On Wednesday morning, the occupation forces imposed a siege on the Palestinian village of Jalboun, east of Jenin, closed all its entrances and prevented its residents from entering and leaving.

Town Council President Ibrahim Abu Al-Rub told Al-Quds.com that the occupation patrols raided the village early for the third time in the past two days since the Merav settlement came under fire from the resistance.

He stated that the occupation raided and searched homes located on the eastern side of the settlement, then closed the side entrances with dirt barriers, set up military barriers at the main entrances, and paralyzed the lives and movement of the citizens, preventing them from leaving the village.

The occupation forces deployed inside the village, which led to the closure of schools, which was denounced by Abu Al-Rub, who called on institutions and the international community to stop the attacks and assaults on the people of his targeted village, which has a population of 3,500 people.

Yesterday, the occupation established a fixed point on the roof of one of the houses and its third floor, and strengthened its measures with the resistance repeatedly targeting the settlements near Jalboun, especially Merav.

The Six-Party Committee on the Question of Palestine, emanating from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held an important meeting on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The meeting was chaired by Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who stressed in his speech the historical responsibility of the organization and member states to preserve the Arab-Islamic character of the city of Jerusalem, defend the sanctity of Islamic and Christian sanctities therein, and make all possible efforts to confront the colonial policies of the occupation, and the necessity of finding a solution. Just and lasting for the Palestinian cause in accordance with international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Al-Maliki gave the audience an overview of the situation in Palestine and what the Palestinian people are going through as a result of the escalating occupation crimes against them, especially the systematic attacks launched by the occupation authority and settlement organizations on the city of Jerusalem in general, and the Holy Mosque in particular, which constitute a provocation to the feelings of the Palestinians. It is a clear violation of international law, United Nations resolutions, and the existing historical situation, and an unacceptable embodiment of the plan to divide the Holy Mosque spatially and temporally.

Al-Maliki called on the committee to intensify its efforts with the international community to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes and colonial policies, and to provide full protection for the Palestinian people, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as it is a fundamental right among their internationally recognized rights, including the right to self-determination.

He also called on the committee to support the State of Palestine in obtaining permanent membership in the United Nations and to push towards achieving this.

In his speech, he stressed that Israel, the occupying power, has no right or sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its sanctities, expressing his full confidence in the committee’s ability to mobilize political and legal support for Palestine and the Palestinian people, based on its adherence to the values and principles contained in the resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its responsibility. history towards the issue.

The members of the Six-Party Committee expressed their support for the Palestinian cause in international forums, stressing the importance of taking serious steps to end the Israeli occupation and provide protection for the Palestinian people.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the report submitted to the annual coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was approved, which included a number of recommendations, procedures and important steps to support the Palestinian people’s acquisition of their inalienable rights, the most important of which are the right to self-determination, return and independence.

On Wednesday morning, the Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of arrests among Palestinian citizens in various areas of the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.

These forces arrested the two young men, Muhammad Hassan Hamdan and Yassin Marwan Hamdan, residents of Aqabat Jabr camp in Jericho.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Al-Burji was arrested from Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah.

Ismail Sharaf was arrested from the town of Beita, south of Nablus.

In the village of Qatna, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, Muhammad Kamal Tabanga, his brother Muhannad, and the two young men, Alaa Fakih and Youssef Jabr, were arrested.

Over 75 current and former American Jewish community leaders have signed onto an open letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to only pursue a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia that includes “measures that tangibly advance prospects for a two-state solution” and reverses “the worrisome trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

The letter was published Tuesday as Biden addressed the UN General Assembly, where he referred to his administration’s push for further Arab states — chiefly Saudi Arabia — to normalize relations with Israel and its “tireless” work toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

“In practical terms, this would entail halting Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and increasing territorial sovereignty for Palestinians, while simultaneously holding the Palestinian Authority accountable to reforms and strengthening its financial stability,” the letter stated. “These steps would arrest the current deterioration of the situation on the ground and advance American interests by improving regional stability and laying the groundwork for two states.

“This is necessary both for the sake of the viability of the agreement itself and as a bulwark against further escalation of the conflict, which is especially important at a time when Israel’s security and its Jewish and democratic character are being tested.”

