Ref: 23 / 2011

On Wednesday morning, 27 April 2011, the
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) received a delegation from the
Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in
its head offices in Gaza City. The
delegation was comprised of: Mr. Erik Berggrav, Second Secretary in the
Representative Office; Ms. Tahal Kafalfag, Legal Counselor; and Ms. Rima Majaj,
Program Officer.

Members of the delegation met with Mr. Raji
Sourani, Director of PCHR, and Mr. Hamdi Shaqqura, Deputy Director of PCHR for
Program Affairs. The meeting discussed
the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and
Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, especially the tightened siege
imposed on the Gaza Strip and its impacts on the Palestinian civilian
population. It further addressed illegal
Israeli policies practiced in the West Bank, especially settlement activities,
land confiscation, house demolitions, construction of the annexation wall
inside the West Bank territory and others. 

At another level, the meeting discussed the
internal Palestinian situation, focusing on the Palestinian political division,
its impacts and prospects of reconciliation. It also handled regional
developments and their effects, which confirm the importance of making crucial
changes to adopted policies. 

In the end, the meeting discussed the
international position and the European role with regard to the deteriorating
human rights situation in the OPT, stressing that there is a need for changing
adopted positions and visions towards the Palestinian case in order to allow
Palestinian civilians to live normally with dignity.