Iran's nuclear program.

He will deliver a speech at Oxford University and chair a public ‘brain-storming' session at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), where today‘s protest will be held. It is believed his visit will form the basis of a new PR campaign in Britain, designed to repair Israel's image in a country whose public, if not its politicians, have widely condemned its policies toward Palestinians.

Ayalon is perhaps a surprising choice for such a delicate mission. The minister was recently forced into an embarrassing apology to Turkey over his bizarre behaviour during a meeting with ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol this month. The ambassador was forced to sit in a much lower chair than Ayalon, in a room without the Turkish flag on display. The deputy foreign minister instructed Israeli representatives “not to smile”, but later apologised saying in future he would behave in a “diplomatically acceptable manner”. Despite this, Ayalon is currently embroiled in a new row with Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal over remarks made on Palestine.

: Ayalon demeans the Turkish ambassador by forcing him to sit on a low chair.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign explained the reasons behind the protest , which include Ayalon's membership of the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party. “(YB) is well-known for its racist policies, including its proposals to jail Palestinians in Israel who commemorate the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.” The party was formed by outspoken MK Avigdor Liebermann, whose proposals have included drowning Palestinian prisoners in the Dead Sea and a nuclear strike on Gaza.

Learn more about the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and get involved http://www.palestinecampaign.org/in...

Weekly Protest Video Round-Up

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-06T11:21:42Z

Local and international activists braved foul weather conditions to demonstrate in villages up and down the West Bank yesterday. As further evidence of the popular struggle's growing power, each protest went ahead as planned. Here's a video round-up of what happened.

Bilin

Thierry Vallat led an EU delegation joining the march of around a hundred people. Soldiers dispersed the protest with high velocity tear gas canisters, resulting in injuries to three men, two were named as Ashraf al-Khatib, and Hamde Abu Rahma, the other an unnamed European activist. Soldiers then stormed the village but failed in arrest attempts. As part of the army's zero tolerance policy toward protests, resident and activist Ibrahim Burnat, 27, became the 36th resident of Bilin to be arrested in the past seven months, in a night raid on Wednesday.

Ni'lin

A group of around 200 blocked the gate and raised the Palestinian flag on the separation wall which has cut villagers off from their land. Despite volleys of tear gas, no serious injuries were sustained. Salah Khawaja of the popular struggle committee said the army's brutality highlighted a “need to come together and meet the challenges of occupation and attempts to suppress peaceful demonstrations”.

Al Ma'sara

The demonstration passed peacefully, with local organisers delivering speeches calling for unity between Palestinian politicians. There were no reported clashes with Israeli security forces, despite their blocking the protest route. Around 70 took part.

Nabi Saleh

Fast becoming the most volatile of the popular struggle locations. 150 protesters, the majority residents of the village, numbering around 25% of its population, marched on IDF positions in front of the Hallamish settlement, the villagers' main grievance. They were met with an instant hail of tear gas, rubber coated bullets and .22 rounds, leading to at least 15 injuries. It is believed undercover soldiers were stationed to the rear of protestors in order to identify leaders, although none were seized. Among those hurt were Omar Tamim, 18, shot five times with rubber bullets and Palestine Monitor photographer Lazar Simeonov, whose helmet prevented serious injury when he was hit in the head with a rubber coated steel bullet. Several residences were damaged during the protest.

Sheikh Jarrah

Following the midweek demolition of the Gawi family tent and subsequent protest, Friday's event featured several hundred protestors, including members of the Knesset. Unlike previous weeks, no arrests were made and the demonstration passed peacefully.

Learn more about the Popular Struggle here http://www.popularstruggle.org/

Ministry Of Mixed Messages

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-04T13:17:44Z

The circus named Berlusconi has left town. During his whistle stop tour of Israel and the West Bank the world's most flamboyant head of state was at his crowd pleasing best. Crying with Netanyahou during a speech to the Knesset, delivering a set of priceless Da Vinci sketches to a local gallery and describing Arabs as “brothers and friends” while snuggling up to Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem. Despite the charm offensive, feathers will have been ruffled both sides of the wall by some of his statements on key issues.

“We know what you suffered on the Gaza front”

Sympathy directed not at the devastated civilian population of Gaza, but to Knesset ministers during his address in Jerusalem. Italy voted against the Goldstone report, which Berlusconi describe as “intolerable accusations” and an attempt to “criminalise” a justified, proportionate response to Hamas rockets.

: Berlusconi in Bethlehem yesterday.