Signatories included the heads of the Reform and Conservative religious denominations, former executives at AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Federations of North America, the ADL, the Conference of Presidents, and the Jewish Agency along with former US ambassadors to Israel.

“In your upcoming meeting with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, and in your administration’s discussions with Saudi and Palestinian leaders, we urge you to pursue an agreement that would, in addition to advancing American national security interests, enhance Israel’s long-term security, and expand regional peace, which necessarily requires reversing the worrisome trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the letter organized by the Israel Policy Forum said.

The US in recent months has been seeking to broker a normalization deal, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken considering a trip to Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia next month as part of that effort.

In exchange for normalizing ties with Israel, Saudi Arabia is asking for a major defense pact with the US, major arms deals and US cooperation in establishing a civilian nuclear program on Saudi soil. Washington, in turn, is looking for Riyadh to pare down its economic and military dealings with China and Russia.

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

The meeting came a day after Erdogan told reporters he supported the Biden administration’s initiative to broker an Israeli-Saudi deal, saying it would lower tensions in the region.

According to the Hebrew website Ynet, this is the first ever meeting held between the two sides, as it lasted for an hour in the presence of personalities from both sides.

The two sides discussed strengthening bilateral relations in the fields of trade, economy, energy, and regional and international issues, including normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu said at the beginning of the meeting that "relations are strengthening," and thanked Erdogan for "the fruitful cooperation between the security services, which thwarted the malicious intentions of terrorist groups and their attempts to harm Israeli tourists in Istanbul and saved their lives." like he said.

The two sides exchanged invitations to visit Ankara and Tel Aviv, and agreed to coordinate between them soon.

At the end of the meeting, Erdogan's office said that he discussed with Netanyahu "political, economic and regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue," which Netanyahu's office did not talk about.

The Israeli occupation authorities continue to close the Beit Hanoun “Erez” checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip, designated for the movement of individuals.

The office of the so-called Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities announced the extension of the closure of the checkpoint for 24 hours, under the pretext of continuing demonstrations on the Gaza Strip borders.

The occupation authorities closed the crossing on Friday evening under the pretext of Jewish holidays, and it was scheduled to reopen on Monday morning.

As reported by Irish Examiner website, Irish Government is preparing to recognize Palestine as an independent state, the Deputy Prime Minister has said. Michael Martin has suggested that Ireland will soon recognize Palestine in support of a two-state solution in the Middle East.

"Our view is as part of the Program for Government that in terms of the recognition of Palestine, the Palestinian state, our view is that we favor it."

However, speaking at the UN in New York, Mr. Martin added that the timing of this will be critical and the "impact of taking such a decision has to be weighed up".

He suggested that such a strong declaration from Ireland would have to be done in the context of making an impact and "adding value to getting a resolution to the crisis".

He added, right now, the Government is engaged with all parties to the conflict and to all of those who are committed to trying to resolve this. We don't want to preempt those engagements.

Asked directly if this will happen within the lifetime of this Government he said: "It well may very well, but that's a call we will make. We're doing some assessment in relation to that internally within the Government".

Two young men were martyred, on Wednesday, after they were shot by Israeli occupation forces, during the aggression against Jenin Camp and Aqabat Jabr Camp in Jericho.

According to what Al-Quds.com correspondent in Jenin reported, the young man, Atta Yasser Musa (30 years old), died as a result of the serious wounds he sustained yesterday evening as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Jenin camp, which brings the number of martyrs to 4.

Our correspondent indicated that the young man, Musa, was hit by 5 bullets, including two in the abdomen and one in the shoulder.

Meanwhile, the young man, Dhargham Al-Akhras (19 years old), was martyred this morning, as a result of his critical wounds sustained by bullets from the occupation forces after they stormed the Aqabat Jabr camp in Jericho.

The mute young man was hit by a bullet to the head, which led to his death.

Another young man was moderately injured as a result of the attack on the camp, while two young men were arrested from inside one of the homes that was raided.

