Monthly Archives: October 2014

Press Releases

KEMPEN SELAMATKAN AL-QUDS / SAVE AL-QUDS CAMPAIGN

KENYATAAN MEDIA

KEMPEN SELAMATKAN AL-QUDS
SAVE AL-QUDS CAMPAIGN

29 Oktober 2014

Mutakhir, Zionis Israel telah melanjutkan proses pengyahudian di Baitul Makdis. Ini merupakan satu perkembangan yang kritikal kerana mereka akan membahagikan Masjid al-Aqsa di antara umat Islam dan kaum Yahudi. Kini, Zionis Israel sedang berusaha untuk meluluskan sebuah rang undang-undang bagi melaksanakan agenda jahat ini.

Sekiranya undang-undang ini dilaksanakan maka orang Yahudi boleh melaksanakan ibadah mereka di dalam Masjid Al-Aqsa. Undang-undang ini juga menghalang sebarang perhimpunan di dalam dan persekitaran masjid apabila ianya di kuatkuasakan.

Memandangkan situasi semakin meruncing, maka satu pertemuan dalam kalangan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Malaysia telah diadakan dan perkara-perkara berikut disepakati:-

1) Menyeru kerajaan Malaysia dan kerajaan-kerajaan negeri menunjukkan sokongan kepada rakyat Palestin menerusi sidang khas di Parlimen dan Dewan Undangan Negeri mengutuk tindakan mencemar kesucian dengan membahagikan Masjid al-Aqsa

2) Memohon semua masjid di Malaysia mengadakan khutbah Jumaat khas mengenai situasi terkini di masjid al-Aqsa pada solat Jumaat bermula 31 Oktober 2014.

3) Menyarankan kutipan derma khusus untuk kempen Selamatkan al-Quds bermula solat Jumaat 31 Oktober 2014 di samping melaksanakan solat hajat.

4) Menyeru Kerajaan Malaysia memanfaatkan kedudukan sebagai negara anggota Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi menghalang Israel meneruskan projek Pengyahudian AL-Quds.

5) Menggesa Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC) lebih bersikap proaktif dengan menggembling seluruh kekuatan negara-negara Islam bagi menghalang projek Israel.

6) Menyeru media Malaysia serta antarabangsa membuat liputan dan rancangan khas tentang situasi terkini di Al-Quds bagi membangkitkan kesedaran menyelamatkan al-Quds

Events, News / Announcements

Middle East Monitor report, 30 October 2014

Representatives of more than 60 charities from 27 countries have gathered in Doha to raise funds for the redevelopment of the Gaza Strip and other aid for Palestinians. Delegates at the “First Humanitarian Forum to Support Palestinians” organised by the Qatar Charity are spending two days discussing the catastrophe facing Palestinians, not only in the besieged Gaza Strip but also the refugee camps in neighbouring countries. [Kia Ora Gaza’s international solidarity aid partners are attending this important forum, including Viva Palestina Malaysia. Editor].

The forum is being held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Qatar, HE Shaikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, who attended the opening session on Wednesday. The need to disseminate information about the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians, particularly but not exclusively in Gaza, is paramount following Israel’s latest invasion and ongoing military crackdown across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Pleas to lift the crippling siege on the Gaza Strip have fallen largely on deaf ears, one speaker told the audience, and with Egypt destroying the tunnels described by Western journalists as “Gaza’s lifeline”, the people of the coastal territory face enormous difficulties, with even basic necessities in chronic short supply. “This,” he added, “is no less than collective punishment, but who is holding Israel to account? While support for Israel from the US and EU is to be expected, why are China and Russia silent about what is happening to the Palestinians?”

While most attention has been focused on Gaza, for obvious reasons, the charities were reminded that the situation in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem is also dire. Israel’s Judaisation policies in the Holy City have driven away almost two-thirds of the Christian population, said another speaker. Addressing the conference via a pre-recorded video message, the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque pointed out that the Israelis are undermining the Islamic identity of Jerusalem by their policies. Shaikh Dr Ikrama Sabri told delegates that this is not a Palestinian issue alone; it should be a major concern for all of the world’s 1 billion Muslims.

Appreciation was expressed at the support given by the government of Qatar not only in Palestine but also other areas of the world facing humanitarian disasters. Information about the relief efforts of the Qatar Charity was given to the forum participants, who are being urged to mobilise and donate as much as possible for Palestinians in desperate need.

Articles, News / Announcements

Sweden to become first major European country to recognize state of Palestine

By Johan Ahlander
Published 14:51 03.10.14
REUTERS – Sweden’s new center-left government will recognize the state of Palestine in a move that will make it the first major European country to take the step, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Friday.

The UN General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in 2012 but the European Union and most EU countries, have yet to give official recognition.

“The conflict between Israel can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law,” Swedish PM Stefan Lofven said during his inaugural address in parliament.

“A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognize the state of Palestine.”

For the Palestinians, Sweden’s move will be a welcome boost for its ambitions.

With its reputation as an honest broker in international affairs and with an influential voice in EU foreign policy, the decision may well make other countries sit up and pay attention at a time when the Palestinians are threatening unilateral moves towards statehood.

However, there is likely to be strong criticism of Sweden from Israel, as well as from the United States and the EU, which maintain that an independent Palestinian state should only emerge through a negotiated process.

Within the EU, some countries, such as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia recognize Palestine, but they did so before joining the 28-member bloc.

If the center-left government fulfills its plans, Sweden would be the first country to recognize Palestine while being a member of the European Union.

The Social Democrats and Greens hold a minority of seats in parliament and the incoming center-left government is likely to be one of Sweden’s weakest for decades.

The former center-right government would not recognize Palestine as the Palestinian authorities did not control their territory.

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with its capital in East Jerusalem. While Gaza’s boundaries are clearly defined, the precise territory of what would constitute Palestine in the West Bank and East Jerusalem will only be determined via negotiations with Israel on a two-state solution, negotiations which are currently suspended.