6 dec 2018
Some 19 Palestinians including 15 from the Gaza Strip and 4 from the West Bank have been killed and 3200 others were injured by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) since the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
On the other hand, 56 Israelis were injured in clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police and IOF soldiers in protest at the US decision.
According to a report by Hurriya news, 1236 resistance actions were documented including 247 anti-occupation attacks by throwing stones, 82 by Molotov cocktails, 4 shooting attacks, 14 bombs, 3 stabbing attacks and 5 stabbing attempts. While in Gaza Strip, 16 rockets were fired towards 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Moreover, clashes took place in 1160 flash points including 697 in the West Bank, 113 in Gaza Strip and 5 in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
On the other hand, 56 Israelis were injured in clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police and IOF soldiers in protest at the US decision.
According to a report by Hurriya news, 1236 resistance actions were documented including 247 anti-occupation attacks by throwing stones, 82 by Molotov cocktails, 4 shooting attacks, 14 bombs, 3 stabbing attacks and 5 stabbing attempts. While in Gaza Strip, 16 rockets were fired towards 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Moreover, clashes took place in 1160 flash points including 697 in the West Bank, 113 in Gaza Strip and 5 in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
The United States has frozen $125 million of its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
Quoting three US officials, Reuters news agency reported that the administration of the US president, Donald Trump, informed the United Nations that it had frozen a $125 million grant that was due to be paid on 1st January.
According to the three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, Trump's administration is considering cutting $180 million from its aid payments to the UNRWA in an effort to pressure the Palestinian Authority to resume negotiations with Israel.
For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the fierce US-Israeli campaign waged against the UNRWA and slammed the recent statement by Israel's minister of public security, Gilad Erdan, in which he called for dismantling the Agency.
The Palestinian Ministry said in a statement on Friday evening that the right-wing party in Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is taking advantage of the US biased support of Israel, which involved recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, to launch more expansionist settlement projects in the Palestinian territories.
The Ministry continued that this US-Israeli alliance aims to settle the core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including Jerusalem, refugees and borders, unilaterally in a dramatic transition to a stage of imposing non-negotiable solutions on the Palestinian side.
It called on the international community and the UN organizations to carry out their duty to maintain international peace and stability and to put an end to the US-Israeli arrogance targeting the peace process.
Quoting three US officials, Reuters news agency reported that the administration of the US president, Donald Trump, informed the United Nations that it had frozen a $125 million grant that was due to be paid on 1st January.
According to the three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, Trump's administration is considering cutting $180 million from its aid payments to the UNRWA in an effort to pressure the Palestinian Authority to resume negotiations with Israel.
For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the fierce US-Israeli campaign waged against the UNRWA and slammed the recent statement by Israel's minister of public security, Gilad Erdan, in which he called for dismantling the Agency.
The Palestinian Ministry said in a statement on Friday evening that the right-wing party in Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is taking advantage of the US biased support of Israel, which involved recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, to launch more expansionist settlement projects in the Palestinian territories.
The Ministry continued that this US-Israeli alliance aims to settle the core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including Jerusalem, refugees and borders, unilaterally in a dramatic transition to a stage of imposing non-negotiable solutions on the Palestinian side.
It called on the international community and the UN organizations to carry out their duty to maintain international peace and stability and to put an end to the US-Israeli arrogance targeting the peace process.
Deputy secretary general of the Arab League, Husam Zaki, on Friday said that the meeting of the ministerial delegation formed earlier by the Arab League will be held on Saturday in the Jordanian capital Amman.
Zaki explained in press statements that the Arab ministers will look into the consequences of US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its plan to transfer the US embassy in Israel to the holy city.
He pointed out that the Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki is set to present the updates of the Palestinian leadership's recent meetings on the US move.
Six Arab foreign ministers of Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco are expected to attend the meeting along with the secretary general of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit who is scheduled to head to Amman on Saturday morning.
Aboul Gheit will hold a joint press conference with the Jordanian foreign minister Ayman al-Safadi following the meeting to talk about next steps.