President Mahmoud Abbas met on Tuesday evening with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

President Abbas briefed his Turkish counterpart on the latest developments in the Palestinian issue. They also discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them at all levels.

President Abbas thanked President Erdogan for Turkey’s steadfast positions in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, and for his tireless pursuit of their freedom and independence.

Saudi, U.S. officials reportedly discussing a mutual defense treaty that would resemble the robust military pacts that Washington has with Japan and South Korea

According to The New York Times, Saudi and U.S. dignitaries are discussing terms of a mutual defense treaty that would resemble the robust military pacts that Washington has with its close allies Japan and South Korea – a central component in U.S. President Joe Biden’s high-stakes diplomacy to get Riyadh to normalize relations with Israel.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh discussed with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, Arab-European efforts to revive the political process, today, Tuesday, at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The Prime Minister welcomed the outcomes of the meeting at the level of foreign ministers with Arab-European coordination in the “Peace Day Efforts” initiative, stressing the necessity of collective action to revive the political process in light of the blockage of the political horizon, and to work to protect the two-state solution, in light of the systematic destruction practiced by the Israeli government of the possibility of establishing Palestinian state.

Shtayyeh presented Borrell in the context of the Israeli occupation forces’ violations against our people and the undermining of the Palestinian Authority, indicating that this leads to an explosive situation on the ground.

Shtayyeh continued: "Stopping Israeli violations and preserving the two-state solution is an international responsibility, and the world must take concrete measures in this context."

The two parties also discussed the success of the donor conference and the need to emphasize that the international community will continue to support Palestine politically and financially.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken plans to visit Tel Aviv, Ramallah, and several Middle Eastern countries next month.

According to the Hebrew website Ynet, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf has been planning the visit for a week.

The Hebrew website indicated that Lev, who arrived in the region last week before returning to the United States, held preemptive meetings to prepare for the visit.

The official spokesman for the Palestinian Presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said that the ongoing Israeli aggression against our people in Gaza, Jenin and other Palestinian cities will bring violence and escalation to the entire region.

Abu Rudeina added, Tuesday evening, that the continuation of daily killings against our people, the most recent of which was in Jenin and the Gaza Strip and led to the death of three citizens and the injury of dozens, is the responsibility of the occupation authorities, which are pushing matters towards a comprehensive confrontation, the consequences of which no one will be able to bear.

He said: The American administration must be well aware that the region is on the verge of explosion as a result of the Israeli persistence in killing, destruction, and theft of land, and the American administration must intervene immediately to stop this Israeli madness, before things reach the stage of explosion for which everyone will pay the price.

The official presidential spokesman confirmed that this policy followed by the far-right government in Israel will not bring security and stability to anyone, and those who believe that they can impose their dictates and policies on the right and just Palestinian people are delusional, who will not allow their sanctities and principles to be harmed at any cost.

Three young Palestinians were killed, and at least 30 citizens were injured, one in critical condition, on Tuesday evening, by Israeli occupation forces’ bullets after they stormed the Jenin camp in the northern West Bank.

The Ministry of Health reported that the two young men were killed, and that several injuries arrived at Jenin Governmental Hospital.

Medical sources said that there are serious cases receiving treatment in hospitals.

Hebrew Channel 13 reported that the Israeli army used the Maoz suicide plane against an armed cell.

Violent clashes broke out immediately after the occupation forces stormed the outskirts of Jenin camp and besieged the house of the leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the liberated Muhammad Abu Al-Baha.

The occupation forces fired a missile directed at Abu Al-Baha's house, causing it to catch fire.

A young man was martyred, on Tuesday evening, after he was hit by an Israeli sniper’s bullet, which hit him in the head, during confrontations on the eastern border of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to medical sources, the young man was transferred in critical condition to a nearby hospital, and his death was announced moments later.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 4 young men were injured by live bullets during the confrontations that broke out on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.

A number of other young men suffocated as a result of the occupation forces firing tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.

On Tuesday evening, the Israeli Army Command informed the heads of the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip to continue holding activities during the Jewish holidays as usual.

According to the Hebrew website Ynet, the army leadership asked the heads of those settlements to maintain the normal routine of life, indicating that there were no concrete warnings about the deteriorating conditions.