"Just as it is right to cry for the victims of the Shoah [the Holocaust], it is right to show pain for what happened in Gaza".

Wading into the minefield of holocaust comparisons, “Israel's greatest friend in Europe” unwittingly found himself occupying the same ground as ‘anti-Semites' Norman Finkelstein and George Galloway. While expressing vehement support for Israel's brutal assault, Berlusconi can somehow still abhor the consequences.

“We stand with you in Israel's struggle for peace and security”

Delivered in the same breath as a casual reference to the Palestinian ‘problem'. The Prime Minister was happy to paint Israel as the architects of peace, applauding their modern values and virtues. (Israel) "is not only the biggest example of democracy and liberty in the Middle East, but the only example." He went on to press Mahmoud Abbas on his obligation to restart peace negotiations.

“Israel's settlement policy an obstacle to peace. Persisting with this policy is a mistake”

Acknowledging Netanyahou's idea of a freeze does not go far enough, Berlusconi linked the rise of settlements to Israel's security concerns. The statement can be taken as support for Abbas' (and previously Obama's) demand for a total freeze as a goodwill pre-condition for peace talks.

: Joint address to the Knesset with PM Netanyahou.

“We can consider Israel a country that is part of Western culture. That is why I believe that we can embark on a path that will lead to Israel becoming a member of the European Union.”

An emphatic rebuttal to the calls for Israel to be isolated while it continue to flout international law. Berlusconi believes membership of the EU would ease the “integration anxieties” of Israeli citizens and give Israel greater unity with Western states. If Berlusconi believes such a move would tie Israel to the obligations of EU member states, he would be well advised to examine its relations with the UN.

Besides that Israel's security arrangements would make it impossible to satisfy the EU's core requirement for freedom of movement, the Jewish state has never even applied for membership. The statement is likely to antagonise European nations more critical of Israel's policy and has a negligible possibility of materialising.

Have a look at some of Berlusconi's most hilarious moments here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...

Mustafa Barghouthi Nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prize

2010-02-03T08:10:42Z

“I have pleasure in nominating Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. I am inspired by the life and work of Dr. Barghouthi whose commitment to nonviolence, in his personal and public life, is truly in the Ghandian spirit", stated in her letter to the Nobel Committe, Maired Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Co-founder of the Peace People (Northern Ireland). Mairead Maguire today announced her nomination of Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.

"For the Nobel Committee to give their 2010 Award to Dr. Barghouthi would be a recognition of not only his great spirit of peace and nonviolence, but also the Palestinian Nonviolent Movement, which gives us all hope for the future of Palestine, Israel and the Middle East Community.

: Courtesy: Reuters

Dr. Barghouthi was born in Jerusalem in l954 to a Palestinian family from Deir Ghassaneh village in the Ramallah District. As well as a Medical Graduate of Friendship University, Faculty of Medicine and got his degree in Business, Administration and Management from Stanford university , he is a member of the Palestinian Parliament; former Minister of Information under the 2007 National Unity Government; 2005 presidential candidate; General secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative; social, political, human rights and peace activist,one of the most active grassroots leaders in Palestine, campaigner for the development of Palestinian civil society and grassroots democracy, outspoken advocate for internal reform, international spokesperson for the Palestinian cause, leading figure in the non-violent, peaceful struggle against the occupation, and organizer of international solidarity present in Palestine.

Mustafa Barghouthi has made an extraordinary contribution to initiatives to peacefully challenge the ongoing Israeli Occupation of Palestine ad bring it to an end, as well as efforts to build the institutional framework of Palestinian civil society and promote the Principles of internal democracy and good governance. He writes extensively for local and international audiences on civil society and democracy issues and the Political situation in Palestine, as well as on health development policy in Palestine.

Dr. Barghouthi has been at the forefront of initiatives promoting non-violent Resistance as the most effective means of overcoming Israeli Occupation, and has been consistently present at grassroots, nonviolent resistance initiatives against the construction of Israel's Apartheid wall.

For more information on Dr. Barghouthi: + 972 599 201 528 or + 972 599 254 218 Mob + 972 5999 400 73 office"

www.almubadara.org www.palestinemonitor.org

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: MAIREAD MAGUIRE PEACE PEOPLE, 224 LISBURN ROAD, BELFAST.BT96GE. N.IRELAND www.peacepeople.com email: peacepeople@btconnect.com (Tel: 44(o)90663465)

ANY LETTER FOR SUPPORTING DR MUSTAFA BARGHOUTHI's NOMINATION:

communicationforpeace@gmail.com

Nabi Saleh Chaos in Pictures

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-02T14:39:41Z

What began as a peaceful demonstration ended with dozens of injuries, including young children. Others were forced to flee their homes under fire from Israeli soldiers.