This meeting is part of Arab moves made against the US Jerusalem decision which has received widespread Arab and international condemnation.
Zaki explained in press statements that the Arab ministers will look into the consequences of US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its plan to transfer the US embassy in Israel to the holy city.
He pointed out that the Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki is set to present the updates of the Palestinian leadership's recent meetings on the US move.
Six Arab foreign ministers of Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco are expected to attend the meeting along with the secretary general of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit who is scheduled to head to Amman on Saturday morning.
Aboul Gheit will hold a joint press conference with the Jordanian foreign minister Ayman al-Safadi following the meeting to talk about next steps.
This meeting is part of Arab moves made against the US Jerusalem decision which has received widespread Arab and international condemnation.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Friday, condemned what it described as “the vicious Israeli and US campaign” targeting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The ministry criticized, in a press release, the campaign targeting UNRWA as seen in US statements threatening to cut financial aid to the organization, which serves refugees, and Israel’s exploitation of this position.
The Israeli Minister of Public Security, Gilad Ardan, had called for dismantling UNRWA, and questioned its credibility and role, while Education Minister Neftali Bennett was reported in the media as calling UNRWA a “terror-supporting organization”.
The ministry said, according to WAFA, that the Israeli right-wing, headed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is taking advantage of the US’ latest positions in favor of Tel Aviv, the last of which is the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in order to expand settlements and carry out more projects at the expense of the Palestinian state.
It said that Israel has been escalating its settlement expansion since the US announcement, especially in East Jerusalem and its surroundings, as well as the Jordan Valley.
“The current US – Israeli harmony aims to conclude final status issues including Jerusalem, land, borders and refugees from one side using the power of the occupation. Israel wants to force solutions on Palestinians and Arabs by portraying settlement expansion as a reality and nonnegotiable issue.”
It added that the US – Israeli coup against the peace process has reached advanced levels, which puts the international community and the United Nations and its bodies in a real test of their credibility and ability to solve crises and end the occupation, as well as fulfill their duties in maintaining world peace and security.
The ministry demanded the world and its organizations to take a clear and strong stance that is capable of ending the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and salvage what remains of the world’s credibility concerning the situation in Palestine.
A recent quote from UNRWA Spokesman Christopher Gunness stated: “We are seeing the reports on this matter but have not been informed directly of a formal decision either way by the US administration.”
The ministry criticized, in a press release, the campaign targeting UNRWA as seen in US statements threatening to cut financial aid to the organization, which serves refugees, and Israel’s exploitation of this position.
The Israeli Minister of Public Security, Gilad Ardan, had called for dismantling UNRWA, and questioned its credibility and role, while Education Minister Neftali Bennett was reported in the media as calling UNRWA a “terror-supporting organization”.
The ministry said, according to WAFA, that the Israeli right-wing, headed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is taking advantage of the US’ latest positions in favor of Tel Aviv, the last of which is the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in order to expand settlements and carry out more projects at the expense of the Palestinian state.
It said that Israel has been escalating its settlement expansion since the US announcement, especially in East Jerusalem and its surroundings, as well as the Jordan Valley.
“The current US – Israeli harmony aims to conclude final status issues including Jerusalem, land, borders and refugees from one side using the power of the occupation. Israel wants to force solutions on Palestinians and Arabs by portraying settlement expansion as a reality and nonnegotiable issue.”
It added that the US – Israeli coup against the peace process has reached advanced levels, which puts the international community and the United Nations and its bodies in a real test of their credibility and ability to solve crises and end the occupation, as well as fulfill their duties in maintaining world peace and security.
The ministry demanded the world and its organizations to take a clear and strong stance that is capable of ending the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and salvage what remains of the world’s credibility concerning the situation in Palestine.
A recent quote from UNRWA Spokesman Christopher Gunness stated: “We are seeing the reports on this matter but have not been informed directly of a formal decision either way by the US administration.”
5 dec 2018
Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher, Sheikh Mohammed Husein, on Friday condemned the decisions made recently by the Israeli occupation and the US on Jerusalem and said they are null and void.