This contradicts what was stated in a report in the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, this morning, about Israeli preparations for a possible escalation with the Gaza Strip, and the possibility of launching missiles.

On Tuesday evening, Israeli occupation forces arrested two citizens near the Atara military checkpoint, north of the city of Ramallah.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces arrested the young man, Amir Abu Odeh, and another whose identity is not yet known, as they passed through the checkpoint.

US President Joe Biden called on Tuesday from the General Assembly podium at the United Nations to achieve a two-state solution.

Biden said: “We want to see peace between Israel and the Palestinians through a two-state solution; Palestine and Israel coexist in peace and prosperity side by side.”

In his annual speech, Biden also called for more normalization between the countries of the region and Israel so that “Israel can fully engage as part of the region,” referring to the railway project from India to Europe via the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel.

He praised the institutions that “we built together after World War II and that appear sustainable today,” such as the United Nations.

He vowed that Iran would never be able to obtain a nuclear bomb.

He condemned what he called the Russian aggression against Ukraine, saying that Russia alone can end this aggression immediately, “otherwise the Charter of the United Nations and its principles are at risk.” He insisted that the right to sovereignty be for all countries, small or large, and promising that the world would tire of supporting Ukraine in Defending herself.

He stressed the need to adhere to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

For his part, King Abdullah II said, “Suffering will continue in our region until the world works to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and resolve the central issue in the Middle East.”

The Jordanian king said, "Five million Palestinians live under occupation without civil rights, freedom of movement, and no decision to manage their lives."

He asked, "How can people trust global justice while settlements continue to be built, Palestinian lands are confiscated, and homes are destroyed?"

He stressed, "We must not leave the Palestinian refugees prey to the forces of despair. There is an urgent need for sustainable funding for UNRWA."

King Abdullah II added, "This year, more than 345 million people face the threat of food insecurity or hunger on a daily basis, including 108 million refugees who were forcibly displaced from their homes and left the life to which they were accustomed."

The official spokesman for the presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeina, denied what was reported in the Israeli media, regarding what was stated in the speech of President Mahmoud Abbas, during his meeting with members of the Palestinian community in New York, on the sidelines of the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly.

Abu Rudeina said on Tuesday that the president touched on the issue of elections, affirming the official Palestinian position to hold them as soon as possible in East Jerusalem, but he did not insult anyone in his words, nor did he use any word that insulted any party.

He added that such reports issued in the Israeli media are a continuation of the fierce campaign led by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian narrative, which is making its way in the United States and in the world to refute the Israeli narrative.

As US President Joe Biden prepares to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the 87th United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York City, a new poll showed that a majority of Americans wonder whether his hard-line government shares American values.

The results of the poll conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and Sociology come during a new period of tension between the Biden administration and Israel, dating back to the “judicial reform” proposed by Netanyahu that sparked mass protests in major Israeli cities, and ongoing disagreements over how to deal with Iran and how to deal with it. Dealing with the Palestinians, and the comments of Netanyahu’s political allies that aroused the ire of American officials.

The Associated Press says that “despite the dispute, Biden, who has spoken out in veiled opposition to the legal plan, and Netanyahu are expected to highlight a strong partnership through which the United States continues to support Israel’s security, and Biden will also emphasize that the United States continues to work to expand the Abraham Accords.” Which was concluded during the Trump era, which led to the normalization of Israeli relations with many Arab countries, to include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Although the poll showed that Americans overwhelmingly view Israel as a friend more than an enemy, the poll also found that they are divided over whether Israel is a country that shares common interests and values with the United States.

The Associated Press-NORC poll found that “about 4 in 10 Americans described Israel as a partner with which the United States should cooperate, but they also said that Israel does not share American interests and values, while only about 3 in 10 said “Israel is an ally that shares the interests of the United States.”

According to the poll, Republicans (44%) are more likely than Democrats (25%) to describe Israel as an ally with shared values. About 2 in 10 Americans described Israel as either a competitor or adversary to the United States.

