Global Elders, Mary Robinson, Al-Akhdar Al-Ibrahimi, Ela Bhatt, Visit Besieged Gaza, Without President Jimmy Carter

Haniya: Ending division is a national requirement

[ 16/10/2010 - 03:52 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniya, meeting Saturday noon with a delegation from the "Global Elders", said: “Ending (Palestinian) division is a national requirement, and it must be gained in a manner that does not allow for renewed division and discord.”

“This calls for an end to all controversial issues, especially the security issue, one of the causes of which was the explosion of the situation after the Makkah agreement,” Haniya added.

Analyzing the results of the latest (Hamas-Fat'h) dialogues in Damascus, he underlined several solutions Hamas suggested to end controversial points, some of which were put to Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa to resolve.

A delegation from the "Elders", chaired by Ms. Mary Robinson, former Irish President, with members Al-Akhdar Al-Ibrahimi and Ms. Ela Bhatt, visited PM Haniya in Gaza to hold in-depth talks about political developments, the peace talks, the rights of the Palestinians, and inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

The meeting was also attended by by Palestine’s Council of Ministers Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed Awad, Health Minister Bassem Naim, Haniya’s political adviser Dr. Yousuf Rizqa, and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ahmed Yusuf, president of the government media bureau Dr. Hassan Abu Hashish, and government spokesman Taher Nunu.

The problem with the current peace talks is that they are held against the rights of the Palestinians and in light of clear U.S. bias to Israel, making the negotiations for the sake of negotiations and not for the sake of achieving the rights of Palestinians, the Palestinian premier went on to say.

“Non-recognition of the election results was the reason for the division situation, as well as international interference, from America in particular, in Palestinian internal affairs”

For her part, Ms. Robinson seconded Haniya on his political positions, especially concerning reconciliation.

“What you presented about reconciliation we agree with as a need for a solution in a manner not allowing a way for renewed division,” she said.

The Elders is an independent group of prominent world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007. It functions in providing expertise and collective influence of its members to support peace-building efforts and help address the main causes of human suffering.

The Global Elders: Shame on the world to accept the continuation of Gaza siege

[ 16/10/2010 - 05:00 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The delegation of the "Global Elders" told a press conference in Gaza on Saturday that accepting the continuation of the five-year Israeli siege on Gaza Strip after the war on Gaza in late 2008 and early 2009 was a "shame on the world".

Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and chairwoman of the delegation, said it was not acceptable that after this destruction because of the war no reconstruction is possible.

"We stand alongside the Palestinian people in Gaza and we will not leave you alone, we understand your suffering and needs," she said addressing the Palestinian population in the Strip.

The ex-president said that the (Israeli) settlement activity (on Palestinian lands) was wiping out the hopes of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Robinson said that Hamas should not be excluded from the political process.

For his part, Al-Akhdar Al-Ibrahimi, former Algerian foreign minister and member of the delegation, urged the Palestinians to unite and to shun division, describing such a step as an "urgent necessity".

"What we heard from our brothers in Hamas about the reconciliation was encouraging and we hope that it would take place in the near future," he added.

Jimmy Carter Will Visit The Occupied Palestinian Territories, Beginning On Saturday

Friday October 15, 2010 12:28 by Ane Irazabal - International Middle East Media Center

The trip will be the second collective visit by The Elders, a group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, who are also going to travel to Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Israel.

Former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, will join global leaders in a visit to the occupied Palestinian territories beginning Saturday, the group announced, Friday.

(Apparently President Carter did not join the delegation in their visit to the besieged Gaza Strip !!!).

“The Elders firmly support current efforts to reach a two-state solution, although we want to emphasize that we are not directly involved in the U.S. led mediation efforts”, said the delegation leader and former Irish president Mary Robinson. She claimed that the aim of the visit is to listen to a wide range of people about their aspirations for peace, including those who are currently at the margins of the process.

She also added that they will also be seeking to persuade political leaders, members of civil society and the media that any peace agreement must ensure the safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians, and embrace fundamental principles of international law, including human rights.

“These concepts – justice, security, and inclusiveness – will be at the heart of our discussions in the region.”

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