Sheikh Husein stressed that the Israeli unjust laws passed lately fall in line with Israel's attempts to legitimize its occupation of the Palestinian land and the crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
Husein slammed the Knesset's approval of a bill that allows imposing death penalty on Palestinian prisoners and described it as "racist par excellence".
He also criticized the Arab countries' procrastination in implementing the resolutions of the previous Arab summits and closing their embassies in all countries that plan to move their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem.
Thousands of Palestinian worshipers from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied Palestine performed Friday prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque despite the cold weather, heavy rain, and tightened Israeli security measures.
Sheikh Husein stressed that the Israeli unjust laws passed lately fall in line with Israel's attempts to legitimize its occupation of the Palestinian land and the crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
Husein slammed the Knesset's approval of a bill that allows imposing death penalty on Palestinian prisoners and described it as "racist par excellence".
He also criticized the Arab countries' procrastination in implementing the resolutions of the previous Arab summits and closing their embassies in all countries that plan to move their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem.
Thousands of Palestinian worshipers from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied Palestine performed Friday prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque despite the cold weather, heavy rain, and tightened Israeli security measures.
Following US president Donald Trump's tweets earlier this week in which he threatened to cut financial aid to the Palestinians, the White House is now considering cutting that aid and will hold a discussion on the matter on Friday.
"We are reviewing our assistance to the Palestinians in light of their recent conduct, per the president's recent message," a senior White House official told Haaretz on Thursday.
Haaretz also claimed that informed sources in Washington told it that the US support for UNRWA, the United Nations agency in charge of aiding Palestinian refugees and their descendants in the Middle East, is at the center of today’s debate.
However, a spokesperson for UNRWA said Thursday night his organization was still not informed of any specific cuts by the US administration to their budget, adding that there were contacts with American diplomats on this subject.
Trump tweeted on Tuesday "It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians hundreds of millions of dollars a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"
His comments came on the same day that US ambassador to the US, Nikki Haley, said in reply to a question about America's funding of UNRWA that Trump wants to stop that funding until the Palestinians return to peace talks with Israel under American mediation.
"He doesn't want to give any additional funding until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table, and what we saw with the resolution was not helpful to the situation," Haley said. "We're trying to move for a peace process, but if that doesn't happen, the president is not going to continue to fund that situation."
In response to the Trump's tweets, Hanan Ashrawi, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, said that Trump had "not only violated international law," but had "singlehandedly destroyed the very foundations of peace."
Ashwari accused Trump of sabotaging the Palestinians' "search for peace, freedom and justice," adding that the US president was now blaming the Palestinians "for the consequences of his own irresponsible actions.
"We are reviewing our assistance to the Palestinians in light of their recent conduct, per the president's recent message," a senior White House official told Haaretz on Thursday.
Haaretz also claimed that informed sources in Washington told it that the US support for UNRWA, the United Nations agency in charge of aiding Palestinian refugees and their descendants in the Middle East, is at the center of today’s debate.
However, a spokesperson for UNRWA said Thursday night his organization was still not informed of any specific cuts by the US administration to their budget, adding that there were contacts with American diplomats on this subject.
Trump tweeted on Tuesday "It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians hundreds of millions of dollars a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"
His comments came on the same day that US ambassador to the US, Nikki Haley, said in reply to a question about America's funding of UNRWA that Trump wants to stop that funding until the Palestinians return to peace talks with Israel under American mediation.
"He doesn't want to give any additional funding until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table, and what we saw with the resolution was not helpful to the situation," Haley said. "We're trying to move for a peace process, but if that doesn't happen, the president is not going to continue to fund that situation."
In response to the Trump's tweets, Hanan Ashrawi, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, said that Trump had "not only violated international law," but had "singlehandedly destroyed the very foundations of peace."
Ashwari accused Trump of sabotaging the Palestinians' "search for peace, freedom and justice," adding that the US president was now blaming the Palestinians "for the consequences of his own irresponsible actions.