The Associated Press, which revealed its poll on Tuesday, indicates that the United States gives Israel approximately $4 billion annually in military aid (and other aid), and the close relationship has continued over the decades despite infrequent disagreements over policy, most notably over Iran and the treatment of the Palestinians.

The poll revealed that 61% of Americans disapprove of the way Biden is dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with only 35% approving his current policy, which is considered slightly lower than Biden's overall approval rate.

The poll found that about 4 in 10 Americans, or 44%, believe that the United States provides the appropriate amount of support for Israel, while 27% said it supports Israel too much and 23% does not support it enough.

Almost the same percentage, 42%, say that the right amount of support is being provided to the Palestinians, while 30% say they want more support and 21% want less.

Among Republicans, the poll found that 34% of Americans want the United States to provide more support for Israel, but slightly more (40%) say the current level is sufficient, while only 11% of Democrats said the United States needs to provide more support. Aid to Israel. The poll found that about half of Democrats said the current amount was "about right," while only about a third said the United States supports Israel too much.

Regarding the Palestinians, about two-thirds of Americans are neutral, with 37% (of respondents) saying that they do not sympathize with Israel or the Palestinians, while 29% said that they sympathize with both equally.

A similar percentage (58%) said that they neither support nor oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, while 22% support it and 15% oppose it.

The survey of 1,165 adults was conducted August 10-14 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based Ameri Speak panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

At the Biden-Netanyahu meeting on Wednesday, Biden is expected to reaffirm the firm American commitment to Israel's security. Biden is also expected to give the Israeli Prime Minister one of his main demands - entry into the US Visa Waiver Program, which will allow Israelis to visit the United States on a temporary basis without a visa. .

US law requires that Americans, including Palestinian Americans, be treated the same way in order to qualify for the program.

It is noteworthy that US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in his response to the Al-Quds correspondent’s question last week, that Israel “has taken several steps to ensure equal treatment for all Americans entering Israel, and that he has until the end of this September to prove that the standards are met.”

The Agricultural Development Association “Agricultural Relief” launched a series of preliminary meetings for the strategic planning process for the years 2024 - 2028 AD, with the participation of the Board of Directors, Agricultural Relief crews, a group of grassroots institutions and associations, experts, protection committees, all actors in the agricultural sector, and a number of male and female farmers, with the aim of directing the future path of the organization during the years. The next four and to achieve the strategic goals and vision.

These efforts come within a series of stages through which the relief works to develop a strategic plan responsive to the great challenges facing the agricultural sector in Palestine.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Agricultural Relief, Salam Al-Zagha, pointed out that strategic planning gains an important dimension in continuing to consolidate the scientific method in monitoring and developing the organization’s performance, which was built on the legacy of struggle linked to issues of liberation, democracy, and social justice.

He explained that Agricultural Relief is committed in its strategic plans to issues of agricultural development, sovereignty over resources, and building resilient, sustainable, and food-secure rural communities.

Al-Zagha stated that Agricultural Relief adheres to the values that govern its political and strategic work, which is built on an institutional culture that stems from belief and work in the values of transparency, justice, and volunteerism, as it is one of the basic values.

He pointed out that the goal of updating the strategic plan is to modernize and develop the institution, explaining that the growth of the institution is primarily dependent on the plan, its review and development by permanently reviewing the available resources.

Director General of Agricultural Relief, Munjda Abu Jaish, said that this step comes as part of the relief strategy to develop and improve its performance, achieve excellence in supporting and revitalizing the agricultural sector, and enhance the positive impact on society and the environment.

He continued that this step reflects Agricultural Relief’s commitment to continuous improvement and development, noting that it is an important step towards building a bright and sustainable future for the organization.

Abu Jaish stated that the new strategic plan works to define the main goals and guidelines that will guide agricultural relief efforts in the next four years, where the focus will be on promoting sustainable development and achieving a balance between the economic, social, environmental and development dimensions in all activities and projects.

He pointed out that the plan will include strategies to enhance excellence in all fields, improve advanced services, enhance innovation, and enhance environmental sustainability and the green economy. The strategic process will include a periodic evaluation of the plan’s performance and quality control to ensure achieving the desired results and overcoming changing challenges.

