During a meeting with Mayor Osaily: The Representative of Malta affirms his country’s support of Palestinian rights

Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met with Mr. Alan Bugeja, representative of Malta to the PNA, who was visiting Hebron in a show of solidarity with the city. The meeting was attended by Adli Al Ja’abrai, visit coordinator and Director of the Istiqlal Centre for Media and Development

At the beginning of the meeting, Osaily valued the stances of the Maltese government towards Palestinians and spoke of the historical ties between the Palestinian and the Maltese peoples. He thanked Mr. Bugeja for this visit as well as for his solidarity with the inhabitants of Hebron and his support of the right of Palestinians to live in freedom. Osaily also touched on conditions in the city, including its continuous division, occupation of its southern part, aggressions by settlers against Palestinians in this area and in the Old City as well as various measures and closures imposed by Israel in violation of all international treaties which guarantee the freedom of religion and worship. “We as Palestinians have the right to live in freedom and to build our independent State. There is a real opportunity for peace and for a just settlement of this issue under the leadership of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. However, a genuine partner is needed in Israel where an extremist government rules, taking illegal decisions to expand settlements, jeopardizing peace and future negotiations between both parties”, he said.

Mr. Bugeja said that ever since the 1970s, Malta has been supportive of the right of Palestinians to build an independent State and to put an end to occupation. “The latest Statement issued by the EU and the Quartet indicates that the next few months will be decisive in the region. The Government of Malta supports the institution-building policy adopted by the Palestinian President and Prime Minister who call for peaceful resistance. At the end of the day, Palestinians must achieve their aims and regain their stolen rights”, he added.

At the end of the meeting, and before visiting the Old City, Al Ibrahimi Mosque and HRC, Mayor Osaily invited Mr. Bugeja to join the International Campaign for the inscription of Hebron on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.