"Solution of the Palestinian Question is the Key to Peace"

Dr. Ashrawi: “A Just Solution of the Palestinian Question is the Key to Peace, Security and Stability in the Region”

Over the past two days, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, conducted a series of separate meetings with the British Ambassador to Jordan, Peter Millett; a visiting delegation of Episcopal Church Bishops, including the Rt. Rev. Kirk Stevan Smith, the Bishop of Arizona, the Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, the Bishop of Northern California, and the Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel, the Bishop of Olympia, Western Washington State, and Seattle, and clergy; an official German delegation organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, including Achim Post, Member of the German Parliament and General Secretary of the Party of European Socialists, Felix Porkert, Head of the SPD International Division, and Carsten Stender, Head of Office for Sigmar Gabriel as Chairman of SPD; and a joint delegation of the American Federation of Teachers and the J Street Education Fund led by J Street President, Jeremy Ben Ami, and President of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten.

In her meetings, Dr. Ashrawi provided an assessment of the current situation in Palestine and Israel’s continued violations of international law and international humanitarian law, and she answered questions on the most recent Palestinian ICC initiative, the great asymmetry of power between Israel and Palestine and its detrimental impact on the chances for peace and justice, the need for the U.S. administration and members of Congress to adopt an even-handed and balanced approach, Israel’s war of terror and aggression on Gaza, and the importance of the non-violent resistance to the military occupation.

In her meeting with Mr. Post, Dr. Ashrawi stressed, “It is time for Europe to engage in a decisive and positive way and hold Israel accountable. Without immediate intervention from the international community to provide a legal and political plan for ending the occupation and achieving a just peace, the whole region would face greater instability, extremism and violence.”

ENDS

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