Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
A French Solidarity delegation, chaired by Mr. Pierre Leparoux, Head of the AssociationFrance–Palestine Solidarité (AFPS) visited Hebron on 23/10/2010. The delegation comprised several French mayors as well as presidents of human rights institutions and associations. The delegation was received and accompanied by Hebron civil society representatives,leftist national groups led by Human Rights activist FahmiShahinand members from the “Youths Against Settlements”activist group. The visit, which represented a show of solidarity with inhabitants, aimed at getting better acquainted with conditions and daily life in Hebron, mainly in the Old City and in areas adjacent to settler outposts. Delegation members also took part in the weekly demonstration against the closure of Al Shuhada street.
The delegation started with a visit to Hebron Municipality where it was received by the Mayor, KhaledOsaily. Osaily welcomed the delegation and thanked its members for their solidarity and for struggling to achieve justice, stand with the oppressed and with Palestinian legitimate rights enshrined in international laws and treaties as well as in Holy books. Osaily expressed his appreciation of the solidarity shown by French institutions and citizens towards the Palestinian people.
Osaily gave a historic overview of the city and the threats it faces due to Israeli settlements and illegal and illegitimate Israelidecisions against its Moslem holy places. He touched upon the inscription of Hebron on Unesco’s World Heritage List, urging the delegation to support this project and to take part in international lobbying efforts aimed at ensuring this inscription.Osaily spoke about peace likelihoods under the current Israeli government which he described as a “settler government”. “Palestinians are a peace-loving nation. They want their children to live in peace like all other children in the world. The Palestinian leadership extends its hands towards a just and comprehensive peace, but it seems that the other party does not wish to achieve this peace based on international resolutions, and continues to hinder all attempts to achieve a political settlement in the region”, he added.
Mr. FahmiShahin underlined the important role played by international solidarity movements. He called for more lobbying in order to bring Israeli war criminals to justice before International tribunals and to force the Israeli government to put an end to its policies, abide by International Humanitarian Law and implement international resolutions. Shahin also spoke about conditions in Hebron, the history of settlements in the city and daily life under Israeli oppressive and arbitrary measures against inhabitants and visitors alike, including quasi-daily aggressions by soldiers and settlers. He spoke about efforts made by institutions in the city, mainly Hebron Municipality, to face settlement activities and safeguard the Arab and Moslem identity of Hebron.
As for the chair of the French delegation, he said: “We are present here today in a show of solidarity with Palestinians so they can enjoy their legitimate rights. We shall take part in olive harvesting activities to send Israel a clear message stating that the peoples of the world call for justice and for the respect of rights in the OPT. The French have started to grasp the justice of the Palestinian cause, and everyday hundreds of French youths join our Association”.
At the end of the meeting, the delegation visited Old City quarters, houses adjacent to settler outposts, military checkpoints, houses, roads and shops closed by military orders, Al Ibrahimi Mosque and Al Shuhada Street. Delegation members got a first-hand view of arbitrary measures against places of worship and worshippers. They also took part in the weekly demonstration organized by “Youths Against Settlements” to call for the opening of Al Shuhada Street and to condemn its continuous closure.