On Tuesday, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, delivered a rather ambiguous threat in response to a question on the maintenance of the US level of funding to the UN Palestinian refugee programme. She replied: "The president has said that he doesn't want to give any additional funding or stop funding until the Palestinians are agreeing (sic) to come back to the negotiating table."
President Trump himself tweeted the following threat to UNRWA: "But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"
Funding withdrawal
Ambiguous threats and foreign policy statements are not a new phenomenon for the Trump administration, and whilst UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness maintains they have not been informed of any change in US policy, the consequences of potential funding withdrawal from the agency must also be considered in all seriousness.
UNRWA was established in 1950 in order to provide relief services for the 700,000 Palestinian refugees who had been expelled from Palestine following the establishment of Israel. It operates in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and provides Palestinians with primary and secondary education, health services as well as various camp infrastructure projects.
Although millions of Palestinians rely on its services, UNRWA is also sometimes criticised for perpetuating the conflict and footing the bill that Israel should be paying.
The US is UNRWA's biggest donor with last year's donation totaling $368m, nearly 30 percent of its total funding. In the past, when UNRWA has had a funding shortfall they have suspended programmes or certain aspects of them.
In 2015 it came close to delaying the start of the school year for nearly half a million Palestinian children. Luckily, it managed to overcome the $100m deficit after an urgent appeal by former UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon.
However, a total US funding cut would mean a serious reduction in services and the complete halt of many of the education and health programmes.
In other words, schools and health clinics would close leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees across the region without schooling, health care, jobs, making their situation even more dire.
Indeed, if it is left to function at two thirds of its capacity, the viability of the agency as a whole would be called into question.
On the other hand, if the Palestinian Authority is forced to return to US mediated negotiations in exchange for the continuation of funding, UNRWA's basic services would be left tainted with the political demands of an administration that is determined to defy international consensus.
This is particularly problematic in light of Trump's recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, defying international law.
Aid and politics
This too, however, is not new, with aid and development in Palestine long being held captive to politics. In a recent piece for MEE, Alaa Tartir explained: "Aid flows over the decades resulted in entrenchment of aid dependency…which stripped the Palestinian people of power to resist colonialism, apartheid and oppression".
The political strings attached to aid, and Palestinian dependency on it, are among the main reasons that have kept Palestinians from developing a sustainable resistance to the Israeli settler colonial regime. Indeed, UNRWA, and other international agencies, are paying the bill for Israel's military occupation and thus are huge factors in maintaining the status quo.
Should UNRWA cease its operations, the gap will have to be filled by someone else. This is an important detail which seems to have escaped President Trump.
It's not yet clear whether the Trump administration's threats are directed towards UNRWA or the PA and it is very likely that the administration itself is also unsure of the recipient of these threats.
What is clear, however, is that if the threats were directed at the former, the Palestinian refugees will once again be the ones who suffer for the political decisions of a leadership that refuses to fight for their fundamental right to return home.
If it was directed at the latter, the PA is left with very few cards to play especially with its legitimacy among the Palestinian people dwindling.
- Yara Hawari is the Palestine Policy Fellow for Al Shabaka - The Palestinian Policy Network. She completed her PhD at the University of Exeter in Middle East politics and frequently writes for various media outlets. Her article was published in the Middle East Eye.
President Trump himself tweeted the following threat to UNRWA: "But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"
Funding withdrawal
Ambiguous threats and foreign policy statements are not a new phenomenon for the Trump administration, and whilst UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness maintains they have not been informed of any change in US policy, the consequences of potential funding withdrawal from the agency must also be considered in all seriousness.
UNRWA was established in 1950 in order to provide relief services for the 700,000 Palestinian refugees who had been expelled from Palestine following the establishment of Israel. It operates in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and provides Palestinians with primary and secondary education, health services as well as various camp infrastructure projects.
Although millions of Palestinians rely on its services, UNRWA is also sometimes criticised for perpetuating the conflict and footing the bill that Israel should be paying.
The US is UNRWA's biggest donor with last year's donation totaling $368m, nearly 30 percent of its total funding. In the past, when UNRWA has had a funding shortfall they have suspended programmes or certain aspects of them.
