27 june 2018
During West Bank tour, Duke of Cambridge visits Jalazoun refugee camp, meets Palestinian youths and watches traditional Arab folk dance before touring Jerusalem’s holy sites and telling crowd of Palestinians he ‘hopes the links of friendship’ between Britain and the Palestinians ‘can grow stronger.’
Prince William, paying the first official British royal visit to the Palestinian Authority territories on Wednesday, told Palestinians they had not been forgotten and his trip to the West Bank was a "very powerful one".
"My message tonight is that you have not been forgotten, it has been a very powerful experience to meet you and other Palestinians in the West Bank and to hear your stories," the prince said in a speech at a garden party at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem.
"I hope that through my being here and understanding the challenges you face, the links of friendship and mutual respect between the Palestinian and British people can grow stronger."
The prince traveled to the West Bank on Wednesday, spreading a message of peace as he met with the Palestinian Authority president and toured a Palestinian refugee camp.
The Duke of Cambridge was welcomed by an honor guard as he turned his attention to the Palestinians on the second day of his swing through the Holy Land. It is the first official visit to the area by a member of the royal family.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abbas appealed to the prince and the British people to support the Palestinian campaign for independence.
William, trying to steer clear of politics, praised what he called the close ties between Britain and the Palestinians.
"I'm very glad that our two countries work so closely together and have had success stories with education and relief work," he said. "My sentiments are the same as yours in hoping that there is a lasting peace in the region"
William continued to the nearby Jalazoun refugee camp, where he met with Palestinian youths, ate hummus and other local dishes and visited a school and a clinic. Footage showed William wearing sunglasses as he sat watching a traditional Arab folk dance.
Though William's trip is being billed as non-political, he is meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and visiting sites at the heart of the century-old conflict.
The Kensington Palace's Twitter account posted a photo of the prince posing with scouts, looking on as a girl in a hijab kicked a soccer ball and sitting with girls at the school.
Earlier Wednesday, William began the day by strolling down Tel Aviv's trendy Rothschild Boulevard and meeting young artists and entrepreneurs in Israel's cultural and financial capital.
Wearing a beige summer blazer, light blue shirt, blue pants and brown suede loafers, he met Netta Barzilai, winner of this year's Eurovision song contest, and had a cold drink at one of the famous kiosks along the boulevard named after the late 19th-century British-Jewish banker and philanthropist who contributed greatly to the Jewish community in the Holy Land.
Thousands of onlookers gathered behind police barriers to catch a glimpse of the prince, with some shouting "we love William" toward the second in line to the throne.
The prince casually smiled and waved before attending a cultural event on the rooftop of a museum where he met young people engaged in youth activism, social impact and the environment. There, he lauded Israel for being way ahead of the world in its water recycling and conservation efforts.
"It's going to be a really big issue for us in the future," he said. "I think my generation, my children as well, there's a legacy here ... we need to tidy up a bit."
On Tuesday, he attended a soccer match of young Jewish and Arab players and hit the beach before going to the reception the British ambassador held in his honor that included demonstrations by Israeli tech startups and a collection of Israeli celebrities, politicians and other public figures.
At the reception, Israeli model Bar Refaeli described William as "the best-looking prince in the world".
Jonathan Weiss, a tour guide who accompanied the prince on Wednesday, said William was impressed by how youthful the city is and "what a great vibe" it has and said that the next "time he comes, he plans to bring his swimming trunks."
Three decades of British rule between the two world wars helped establish some of the fault lines of today's Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Britain's withdrawal in 1948 led to the eventual establishment of Israel and Jordan, where the prince kicked off the five-day Mideast tour on Sunday.
For the 36-year-old William, it marks a high-profile visit that could burnish his international credentials. He met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and paid an emotional visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial on Tuesday.
The prince tried to deftly dodge politics as he later visited east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel considers east Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, as an inseparable part of its capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital.
"This region has a complicated and tragic history—in the past century the people of the Middle East have suffered great sadness and loss. Never has hope and reconciliation been more needed," William said at Tuesday night's reception. "I know I share a desire with all of you, and with your neighbors, for a just and lasting peace."
Prince William, paying the first official British royal visit to the Palestinian Authority territories on Wednesday, told Palestinians they had not been forgotten and his trip to the West Bank was a "very powerful one".
