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| PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR |

Government and he is here to represent his. It is useless But can the other countries in the Arab world, who you
to make small talk when there can be no real progress. We call your friends, not do more to help or do they let
are interested in a dialogue with the Israelis, not a mono- Palestinians suffer because of the damage it does to
logue. Israel from a public relations perspective?
They do help. We receive support from Arab countries
Israel has its problems, but it is also a recognisable de- who want to invest in Palestine. But how can they prop-
mocracy to most people. On the other hand, the Pal- erly invest when all investments and equipment are moni-
estinian President Mahmoud Abbas is still in office six tored by Israel? As a result, 60% of the population in Gaza
years after his mandate ended. Recent opinion polls remains unemployed, and we have a massive diaspora
suggest that two-thirds of Palestinians want him to re- worldwide. We need to be able to create economic op-
sign. How does this reflect on Palestinian democracy? portunities in our land. We hope that the recent reconcili-
We have been looking to hold elections. One of the condi- ation will enable us to take steps to develop the economy
tions of a rapprochement with Hamas was that they would as soon as possible, including the gas fields off Gaza. We
agree to hold elections in the Gaza Strip. We need to hold have situations where EU countries are seeking compen-
elections in the entire country as soon as the reconciliation sation from Israel for seizing equipment that was donated
process is complete and the Government has control of to Palestine in order to promote its industrial sector. How
Gaza. As for Israel being a democracy, let me just add that can you ensure the success of any project if you do not
it is an apartheid democracy, a democracy for Jews. control your borders, imports or exports? This is a problem
for many investors.
But there are Arab parties in the Knesset, Arab mem-
bers of Parliament? What does the future hold?
Arabs do not enjoy the same rights as Israeli citizens, be- Israel considers the West Bank as a part of Israel. Pales-
cause they do not serve in the army. There is widespread tinians are kept poor and under control while Israeli settle-
discrimination against Arabs. How can an occupying force ments expand. The number of settlers has increased by
be considered a democracy? 75% since the Oslo Accords were signed in 2002. These
are the same tactics that were used in South Africa. But
How has Palestinian civil society developed to provide what happened there will not happen to us, we will not
a better life for your people? accept it. A unified Palestinian Government will present a
Palestine has one of the highest ratios of independent great opportunity for us to change the life of our people
NGOs in the world. Most of them are financed by the Euro- and increase our legitimacy internationally. It is time to look
pean Union. But how can Palestinians develop their coun- to the future for all of Palestine. We are not going any-
try when 60% of its territories are out of their control? They where, and the Israelis need to understand that they will
do not have the ability to properly export or build. A World now be dealing with a unified Palestinian government that
Bank report published two years ago revealed that Pales- speaks for its entire people, that demands an end to oc-
tine loses four billion USD per year because Palestinians cupation and oppression and can develop a vision for an
are not able to exploit their own natural resources. independent and successful country.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (left) meeting Woman releasing paper boats as part of the 'Save The
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya. Gazan Women' campaign.

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