In 2015 it came close to delaying the start of the school year for nearly half a million Palestinian children. Luckily, it managed to overcome the $100m deficit after an urgent appeal by former UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon.
However, a total US funding cut would mean a serious reduction in services and the complete halt of many of the education and health programmes.
In other words, schools and health clinics would close leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees across the region without schooling, health care, jobs, making their situation even more dire.
Indeed, if it is left to function at two thirds of its capacity, the viability of the agency as a whole would be called into question.
On the other hand, if the Palestinian Authority is forced to return to US mediated negotiations in exchange for the continuation of funding, UNRWA's basic services would be left tainted with the political demands of an administration that is determined to defy international consensus.
This is particularly problematic in light of Trump's recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, defying international law.
Aid and politics
This too, however, is not new, with aid and development in Palestine long being held captive to politics. In a recent piece for MEE, Alaa Tartir explained: "Aid flows over the decades resulted in entrenchment of aid dependency…which stripped the Palestinian people of power to resist colonialism, apartheid and oppression".
The political strings attached to aid, and Palestinian dependency on it, are among the main reasons that have kept Palestinians from developing a sustainable resistance to the Israeli settler colonial regime. Indeed, UNRWA, and other international agencies, are paying the bill for Israel's military occupation and thus are huge factors in maintaining the status quo.
Should UNRWA cease its operations, the gap will have to be filled by someone else. This is an important detail which seems to have escaped President Trump.
It's not yet clear whether the Trump administration's threats are directed towards UNRWA or the PA and it is very likely that the administration itself is also unsure of the recipient of these threats.
What is clear, however, is that if the threats were directed at the former, the Palestinian refugees will once again be the ones who suffer for the political decisions of a leadership that refuses to fight for their fundamental right to return home.
If it was directed at the latter, the PA is left with very few cards to play especially with its legitimacy among the Palestinian people dwindling.
- Yara Hawari is the Palestine Policy Fellow for Al Shabaka - The Palestinian Policy Network. She completed her PhD at the University of Exeter in Middle East politics and frequently writes for various media outlets. Her article was published in the Middle East Eye.
3 jan 2018
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said Wednesday that it had yet to receive official notice from the US about prospective cuts to funding, following threats to do so by the Trump administration.
“We have had no information from the US administration about any changes to US contributions to UNRWA,” UNRWA Spokesman, Sami Mushasha, said in a statement.
President Donald Trump said in tweets on Tuesday that the United States may withhold future aid payments to Palestinians, accusing them of being “no longer willing to talk peace” with Israel.
Mushasha said that the biggest ten donor states provide UNRWA with over 80% of its income. He expressed gratitude to the donor countries and affirmed that UNRWA will work with all partners to cover all its financial needs in 2018.
The statement listed the names of the biggest 10 donor countries who grant the UN organization with a total of 874,177,965 million American dollars. The United States came in the first place (364 million dollars) followed by the European Union (143 million dollars) followed by Germany (76 million dollars).
“We have had no information from the US administration about any changes to US contributions to UNRWA,” UNRWA Spokesman, Sami Mushasha, said in a statement.
President Donald Trump said in tweets on Tuesday that the United States may withhold future aid payments to Palestinians, accusing them of being “no longer willing to talk peace” with Israel.
Mushasha said that the biggest ten donor states provide UNRWA with over 80% of its income. He expressed gratitude to the donor countries and affirmed that UNRWA will work with all partners to cover all its financial needs in 2018.
The statement listed the names of the biggest 10 donor countries who grant the UN organization with a total of 874,177,965 million American dollars. The United States came in the first place (364 million dollars) followed by the European Union (143 million dollars) followed by Germany (76 million dollars).
Hamas movement on Wednesday slammed the US president Donald Trump's threats to cut US aid to UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas's spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement that Trump's threats to stop the aid until the Palestinian Authority returns to negotiations with the Israeli occupation are "cheap political blackmail" that unmasks the US barbaric policy.