"My message tonight is that you have not been forgotten, it has been a very powerful experience to meet you and other Palestinians in the West Bank and to hear your stories," the prince said in a speech at a garden party at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem.
"I hope that through my being here and understanding the challenges you face, the links of friendship and mutual respect between the Palestinian and British people can grow stronger."
The prince traveled to the West Bank on Wednesday, spreading a message of peace as he met with the Palestinian Authority president and toured a Palestinian refugee camp.
The Duke of Cambridge was welcomed by an honor guard as he turned his attention to the Palestinians on the second day of his swing through the Holy Land. It is the first official visit to the area by a member of the royal family.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abbas appealed to the prince and the British people to support the Palestinian campaign for independence.
William, trying to steer clear of politics, praised what he called the close ties between Britain and the Palestinians.
"I'm very glad that our two countries work so closely together and have had success stories with education and relief work," he said. "My sentiments are the same as yours in hoping that there is a lasting peace in the region"
William continued to the nearby Jalazoun refugee camp, where he met with Palestinian youths, ate hummus and other local dishes and visited a school and a clinic. Footage showed William wearing sunglasses as he sat watching a traditional Arab folk dance.
Though William's trip is being billed as non-political, he is meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and visiting sites at the heart of the century-old conflict.
The Kensington Palace's Twitter account posted a photo of the prince posing with scouts, looking on as a girl in a hijab kicked a soccer ball and sitting with girls at the school.
Earlier Wednesday, William began the day by strolling down Tel Aviv's trendy Rothschild Boulevard and meeting young artists and entrepreneurs in Israel's cultural and financial capital.
Wearing a beige summer blazer, light blue shirt, blue pants and brown suede loafers, he met Netta Barzilai, winner of this year's Eurovision song contest, and had a cold drink at one of the famous kiosks along the boulevard named after the late 19th-century British-Jewish banker and philanthropist who contributed greatly to the Jewish community in the Holy Land.
Thousands of onlookers gathered behind police barriers to catch a glimpse of the prince, with some shouting "we love William" toward the second in line to the throne.
The prince casually smiled and waved before attending a cultural event on the rooftop of a museum where he met young people engaged in youth activism, social impact and the environment. There, he lauded Israel for being way ahead of the world in its water recycling and conservation efforts.
"It's going to be a really big issue for us in the future," he said. "I think my generation, my children as well, there's a legacy here ... we need to tidy up a bit."
On Tuesday, he attended a soccer match of young Jewish and Arab players and hit the beach before going to the reception the British ambassador held in his honor that included demonstrations by Israeli tech startups and a collection of Israeli celebrities, politicians and other public figures.
At the reception, Israeli model Bar Refaeli described William as "the best-looking prince in the world".
Jonathan Weiss, a tour guide who accompanied the prince on Wednesday, said William was impressed by how youthful the city is and "what a great vibe" it has and said that the next "time he comes, he plans to bring his swimming trunks."
Three decades of British rule between the two world wars helped establish some of the fault lines of today's Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Britain's withdrawal in 1948 led to the eventual establishment of Israel and Jordan, where the prince kicked off the five-day Mideast tour on Sunday.
For the 36-year-old William, it marks a high-profile visit that could burnish his international credentials. He met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and paid an emotional visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial on Tuesday.
The prince tried to deftly dodge politics as he later visited east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel considers east Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, as an inseparable part of its capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital.
"This region has a complicated and tragic history—in the past century the people of the Middle East have suffered great sadness and loss. Never has hope and reconciliation been more needed," William said at Tuesday night's reception. "I know I share a desire with all of you, and with your neighbors, for a just and lasting peace."
18 june 2018
Ahead of Royal visit, Jerusalem affairs minister says no ‘twisted wording’ from Kensington palace insinuating Western Wall is in ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’ will ‘change the reality.’
Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) criticized Prince William’s itinerary for his upcoming visit to Israel where the Western Wall tour will be included as part of his visit to the Palestinian Authority.
The British Prince will arrive in Israel on June 25, as part of a three day visit to the Middle East which also includes Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
Elkin was especially enraged by Kensington Palace’s official statement which said “The program in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will begin with a short briefing on the history and geography of Jerusalem's Old City from a viewing point at the Mount of Olives.”