All photos by Lazar Simeonov.

All photos by Lazar Simeonov.

Learn more about the Popular Struggle http://www.popularstruggle.org/

Trees Against

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-02T07:25:30Z

Planting trees against occupation, settlement expansion and land expropriation – this is the symbolic action carried out by popular committees of resistance who joined a tree-planting action in Aboud, North-West of Ramallah, last Sunday.


Heading to the farmland in Aboud.: Photo by Brady Ng

Local villagers, students from the Birzeit University and some international peace activists gathered on the hilltops facing the village of Aboud and planted 300 trees: an effort to reclaim land confiscated by the ongoing expansion of the settlements and the wall, whose construction has turned one third of the village's land into a buffer zone.


Dr. Mustafa Barghouti and Elias Azar with tree-planting volunteers.: Photo by Brady Ng

“The village community has protested several times against Israel's Apartheid Wall,” said Elias Azar, president of the village council since 1994, “Our villagers have paid and are still paying a high price for the construction of the settlements. We are deprived of the right to enter our own properties, we want to show our lives are rooted in our lands.” Israeli settlement Beit Arye, which was established in 1980, occupied almost 800 dunums of land from Aboud, and nearly the same number of dunums were confiscated for the construction of Ofarim settlement in 1982.


An international volunteer getting ready to plant an olive tree.: Photo by Brady Ng

Dr Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, who joined the tree-planting event, said, “Aboud is entirely surrounded by settlements whose establishment has confiscated 5.000 dunums of its residents' lands. Furthermore, the ongoing construction of the Apartheid Wall is expanding into the village, intending to place the two settlements on the Israeli side of a unilaterally imposed new border and isolating the community from their properties. We decided to plant trees in order to block settlements expansion. It is an act of civil disobedience to revive the spirit of popular nonviolent resistance and the spirit of unity. We believe in a strategy, combining nonviolent resistance and sanctions against the Israeli Government imposed by the international community”.


Dr. Mustafa Barghouti planting an olive tree.: Photo by Brady Ng


The hills of Aboud.: Photo by Brady Ng


The scenery in Aboud.: Photo by Brady Ng

During the morning, the demonstrators gathered on a hill facing the village, the site of extensive remains of St Barbara's Monastery. In May 2002 the church was blown up and razed by Israeli Army, and later rebuilt by the local community.


Exploring the hills of Aboud.: Photo by Brady Ng

Lasting Agriculture Versus Lasting Occupation

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-01T13:33:07Z

The village of Battir, North West of Bethlehem, was once a haven for farmers. Its rich soil, water resources and favourable climate produced abundant harvests of olives and vegetables. But since the start of the occupation, Battir's 4,000 inhabitants have faced tremendous difficulties.

: The farmland of Battir.

The village straddles B and C areas, falling under administrative and military Israeli control. It is surrounded on one side by the separation wall and on the other by two settlements, Bitay Illet and Walja. If the settlements continue to expand at their current rate, they will soon merge, further isolating Battir. The village is one of fourteen such ‘blockations' in the West Bank. Available land has been steadily decreasing since 1949, when the Israeli Government began building a railroad through the village.

Despite these restrictions, Battir's farmers retain faith that with determination and effective use of their natural resources, the good years will return. Today they are working with The Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem (ARIJ) in order to maximise the results of their agriculture.

We attended a workshop day in which twelve representatives of the village, of different ages, gender and background, engaged with ARIJ workers on potential new innovations. “The purpose of such a day is for us to collect as much information as we can on the social, political and environment levels and for them to find, by thinking together, the sources of the problems and their solutions” explained the moderator.

: ARIJ/Battir workshop session.

ARIJ seeks to promote sustainable development in the occupied Palestinian territories and the self-reliance of the Palestinian people through a greater control over their natural resources. Workshops have also helped to raise awareness among people, promoting environmental education as well as sustainable agriculture. “Usually the ones who come are already willing to change the way agriculture is applied” said the moderator.

For the people of Battir, the biggest problem is access to water. “We have springs. Unfortunately, because of the water restrictions, we are not allowed to use them all”, explained Itadal, a member of the village council. Indeed, the inhabitants have access to running water only five hours a day, most of the time in the evening, which makes the way they live and cultivate much harder.

