Vice-President of the European Parliament shows her solidarity with Hebron and expresses concern over Israeli decision

Diana Wallis, Vice-President of the European Parliament, expressed deep concern over Israel’s decision to inscribe Moslem holy sites, mainly Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, on the List of Jewish Heritage sites. She described this decision as very worrying at a time when Hebron Mayor is working relentlessly to inscribe this same site on Unesco’s World Heritage List. According to Ms. Wallis, “this site should be open to all faiths and should be a place of peace not of checkpoints, closures and lack of freedom of religion and worship”. Wallis was speaking after she took a close look at conditions in the Old City and visited Al Ibrahimi Mosque accompanied by Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily and the Chairman of the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) Mr. Ali Al Qawasmi. She also met with a number of Palestinians including shop owners and inhabitants of the Old City who detailed to her their sufferings due to settler aggressions and Israeli measures.

Osaily said that this is the second time Ms. Wallis visits Hebron to get better acquainted with conditions in the city. “This visit comes following the latest Israeli decision and we hope that we will succeed, thanks to support from Ms. Wallis, in inscribing the Old City of Hebron on the World Heritage List by the end of the year”, he said.

Ms. Wallis had started her visit by a meeting at Hebron Municipality where she was received by Hebron Mayor. Mayor Osaily spoke in detail about conditions in Hebron, its Old City and Al Ibrahimi Mosque as well as about the ramifications of the Israeli decision to consider Moslem holy places as Israeli heritage sites. “The European Union must take a firm position against this decision which does not serve the peace process and which puts new obstacles in the way of efforts to push peace forward made by the international community and the quartet”, he said.

Following this meeting, Mayor Osaily and Ms. Wallis visited projects implemented by Hebron Municipality as well as Al Hussein Stadium, the Indoor Sports Hall and HRC where they were received by its Chairman Mr. Qawasmi and by Mr. Imad Hamdan, Director General of HRC. Mr. Hamdan provided a detailed overview of efforts made by HRC to rehabilitate houses in the Old City and of obstacles created by Occupation Authorities to hinder rehabilitation, restoration and re-housing projects. He also spoke about current and future projects to be implemented by the Committee.

Ms. Wallis then visited Hebron Ladies Charitable Association where she was briefed by the Head of its Administrative Board Dr. Asma’a Dofash and by its members on the Association’s activities, objectives, aspirations and future projects. Members spoke about the importance of holding future meetings and of building networks with support from Hebron Mayor. They also hoped to see their Association develop and make a rapid qualitative leap in order to implement new projects and to obtain both internal and external support. Ms. Wallis then toured the Association and its Palestinian embroidery exhibition which is an income-generating project for housewives who work at home then sell their embroidery through the Association.

At the end of the visit, Ms Wallis promised to continue supporting Hebron and to stand by its people until they are able to enjoy their legitimate rights.