“It’s regrettable that Britain chose to politicize the Royal visit. Unified Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for over 3,000 years and no twisted wording of the official press release will change the reality. I’m expecting the prince’s staff to fix this distortion,” Elkin said.
Prince William’s intentions to include the tour of the Western Wall and other sites holy to the region’s three religions as part the visit to Palestinian Territories and not Israel, were announced last week.
“It will allow His Royal Highness to understand and pay respect to the religions and history of the region,” said the official statement.
While the palace has yet to announce which sites the prince will visit on the last day, Ynet has learned he plans to visit the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Western Wall.
As the tours of these sites have been scheduled in advance, it’s unclear why Kensington Palace has failed to include them on the official itinerary.
According to sources in Jerusalem, the palace intentionally avoided mentioning these sites in a bid to prevent a politicization of the visit.
William’s visit to the holy sites was scheduled a long time ago,” says a knowledgeable source. “William is expected to become the king of the United Kingdom one day, and he will also serve as supreme governor of the Church of England as part of his position. So, clearly, these sites were included in the visit’s itinerary to begin with. Why isn’t the palace announcing them yet? They’re likely trying to avoid a political war over the issue of control of the holy sites.
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which planned the visit’s itinerary, is afraid to include the Western Wall in Palestinian Authority leg of the visit, so they are postponing this problematic obstacle and trying to find a solution that will satisfy everyone.”
Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) criticized Prince William’s itinerary for his upcoming visit to Israel where the Western Wall tour will be included as part of his visit to the Palestinian Authority.
The British Prince will arrive in Israel on June 25, as part of a three day visit to the Middle East which also includes Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
Elkin was especially enraged by Kensington Palace’s official statement which said “The program in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will begin with a short briefing on the history and geography of Jerusalem's Old City from a viewing point at the Mount of Olives.”
“It’s regrettable that Britain chose to politicize the Royal visit. Unified Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for over 3,000 years and no twisted wording of the official press release will change the reality. I’m expecting the prince’s staff to fix this distortion,” Elkin said.
Prince William’s intentions to include the tour of the Western Wall and other sites holy to the region’s three religions as part the visit to Palestinian Territories and not Israel, were announced last week.
“It will allow His Royal Highness to understand and pay respect to the religions and history of the region,” said the official statement.
While the palace has yet to announce which sites the prince will visit on the last day, Ynet has learned he plans to visit the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Western Wall.
As the tours of these sites have been scheduled in advance, it’s unclear why Kensington Palace has failed to include them on the official itinerary.
According to sources in Jerusalem, the palace intentionally avoided mentioning these sites in a bid to prevent a politicization of the visit.
William’s visit to the holy sites was scheduled a long time ago,” says a knowledgeable source. “William is expected to become the king of the United Kingdom one day, and he will also serve as supreme governor of the Church of England as part of his position. So, clearly, these sites were included in the visit’s itinerary to begin with. Why isn’t the palace announcing them yet? They’re likely trying to avoid a political war over the issue of control of the holy sites.
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which planned the visit’s itinerary, is afraid to include the Western Wall in Palestinian Authority leg of the visit, so they are postponing this problematic obstacle and trying to find a solution that will satisfy everyone.”
26 may 2018
Kensington Palace said, on Thursday, that Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is scheduled to visit Ramallah on June 27, as part of a tour of three Middle Eastern countries.
The official tour will start on June 24, with a visit to Jordan, to be followed by Israel and Palestine, which the Palace referred to as “the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
“As previously announced, His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge will visit Jordan, Israel, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories this Summer. The visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government and has been welcomed by the Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian authorities,” said the Palace statement, according to WAFA.
The visit, the first ever official one to these countries by a member of the British Royal Family, was first announced on March 1. It is planned to start on Sunday, June 24 in Amman, Jordan.
On Monday, the Duke of Cambridge is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv after a visit to Jerash, in Jordan.
He will then visit Ramallah and Jerusalem on Wednesday, and conclude his visit on Thursday, from Jerusalem, PNN further reports.
The Palestinian Authority had welcomed the visit when it was first announced.
Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said, in statement, then, that: “On behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee and the Palestinian people, we welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge on his scheduled visit to Palestine this summer.”