Abu Jaish pointed out that the new plan will include a set of specific strategies and resources allocated to achieve them, including developing work methods and improving internal processes. It will also focus on enhancing communication and cooperation between various departments and enhancing interaction with partners and beneficiaries.

Abu Jaish explained that agricultural relief plans will always emanate from the will of the farmers, their needs, and their rights on the land, and therefore agricultural relief is keen on the participation of male and female farmers in any planning process.

Through its strategic plans, Agricultural Relief seeks to advance the agricultural sector in order to achieve sustainable development.

In the last quarter of last July, German diplomat Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorf appeared in a sports uniform, flying for a few minutes in the Gaza sky in a parachute, demanding “freedom for the Strip” and drawing attention to the Israeli restrictions imposed on it. For a few moments, the ambassador began rowing in the Gaza Sea in a light sports boat. , before joining a group of young men to play beach soccer.

As soon as Burgsdorf returned to the West Bank, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was waiting for him to award him the Jerusalem Medal, the highest Palestinian honor, to praise what he had provided to Palestine during his period of service.

“Exceptional diplomat” is one of the Palestinian elites’ repeated descriptions of Svin, but in the Israeli government, the feeling is the complete opposite. The ambassador was the target of violent and repeated waves of criticism, the last of which was because he brought that light parachute plane into Gaza and flew in its skies without permission from the Israeli authorities. .

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move as a “provocative act” and condemned the ambassador in harsh terms in a statement in which it said, “The European diplomat has long forgotten that he represents the European Union and its member states. He continues to represent the Palestinian narrative and is a propaganda tool in the hands of the terrorist organizations that control Gaza.” .

Blinks interviewed Ambassador Sven Kuhn during the last week of July to get behind the scenes of that incident and talk about his personal experience in the Palestinian territories and what he saw during his period of service.

Exceptional activity in the field

When the Israeli army stormed the Jenin camp in July, Sven was the first diplomat to arrive in the area to condemn the violence, and when settlers tried to expel the Sab al-Laban family from their home in Jerusalem, the ambassador rushed to visit them and reiterate his rejection of these Israeli policies.

After the settlers burned the village of Turmus Ayya in June, Burgsdorf went to the area, accompanied by 20 other ambassadors, to offer condolences and denounce the violence of the settlers, and he did the same after the settlers burned the village of Huwwara last February.

Every time the Israeli authorities seek to demolish homes and displace Palestinians, they find the European ambassador with those families, whether in Sheikh Jarrah, Masafer Yatta, Khan al-Ahmar, Silwan, Batn al-Hawa, and other villages.

Once, the Israeli army declared the home of the famous Palestinian activist, Issa Amr, a closed military zone. The European ambassador had no choice but to go to Issa’s house with other ambassadors and express support for his human rights activities.

Such field activities gained Sven popularity among Palestinian political and human rights elites, but at the same time exposed him to waves of major Israeli government criticism and discontent, and high pressure from European Union officials in Brussels to reduce his visibility, according to four diplomatic sources who spoke to Blinks separately.

But the European ambassador does not see anything exceptional in the matter. He says, “It was not brave of me to do that. I was carrying out my mission.” He adds in the interview, “I see that diplomacy in the twenty-first century should not be limited to conversations by the fireplace between one or two ministers.” "From a senior diplomat with a cigar and a glass of whisky, you should care about winning people's hearts and minds, as long as you represent your country on a basis that is consistent with international law and international human rights standards."

Fear prevents diplomats from speaking

Sven does not hide that what prevents his Western diplomatic peers from speaking out boldly or publicly objecting to Israeli policies is fear of the consequences for their professional future.

“The political cost of speaking out against Israel's practices is very high,” Burgsdorf told Blinks of one of his fellow diplomats, without naming him, “but the benefit of ignoring is great. Even on a professional level, no one criticizes you in that case.” The result, the European ambassador adds, is "you keep your mouth shut, but at the same time, you violate the policy you are sent to represent."

The famous American writer Thomas Friedman once admitted that “if a diplomat wanted to become an ambassador, he would not state publicly that Israeli settlements stand in the way of peace, even though this is actual American policy.”

