Osaily meets a delegation from the French Socialist Youths

Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met on the 15th of August at his office with a delegation from the French Socialist Youths. The delegation was visiting Hebron in order to get better acquainted with political and living conditions witnessed by Hebronites as well as with military measures imposed by occupation authorities on the Old City and on Hebron’s entire southern areas.

At the beginning of the meeting, Osaily presented a short historic overview of Hebron and dangers threatening it due to settlements, illegal and illegitimate Israeli rulings to the detriment of Islamic holy places, measures imposed by occupation authorities against the Old City and massacres committed against unarmed Palestinians.

Osaily then spoke about the project aiming at inscribing Hebron on Unesco’s World Heritage List. He highlighted the partnership between the cities of Arceuil, Belfort and Hebron under this project and underlined the importance of cooperation and ties between the French and the Palestinian peoples.

Furthermore, Osaily touched on peace perspectives given the policies implemented by the current Israeli government which he described as a “government of settlers”. “Palestinians call for peace and want their children to live in peace like all other children in the world. The Palestinian leadership continues to extend its hands to a just and comprehensive peace. However, it seems that the other party does not wish to achieve peace based on international resolutions and continues to put hurdles in the path of any attempt to move peace forward in the region. An international stance is needed to pressure Israel to put an end to its policies, to force it to abide by international law and to respect all that was agreed upon within the peace process. Israel’s inhumane measures which go against internationally agreed-upon human rights must also be unveiled”, Osaily said.

Following the meeting, the delegation toured Old City quarters and visited Palestinian homes located near setter outposts. Delegation members also visited Al Ibrahimi Mosque and got a first-hand account of provocative measures imposed at its entrances.