She added: “Prince William, who accepted an invitation from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, will be a welcome guest, not just of the leadership but of the Palestinian people who will provide him with the opportunity to share their stories first-hand and connect on a human level.”
While Prince William’s visit is the first official one to Palestine and Israel, for a member of the British Royal Family, that came at the request of the British government, earlier visits by members of the Royal Family were private.
The official tour will start on June 24, with a visit to Jordan, to be followed by Israel and Palestine, which the Palace referred to as “the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
“As previously announced, His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge will visit Jordan, Israel, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories this Summer. The visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government and has been welcomed by the Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian authorities,” said the Palace statement, according to WAFA.
The visit, the first ever official one to these countries by a member of the British Royal Family, was first announced on March 1. It is planned to start on Sunday, June 24 in Amman, Jordan.
On Monday, the Duke of Cambridge is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv after a visit to Jerash, in Jordan.
He will then visit Ramallah and Jerusalem on Wednesday, and conclude his visit on Thursday, from Jerusalem, PNN further reports.
The Palestinian Authority had welcomed the visit when it was first announced.
Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said, in statement, then, that: “On behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee and the Palestinian people, we welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge on his scheduled visit to Palestine this summer.”
She added: “Prince William, who accepted an invitation from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, will be a welcome guest, not just of the leadership but of the Palestinian people who will provide him with the opportunity to share their stories first-hand and connect on a human level.”
While Prince William’s visit is the first official one to Palestine and Israel, for a member of the British Royal Family, that came at the request of the British government, earlier visits by members of the Royal Family were private.
24 may 2018
Twenty-six Palestine student societies at UK universities have issued a statement demanding the UK government to stop arms sales to Israel and denouncing the massacre of unarmed protestors in Gaza.
The statement came following a deadly crackdown mounted by the Israeli military against Palestinian demonstrators on May 14th, which witnessed the official opening of the US embassy in occupied Jerusalem, a day before the 70th anniversary of Nakba –attacking the ongoing six-week protest demanding the Right of Return.
“The UK government continues to approve arms sales to Israel, in defiance of its own export guidelines, while it imports Israeli combat-proven military hardware.” The statement said.
The societies slammed Israel’s continuing violence against those participating for the eighth week in the Great March of Return, which so far claimed approximately a hundred protestors including journalists and women, and injured thousands.
They called on the government “to introduce an embargo on its two-way arms trade with Israel ending its century of crimes against the Palestinian people,” and its complicity in the occupation, while urging university students in Britain to join the campaign to divest their universities from any corporation profiting from Israel’s military occupation.
President of the Palestine Society in the University of Aberdeen, Sarah Schröder, told MEMO: “After 70 years of the Nakba, we must do everything to prevent more catastrophes in Palestine.”
“As students in the UK we feel a responsibility to stand with Palestinians and become active to stop further weapons sales to Israel and university investments in Israel.”
Since the 30th of March this year, Palestinian have been protesting under the Great March of Return to highlight their internationally recognized right of return to their homes.
President of City University Palsoc, Abdelrahman al-Tamimi said that more must be done by the UK government to curb Israeli aggression.
"We need to remind everyone of the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people," he said.
President of Warwick Friends of Palestine Society, Yasmin Huleileh, said that “It is not enough for people to be by-standers and wait to be educated about Palestine-Israel politics. It is a modern example of injustice, human rights deprivation, colonization, and a brutal occupation. To put it simply, if you support human rights, help end the occupation.”
The signatories of the statement:
City University Palestinian Society
UCL Friends Of Palestine
Aberdeen University Palestine Society
University of Leeds - Palestine Solidarity Group
SOAS university Palestine society
Exeter University Friends of Palestine Society
Queen Mary Friends of Palestine
Brunel University London Friends of Palestine Society
KCL Action Palestine
Strathclyde Students for Palestine Society
Cambridge University Palestine Society
University of Bristol Friends of Palestine
Goldsmiths Palestine Society
BDS campaign University of Manchester
Sussex Friends of Palestine society
Warwick Friends of Palestine Society
Aston University Palestine Society
Glasgow University Palestine Society
Sheffield Hallam Palestine Society
University of Sheffield Palestine Society
SGUL Palestine society
Westminster students for Palestine society
The Palestine society university of Nottingham
Oxford Students' Palestine Society
Keel Friends of Palestine
University of York Palestinian Solidarity Society
The statement came following a deadly crackdown mounted by the Israeli military against Palestinian demonstrators on May 14th, which witnessed the official opening of the US embassy in occupied Jerusalem, a day before the 70th anniversary of Nakba –attacking the ongoing six-week protest demanding the Right of Return.
