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16. March 2017
Interview: "The future of the next generation is at risk."
How do you assess the current situation in Palestine?
The situation in Palestine is currently worsening due to the halt of political negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. In addition, the Israeli government recently ordered the construction of 2,500 housing settlements in the West Bank occupied since 1967. This violates UN Resolution No. 2334, which the United Nations Security Council adopted to stop Israeli settlement activities.
Such an atmosphere robs Palestinians of hope for a comprehensive and just political solution. The fact that the right-wing Israeli government does not appear interested in making peace makes it even worse.
The new American president has announced the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Are you worried about the change of power in the USA?
In fact, previous American administrations were also against Palestinian rights, despite their sugar-coated statements! Trump is simply more direct in his hostility toward the Palestinians, which is reflected, for example, in his announcement to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, a territory occupied under international law. This is an indication of the unjust policies that have continued from earlier administrations into the Trump era. But we are also concerned about Trump’s policies within the United States, as they violate the American constitution and are based on discrimination.
We are afraid that these policies will continue on an international level and trigger more ethnic and religious extremism worldwide.
What concerns the people in Palestine the most right now?
Our main concern is the continuation of Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories. This undermines the peace process and threatens the future of the next generation, as well as their hope of being able to live in freedom and dignity.