Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
A European delegation visited Hebron in a show of solidarity with the city. The delegation, comprising a large number of academics and civil organizations‘ representatives, was chaired by Ms. Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament. The aim of the visit was to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and with Hebronites in particular and to denounce the presence of settlers and occupation in the heart of the city.
The delegation was received at the Child Happiness Center by mayor Khaled Osaily . Osaily welcomed the visitors and spoke about the tragic situation in the Old City caused by settlers and occupation measures imposed on Palestinians for security reasons. He called on the delegation to exert pressure on governments and to use the E.U and their organizations to help Palestinians in their fight for self-determination and to achieve human justice by enabling Palestinians to live in freedom.
In reply to a question on conditions in Hebron, Osaily said his city bleeds every day because of occupation policies against Palestinians in the Southern area, the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque in particular. He also touched on continuous aggressions and provocations by settlers against Palestinians on their way to their homes, schools, shops, the Ibrahimi mosque, and even inside their homes where they do not feel safe. “Despite dire conditions and obstacles caused by the occupation and settlers, numerous projects are underway to improve the lives of Palestinians, particularly youths who are our future and the basis on which the Palestinian state will be built”, he added. Osaily urged the delegation to support the inscription of Hebron on UNESCO‘s list in order to protect the city and safeguard its monuments as a humanitarian heritage that must be protected and preserved. Hebron, he added, is more than 6000 years old and as such it is one of the oldest cities in the world. He thanked Ms. Morgantini for her support to Italian solidarity action with Hebron and for her constant support to Palestinian rights within the European Parliament.
At the press conference, Ms Morgantini said that solidarity activities with Palestinians and with Hebron in particular aim at achieving justice and peace for Palestinians so their children can enjoy a normal life. Practices by settlers and soldiers in Hebron are despicable and shameful. “The international community must put an end to double standards and pressure should be exerted on European governments in general and on the Italian government in particular to put an end to settlements before the West Bank turns into a settlement mass”, she added. Both parties should return to the table of negotiations in order to reach a two-state solution. “I am optimistic because the world has started to clearly see what is happening in the Palestinian Territories. Peace must be reached to put an end to this long conflict and to give Palestinians their rights. It is not possible for settlers to use Palestinian water to fill their swimming pools and to water their plants while Palestinians sleep thirsty. Palestinians are entitled to their rights and the international community must implement all relevant international resolutions. No state should be above the law”, she said.
At the end of the meeting, the delegation visited Al Twani village in the South of Hebron in a show of solidarity with Palestinians who suffer from daily aggressions by settlers, preventing them from sending their children to school.