Barhoum stressed the importance of achieving national unity to be able to confront these pressures and called for investing more Arab and international efforts in support of the Palestinian rights against the US and Israeli policies.
Hamas's spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement that Trump's threats to stop the aid until the Palestinian Authority returns to negotiations with the Israeli occupation are "cheap political blackmail" that unmasks the US barbaric policy.
Barhoum stressed the importance of achieving national unity to be able to confront these pressures and called for investing more Arab and international efforts in support of the Palestinian rights against the US and Israeli policies.
The US administration has threatened to stop funding the UNRWA unless the Palestinian Authority (PA) sits again with Israel at the negotiating table.
"He [Trump] does not want to give any additional funding until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table, and what we saw with the resolution was not helpful to the situation," US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told a news conference on Tuesday.
"We are trying to move for a peace process, but if that does not happen, the president is not going to continue to fund that situation," she added.
The PA leadership recently declared that the current US administration proved itself unfit to be an honest mediator in the peace process after it gave itself the right to recognize Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
"He [Trump] does not want to give any additional funding until the Palestinians agree to come back to the negotiation table, and what we saw with the resolution was not helpful to the situation," US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told a news conference on Tuesday.
"We are trying to move for a peace process, but if that does not happen, the president is not going to continue to fund that situation," she added.
The PA leadership recently declared that the current US administration proved itself unfit to be an honest mediator in the peace process after it gave itself the right to recognize Occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Azzam Al-Ahmed, member of Fateh’s Central Committee, Wednesday, said that the Palestinian side is “fighting an open political battle with the US and will not accept, under any condition, the US as a partner in a peace process before it reverses its Jerusalem decision.”
He said, during a meeting with a visiting group of students from Princeton University, in the US, that US President Donald Trump had threatened to cut aid money to the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian response came as “all the money of the world will not make us surrender.”
He said, according to WAFA: “The US president has gone against international resolutions that recognize the two-state solution, by declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
Al-Ahmad explained that the US administration had approved the Road Map plan in 2003, and contributed to its formulation. “It was approved by the United Nations Security Council in its resolution 1515, but Trump, through his recent announcement on Jerusalem, revealed that the US administration was abandoning it and thus abandoning the two-state solution.”
He reiterated that the Palestinian leadership will not give up Jerusalem, nor will it give up supporting Palestinian families and those wounded while resisting the Israeli occupation, and will not accept any interference in its decisions.
Al-Ahmad said: “The central council, which will convene on the 14th of this month in Ramallah, will discuss the possibility of declaring the territories occupied in 1967, as the occupied State of Palestine, on the basis of UN General Assembly Resolution 194 of 29 November 2012.”
“Therefore, Palestine shall be a state under occupation, and the international community is required to intervene to end the Israeli occupation similar to intervening in other similar situations,” he added.
Regarding the Palestinian reconciliation, Al-Ahmad said that Fateh and PA President Mahmoud Abbas are determined to achieve it, despite the obstacles that stand in the way of empowering the national reconciliation government.
He said the “reconciliation is progressing step by step, and when we complete the empowerment of the government in the Gaza Strip we will start working on other files. We will not move to the second step as long as the first remains uncompleted.”
He said, during a meeting with a visiting group of students from Princeton University, in the US, that US President Donald Trump had threatened to cut aid money to the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian response came as “all the money of the world will not make us surrender.”
He said, according to WAFA: “The US president has gone against international resolutions that recognize the two-state solution, by declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
Al-Ahmad explained that the US administration had approved the Road Map plan in 2003, and contributed to its formulation. “It was approved by the United Nations Security Council in its resolution 1515, but Trump, through his recent announcement on Jerusalem, revealed that the US administration was abandoning it and thus abandoning the two-state solution.”
He reiterated that the Palestinian leadership will not give up Jerusalem, nor will it give up supporting Palestinian families and those wounded while resisting the Israeli occupation, and will not accept any interference in its decisions.
Al-Ahmad said: “The central council, which will convene on the 14th of this month in Ramallah, will discuss the possibility of declaring the territories occupied in 1967, as the occupied State of Palestine, on the basis of UN General Assembly Resolution 194 of 29 November 2012.”
