Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily described the situation in Hebron as extremely dangerous given the Israeli government’s ruthless policies aimed at transforming the features of the Old City, attempts to judaize the Holy Ibrahimi Mosque, continuous settler violations against Old City inhabitants, the closing down of vital roads in Hebron and violation of the dignity of Palestinians and of worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque and at Israeli military checkpoints under security pretexts. Mayor Osaily was speaking at a meeting with an Italian delegation comprising in excess of fifty personalities from the Italian academic, municipal and media sectors. The delegation was visiting Hebron in a show of solidarity with its inhabitants and in support of their opposition to occupation and of their national rights as Palestinians.
Osaily had started by welcoming the visiting delegation and had spoken about the historic ties between Palestinians and Italians. He underlined the need for a popular European movement to exert pressure on European governments, to achieve peace in the Middle East and to ensure Palestinians’ right to freedom and independence like all other nations in the world. “Only a small number of Israeli voices are calling for peace at the moment, whereas Palestinian and Arab Leaders speak relentlessly of the peace process and continue to call for a comprehensive and just peace in the region that would ensure security and stability for all its peoples”, Osaily added.
Members of the Italian delegation expressed their solidarity with the right of Palestinians to end occupation and to build their independent Palestinian State which shall live side by side with Israel in peace. They called on the European Union to work for peace and to implement international resolutions, and assured that they will convey to their governments and fellow citizens a real picture regarding the conditions in the Palestinian Territory.
