Ref: 05/2017
On Sunday, 19 February 2017, the Palestinian Center for Human rights (PCHR) received Alison Kelly, the Irish Ambassador to Israel; Jonathan Conlon, Representative of Ireland to the Palestinian Authority, and members of the Representative Office of Ireland in Ramallah.
Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, met with the members of the delegation, and addressed the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Sourani tackled the Israeli illegal and inhuman closure imposed on the Gaza Strip for the 10th consecutive year and its devastating consequences on civilians’ life aspects.
The meeting also discussed the latest developments regarding the Palestinian local elections in light of the Council of Ministers’ latest decision to hold the elections on 13 May 2017 and obstacles encountering the possibility of simultaneously holding them in both the West Bank and the Gaza strip as scheduled. During the meeting, Sourani stressed the importance of simultaneously holding the local elections, considering it as a significant step to end the Palestinian internal division and hold public elections in the PA in order to renew the legitimacy of the Palestinian people’s representatives at both the parliamentary and presidential levels.
It should be mentioned that PCHR has strong links with the Irish civil society and government as they are among the most significant partners and supporters of PCHR and its activities since its establishment.
