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Press Release, March 16, 2006 Civil society organizations called
for a conference titled, "The implications of the Palestinian PLC
Elections on the Palestinian Political Setting: Towards a Comprehensive
Plan to Save Jerusalem." This conference was to take place at the
Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem this morning, Thursday, March 16,
2006 to discuss the political, social and economic situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories following the Palestinian Legislative
Council (PLC) elections.
However, prior to the inauguration
of the conference, the Israeli intelligence services entered the Hotel,
sealed off the premise and handed the Hotel administration an order
banning the Palestinian conference under the claim that it is a
political activity. As a result, speakers, members of the PLC and
participants were arrested. In addition, representatives of civil
society were summoned to a security investigation by the Israeli
intelligence services.
It is bizarre that the Israeli
authorities allowed Palestinian PLC limited elections in Jerusalem in
January of 2006, however, now they are preventing meetings with those
that were elected. These unwarranted procedures illustrate the
continuation of violations of basic human rights in discussions,
dialogue and freedom of speech; reminding Palestinians on one side and
the international community on the other that, again, that Jerusalem is
a Palestinian occupied city that falls under Israeli repressive measures
that aim to erase the Palestinian characteristics of the city using all
available means.
We call upon the international
community to uphold their responsibilities and take immediate action for
the protection of the Palestinian people and the city of Jerusalem. We
also call upon the international community that speaks of freedom and
democracy, to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people.
Jessika Devlieghere
Representative for FCD Solidarité Socialiste Belgium
Chamber of Commerce Building - 2nd floor
Ramallah - Palestine
Tel: 00 970 2 295 44 51 - ext. 123
Fax: 00 970 2 295 07 55
Mob: 00 972 54 65 44 972
jdevlieghere@solsoc.be
http://www.solsoc.be
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