Top-level British delegation visits Hebron to witness “facts on the ground”

Rammell was accompanied on his tour of Hebron by the British consul general in Jerusalem Richard Makepeace, his deputy John Edward and consul for political affairs Karin Mckloski accompanied the minister in his visit.

The tour began with breakfast at a restaurant in the old city where the delegation ate with Hebron governor Hussein Al-A’raj and Mayor Khalid Al-Useili as well as head of the committee for rehabilitation of Hebron Ali Al-Qawasmi.

“I came to see facts on the ground firsthand,” Rammel told an afternoon press conference, “and I saw settlers’ assaults against residents of Hebron.”

Then the delegation visited Ash-Shuhada Street which Israel has closed to Palestinian traffic since 2000, and listened to details about closed shops in the old city then visited the home of Nidal Al-Uweiwi, set ablaze a few weeks ago by nearby settlers.

The Hebron governor said he tried to impress upon the delegation the dire economic situation in the city, and that most of the city’s problems would be solved once the settlers left. He applauded the high-level delegation for visiting the area and taking on the issue.

Head of the rehabilitation committee called on the guests and the whole world to support the Palestinian people and to exert pressure on the Israel government to lift the siege imposed on the center of Hebron and to remove Israeli settlements there.