Upon the invitation of a number of Spanish universities, Spanish civil
society organizations, and the Palestinian community of Valencia, Mr Jaber Weshah,
Deputy Director for Branch Affairs of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
(PCHR), participated in a number of public activities in Spain from 29 November
– 03 December 2012.
On 29 November 2012, Mr Weshah participated in a conference titled
“Israel-Palestine, the Future of the Two-state Solution”, held at Casa Arabe in
Madrid, under the auspices of the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Spain. The
conference was attended by a number of representatives of diplomatic missions,
political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs) and covered by local
media. Mr Weshah pointed out that: “The international community should no
longer be complicit with the Israeli occupation and its flagrant violations of
Palestinians’ human rights”.
On 30 November 2012, Mr Weshah and Mr Davide Tundo, a member of
PCHR’s International Unit, participated in an international conference titled
“The Question of the Palestinian Political Prisoners: Political, Legal and
Humanitarian Implications”, which was held at the Faculty of Law of the
University of Valencia. The conference was jointly organized by the Human
Rights Institute of the University of Valencia, the Palestinian Community of
Valencia and PCHR. The conference was opened by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of
Law. A number of international law professors and Mr Issa Qaraqe, PA Minister
for Prisoners’ Affairs, contributed to the conference proceedings.
Mr Weshah also met with the Spanish Press Agency and the university
media service and briefed them about the human rights situation in Palestine. In
the afternoon, Mr Weshah participated in the ceremony on occasion of the
Palestine Prize of 2012, which is presented annually by the Palestinian
Community of Valencia to a person or an organization who best helps to advance
the rights of the Palestinian people. A representative of the Spanish Committee
of UNRWA received the Prize.
In the evening, in a meeting organized by the Palestinian Community
of Valencia, Mr Weshah addressed the youth forum of the Spanish National Party
on the human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the role that
youth can play in supporting the Palestinian struggle for justice.
On 01 December 2012, Mr Weshah met with Mr Joaquim Ferrer,
Secretary General of the Socialist party in the Valencia region. The meeting discussed
the impact of the closure on every aspect of life in Gaza, and the impact of
the annexation wall and the 462 checkpoints in the West Bank on the daily life
of Palestinians.
Mr Weshah reiterated PCHR’s demand for the European Union to abide
by its obligations, to apply the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and to review
its Association Agreement with Israel in light of Israel’s longstanding
violations of human rights in Palestine.
In the afternoon, Mr Weshah and Mr Tundo met representatives of the
Palestinian and Arab communities of Valencia and discussed the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), especially following the latest Israeli offensive
on the Gaza Strip. Mr Weshah invited them to coordinate efforts within their
communities in support of the Palestinian cause.
Mr Weshah participated in a conference at the University of
Valladolid, in addition to holding meetings with CSOs, media and politicians
from different parties.
On 03 December 2012, Mr Weshah met with representatives from
solidarity groups for the Palestinian people and active political parties in
Spain.