“Therefore, Palestine shall be a state under occupation, and the international community is required to intervene to end the Israeli occupation similar to intervening in other similar situations,” he added.
Regarding the Palestinian reconciliation, Al-Ahmad said that Fateh and PA President Mahmoud Abbas are determined to achieve it, despite the obstacles that stand in the way of empowering the national reconciliation government.
He said the “reconciliation is progressing step by step, and when we complete the empowerment of the government in the Gaza Strip we will start working on other files. We will not move to the second step as long as the first remains uncompleted.”
2 jan 2018
Hebrew website "0404" on Tuesday reported that the US president Donald Trump has confirmed his plan to move his country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018.
It added that Trump is pressuring the logistics staff in Washington, in coordination with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to start the transfer soon.
A source at the White House told the Hebrew website that Trump has sent a clear message to Israel that he wants to start the relocation as soon as possible.
The website, which is known for being close to the Israeli army, noted that the US embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv in the 1948 occupied Palestine to a diplomatic hotel in Occupied Jerusalem.
Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967. In 1980 it declared its annexation to West Jerusalem which had been occupied since 1948 and announced Jerusalem the "eternal capital" of Israel, a move which the international community refuses to recognize.
On 6th December 2017 Trump recognized Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced his intention to move the US embassy in Israel to the holy city.
The Knesset on Monday approved the "unified Jerusalem" bill in the second and third readings with 61 votes in favor and 51 against. The bill stipulates that any decision related to relinquishing parts of Jerusalem will require the consent of 80 MKs.
It added that Trump is pressuring the logistics staff in Washington, in coordination with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to start the transfer soon.
A source at the White House told the Hebrew website that Trump has sent a clear message to Israel that he wants to start the relocation as soon as possible.
The website, which is known for being close to the Israeli army, noted that the US embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv in the 1948 occupied Palestine to a diplomatic hotel in Occupied Jerusalem.
Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967. In 1980 it declared its annexation to West Jerusalem which had been occupied since 1948 and announced Jerusalem the "eternal capital" of Israel, a move which the international community refuses to recognize.
On 6th December 2017 Trump recognized Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced his intention to move the US embassy in Israel to the holy city.
The Knesset on Monday approved the "unified Jerusalem" bill in the second and third readings with 61 votes in favor and 51 against. The bill stipulates that any decision related to relinquishing parts of Jerusalem will require the consent of 80 MKs.
The U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who was scheduled to travel to Israel in January, is indefinitely postponing his trip once again.
A visit to Israel by Pence, that had been delayed from last month to mid-January, did not appear on a list of visiting foreign officials for this month, Israeli media reported.
Pence originally postponed a planned mid-December visit to Israel allegedly so he could preside over the vote on a tax overhaul favored by Trump. It was believed that Pence might have been needed to cast the deciding vote in the closely divided Senate.
A White House official at the time said that Pence would visit in mid-January instead.
The trip was originally meant to encompass Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt but was modified because Palestinian leaders have refused to meet with Pence in the wake of President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
It also has been suggested that Pence has indefinitely postponed his trip due to the refusal of Palestinian officials, as well as Muslim and Christian clerics in Jerusalem, to meet with him over the U.S. announcement on Jerusalem.
A visit to Israel by Pence, that had been delayed from last month to mid-January, did not appear on a list of visiting foreign officials for this month, Israeli media reported.
Pence originally postponed a planned mid-December visit to Israel allegedly so he could preside over the vote on a tax overhaul favored by Trump. It was believed that Pence might have been needed to cast the deciding vote in the closely divided Senate.
A White House official at the time said that Pence would visit in mid-January instead.
The trip was originally meant to encompass Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt but was modified because Palestinian leaders have refused to meet with Pence in the wake of President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
It also has been suggested that Pence has indefinitely postponed his trip due to the refusal of Palestinian officials, as well as Muslim and Christian clerics in Jerusalem, to meet with him over the U.S. announcement on Jerusalem.
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