The wall has separated farmers from their fields. “Our land is shrinking”, said Itadal, “it is become too small, and too used up, without the time it needs to regenerate”. Farmers have been forced to graze their animals excessively due to reduced space. ARIJ have criticised the practise, stating it “decreases the local productive capacities of the communities”.

As the workshop closed, participants were asked to find solutions to their problems. Ending the occupation was a popular suggestion, as well as Itadal's plan for a new well to collect water. “We also need rehabilitation of water pipes and springs,” she added, “and we must request the administration of agriculture to give us training”. Following the workshop, ARIJ will continue its projects here and in other villages. The inhabitants of Battir will ask for a permit to build their well. But success or failure will not be self-determined. The villagers must wait and see what new hardships the occupation will inflict on them.

Learn more about the work of ARIJ http://www.arij.org/

European Parliamentary Delegation visited Gaza

Palestine Monitor — 2010-02-01T12:40:49Z

The biggest European Parliamentary Delegation comprised of 55 MEPs and MPs from across Europe visited Gaza between 14 and 18 January 2010. The visit was prepared by the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC).

As Gaza strip has been suffering for years through a deadly siege and devastating War; the living conditions remain disastrous. Both of the organizers believe it is crucial to continue highlighting the devastation and not allow humanitarian disaster to be shrouded to serve a political end. The visit aimed at exposing to the parliamentarians to the real conditions in the Gaza Strip so they can raise the issue in their countries and national parliaments. They have carried out a very comprehensive tour across the Gaza Strip and met Egyptian officials during their visit. General Director of the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC), Majed al Zeer represented the centre in the visit which included many places affected by the ongoing siege and War.

The delegation visited Isbat Abed Rabu, a small village in the northern eastern Gaza Strip. The area included 5000 houses and industrial buildings. during the last war, hundreds of houses were destroyed in the area. Whilst, couple of hundred were partially damaged due to the continued attacks against the area. Israeli army also killed many people in the area.

The delegation listened to some of the survivors who witnessed the killing of their families. The delegation met with a family who were obviously living in the most abject of conditions - three or four generation including an old lady who was said to be over 100, living in a tent without washing facilities of any kind and only a makeshift fire on the ground for cooking. No re-construction or rebuilding was carried out following the attack as Israel continues its devastating siege on the innocent civilians living in the strip.

The MPs and MEPs afterwards moved to Zaitoun area which lies on the southern eastern part of Gaza City. A place which now seems like a ghost town following the destruction and damages to houses and schools. A considerable number of the victims were killed in this place. Amongst, the victims were Al Samouni family. The family were amongst the 100 or so who gathered in the small neighbourhood. During the war, the invading Israeli army targeted the family after sealing the area.

The Samouni family had been subjected to a bloody massacre by the Israeli army. The massacre extended include the brutal shooting of the father as he opened the door to the soldiers. During the shooting other family members were also shot in front of their children, and the remaining were ejected from their homes. In all 29 family members had been killed and this clearly left the survivors, many of them children, severely traumatised. Listening to their harrowing account and judging by who they were its obvious that targeting civilians had no purpose other than to terrorise the population.

The Legislative Council had effectively been disabled as it was exposed to heavy attacks from Israeli F16s. Only a section of one room, in what had obviously been an impressive four-storey building, recently erected with the help of EU money, had survived the bombardment. The delegation visited the destroyed place where numerous political discussions took place with Palestinian MPs and politicians.

On the afternoon of Saturday 16 January the delegation met with Palestinian Premier in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haneyeh, the meeting with fruitful and the discussed many important issues. Some ministers joined the meeting as well.

The visiting delegation met with the Head of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, John Ging. Mr. Ging delivered a presentation which made it clear that it is seriously under-resourced and under-funded for the essential work it is doing. According to Mr Ging, UNRWA is in financial troubles at the moment. It might shorten its services due to lack of fund. He said that most of the donors failed to send the money promised yearly.

After leaving the Gaza Strip on Jan. 17, the delegation of MPs met with Ahmed Abu Al-Gheit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister; Dr. Fathi Sorour, the Speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly; and Amr Moussa, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. Among the issues discussed were the effort to reconcile the feud between the two Palestinian political parties (Hamas and Fatah), the ongoing Israeli siege, and the construction of a steel wall ¬to block off the tunnels that connect Egypt to Gaza. The MPs agreed the tunnels should be closed, but only if the border is opened to allow legal movement of people and goods.

Read more about Palestinian Return Centre here http://www.prc.org.uk/newsite/ Read more about the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza http://www.savegaza.eu/