PLO Delegation denounces Israeli assault on Gaza and Jaba Moosque

Distributed by the www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com

Assault on Gaza and Jaba Mosque

                                                                                          

The General Delegation of the PLO to the US strongly condemns the current Israeli assault on Gaza and the recent attack on the mosque in Jaba. The international community has to protect Palestinians from Israel and its extremist settlers.

Since Monday the 18^th of June, Israeli forces have launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip killing nine Palestinians and injuring 17 thus far. The fatalities include an infant and a 14 year-old boy. This is a dangerous escalation at a time when the regional situation is tense and unpredictable.

Last Tuesday, extremist Israeli settlers vandalized and set fire to a mosque in the West Bank village of Jaba near Jerusalem. Graffiti saying “Ulpana War” and “price tag” were written on the mosque’s walls referencing the illegal settlement outpost near Ramallah that the Israeli government is planning to evacuate. This is the fourth mosque to be attacked in the last 18 months. Yet Israeli officials have contented themselves with merely denouncing the attacks without taking any serious steps to stop or deter them. This lack of action by Israel is emboldening the extremist settlers to increase their incitement and attacks against Palestinians.

This proves again that this Israeli government does not have an agenda for resolving the conflict. Without pressure from the international community including the US administration, there will be no safety for Palestinians and no progress in the political process.

The General Delegation of the PLO to the US demands that the Israeli government immediately cease its attack on Gaza and take firm action against extremist settlers in the West Bank. We also call on the US administration and the international community to put pressure on Israel to cease its latest onslaught and to ensure Palestinians and their property are protected in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.