“The UK government continues to approve arms sales to Israel, in defiance of its own export guidelines, while it imports Israeli combat-proven military hardware.” The statement said.
The societies slammed Israel’s continuing violence against those participating for the eighth week in the Great March of Return, which so far claimed approximately a hundred protestors including journalists and women, and injured thousands.
They called on the government “to introduce an embargo on its two-way arms trade with Israel ending its century of crimes against the Palestinian people,” and its complicity in the occupation, while urging university students in Britain to join the campaign to divest their universities from any corporation profiting from Israel’s military occupation.
President of the Palestine Society in the University of Aberdeen, Sarah Schröder, told MEMO: “After 70 years of the Nakba, we must do everything to prevent more catastrophes in Palestine.”
“As students in the UK we feel a responsibility to stand with Palestinians and become active to stop further weapons sales to Israel and university investments in Israel.”
Since the 30th of March this year, Palestinian have been protesting under the Great March of Return to highlight their internationally recognized right of return to their homes.
President of City University Palsoc, Abdelrahman al-Tamimi said that more must be done by the UK government to curb Israeli aggression.
"We need to remind everyone of the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people," he said.
President of Warwick Friends of Palestine Society, Yasmin Huleileh, said that “It is not enough for people to be by-standers and wait to be educated about Palestine-Israel politics. It is a modern example of injustice, human rights deprivation, colonization, and a brutal occupation. To put it simply, if you support human rights, help end the occupation.”
The signatories of the statement:
City University Palestinian Society
UCL Friends Of Palestine
Aberdeen University Palestine Society
University of Leeds - Palestine Solidarity Group
SOAS university Palestine society
Exeter University Friends of Palestine Society
Queen Mary Friends of Palestine
Brunel University London Friends of Palestine Society
KCL Action Palestine
Strathclyde Students for Palestine Society
Cambridge University Palestine Society
University of Bristol Friends of Palestine
Goldsmiths Palestine Society
BDS campaign University of Manchester
Sussex Friends of Palestine society
Warwick Friends of Palestine Society
Aston University Palestine Society
Glasgow University Palestine Society
Sheffield Hallam Palestine Society
University of Sheffield Palestine Society
SGUL Palestine society
Westminster students for Palestine society
The Palestine society university of Nottingham
Oxford Students' Palestine Society
Keel Friends of Palestine
University of York Palestinian Solidarity Society
10 may 2018
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas condemned in the strongest terms the British Crown Prince’s projected participation in an Israeli celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Israeli occupation entity.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said: “By taking part in the Israeli event, Prince Charles turns a blind eye to the displacement and deportation of the Palestinian people, along with the heinous massacres perpetrated by Zionist gangs in 1948 and which were primarily green-lighted by the British government.”
“His participation will be a sign of Britain’s continuous complicity with the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people”, the statement read. “The participation will certainly give the Israelis green light to continue its crimes and massacres against the Palestinian people, land, and holy sites.”
Hamas called on the Crown Prince to cancel his participation in order not to cause more pain to the people of Palestine and backtrack on the notorious Balfour Declaration, which led to the Nakba.
The movement also called upon the people of Britain to reject the visit, pressure the Prince to rescind his decision, and to speak up for the oppressed Palestinian people.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said: “By taking part in the Israeli event, Prince Charles turns a blind eye to the displacement and deportation of the Palestinian people, along with the heinous massacres perpetrated by Zionist gangs in 1948 and which were primarily green-lighted by the British government.”
“His participation will be a sign of Britain’s continuous complicity with the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people”, the statement read. “The participation will certainly give the Israelis green light to continue its crimes and massacres against the Palestinian people, land, and holy sites.”
Hamas called on the Crown Prince to cancel his participation in order not to cause more pain to the people of Palestine and backtrack on the notorious Balfour Declaration, which led to the Nakba.
The movement also called upon the people of Britain to reject the visit, pressure the Prince to rescind his decision, and to speak up for the oppressed Palestinian people.
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