Ref: 36/2011

On Monday, 30 May 2011, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
(PCHR) received Mr. Alexander Rudakov, Russia‘s
Representative to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and Maxim Romanov,
Third Secretary of the Russian Representative Office to PNA. Hamdi Shaqqura, PCHR Deputy Director for
Program Affairs, and Khalil Shahin, Director of PCHR Economic, Social and
Political Rights Unit, received the Russian delegation.
 

PCHR representatives reviewed the activities carried out by PCHR, and
PCHR’s contribution to the creation of a democratic pluralistic Palestinian
society. They spoke about PCHR’s legal
work aimed at prosecuting Israelis accused of committing grave breaches, including
war crimes, against Palestinian civilians and property, and about the
employment of the universal jurisdiction in several countries across the world
to prosecute alleged Israeli war criminals. The meeting also addressed the situation of human rights in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (OPT), and the continued Israeli violations against
Palestinian civilians and their property, especially the impact of the total
Israeli closure imposed on the OPT; particularly the complete separation
between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the attempts made to
institutionalize the closure of the Gaza Strip. 

The meeting further addressed PCHR’s welcoming of the Palestinian
national reconciliation agreement which was signed at the beginning of May in Cairo, and PCHR’s acknowledgment
of the new Egyptian leadership which enabled the agreement. PCHR representatives added that it is time
for the Palestinian people to be hopeful and optimistic regarding the
future. They said they expect that all
Palestinian parties will take serious and speedy steps towards the
rehabilitation of PNA institutions and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Furthermore, that all actions will be based on the full political participation
of the different parties in order to accomplish the national project and
achieve the Palestinian people’s aspirations for ending the Israeli occupation
and establishing the Palestinian
State to be based on the
rule of law, democracy, social justice and respect for human rights. 

PCHR representatives said that they are optimistic regarding the future
in view of the political will to make the Palestinian national reconciliation
successful. They noted that some
violations of human rights and basic freedoms have lessened following the
signature of the reconciliation agreement. The representatives pointed out that PCHR hopes the Palestinian judicial
system would be unified, as a fully functional judiciary is necessary for the
enhancement of the rule of law and the respect for human rights.

They appreciated the role played by Russia to support the Palestinian
cause and the Palestinian people, noting that this role reflects the historical
relationship between the Russian and Palestinian peoples. They said that the Palestinian people are
keen to see a more effective role played by Russia, as a member of the
International Quartet, to completely lift the closure of the Gaza Strip and to
actively contribute to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, including the
provision of technical and material support and enhancement of commercial and
cultural exchange. 

Hamdi Shaqqura also met with Joris Van Winckel, Political Affairs
Officer, EU Representative Office to PNA. Shaqqoura reviewed the situation of human rights in the OPT in view of
the Palestinian reconciliation. PCHR
called upon the EU representative to play a more effective role to support the
Palestinian reconciliation and to reconsider policies that have been adopted by
the EU following the Palestinian elections of January 2006.