The consequences of criticizing Israel publicly in Western countries are great for those who dream of diplomatic jobs or high-ranking positions in the state, especially in the United States or Germany. Last January, the US Congress suspended President Joe Biden's nominee for human rights ambassador because of her criticism of Israeli settlements.

As for Sven, it seems that he is not afraid of the consequences of what he says, and perhaps one of the reasons that helps him do so is that he is close to retiring from his diplomatic career, which lasted for about thirty years during which he moved between Cuba, Mozambique, South Sudan, Haiti, America, Belgium, and Slovakia.

Israel and pressure policy

Last year, a wave of anger exploded against a European Union representative after he stated that Israeli policies were pushing some Palestinians to use violence against Israel, which was seen as a “justification for terrorism.”

In his conversation with us, the European Ambassador explains that there is a difference between justification and explanation: “There is absolutely no justification for any attack against innocent people.”

Burgsdorf holds a doctorate in political science and international law from the University of Freiburg in Germany, then obtained a graduate degree in development studies from the German Development Institute, DIE in Berlin, and aspires to return to university teaching after retiring from his diplomatic career. So he sometimes presents himself as a political science expert.

“When the Israelis destroy the house you've lived in all your life, because your cousin is a suspected terrorist who lives there, so I wouldn't be surprised by any reaction,” the ambassador explains.

“The definition of terrorist acts under Israeli law is vague and broad, and does not correspond to the way we see terrorism in the European Union,” he explains. “In Israel, any child who throws a stone can be sentenced to years in prison.”

“Unless this changes, and the policy of settlement expansion, settler violence, excessive use of force, and home demolitions stops, retaliatory attacks and further extremism on the Palestinian side will increase,” Sven adds.

Difficult and painful situations

At the funeral of journalist Sherine Abu Aqla, the European ambassador stood to mediate between the Palestinian masses who wanted to carry the coffin from the church to Mount Zion in East Jerusalem, and the Israeli police who insisted on transporting the body silently in a car to the cemetery to avoid the gathering of Palestinians.

It ended with the Israeli police attacking the Palestinian crowd with batons, until the coffin was about to fall and be destroyed. This was one of the situations that affected Sven Kuhn deeply. “I was there, and it made me sad, amazed and frustrated,” he recalls.

He sums up the most difficult situations he went through in his service by saying, “When I offer my condolences to parents who lost their sons or daughters, it is heartbreaking for me to go there.”

“I was very moved when I went to Nizar Banat’s family after he was killed by Palestinian Authority security personnel, and I was holding his three-month-old baby in my arms,” Burgsdorf explains. “Yes, these things stay with you.”

The Israeli government is keen that Western diplomats do not have to experience the daily lives of Palestinians and treats them with favour. For example, the European Union ambassador, who lives in East Jerusalem, passes to Ramallah through the “pocket checkpoint” northwest of Jerusalem on the highway in his vehicle without waiting. While most Palestinians cross the Qalandiya checkpoints on foot in long lines, despite obtaining prior security permits to exit or enter.

“Imagine a woman who wants to go to a nearby hospital, but she can’t because the hospital is in an off-limits area. This explains a little of the daily humiliation that Palestinians suffer, and unless Israel radically changes how it treats Palestinians, they will create hatred among Palestinians.”

Positive moments in return

Burgsdorf also made sure not to remember only the painful moments during his service and to add part of the positive situations he experienced. Gaza had the largest share of those moments.

“When I was asked about the people of Gaza, I said that they are the most impressive because they make so much out of so little. When I meet young dreamers from Gaza, I want to give them positive feedback to make them feel strong to believe in their future.”

“Because of the situation in Gaza, I am amazed at the amount of creativity and hope that still exists, especially among young people,” Sven explains. “I am very involved in Gaza because this is the place in Palestine that contains the most geographical potential and human creativity.”

The siege of Gaza is more difficult than the siege of Cuba

About two decades ago, Sven moved to Havana, the capital of Cuba, as an ambassador to the European Union. “The United States of America has imposed an economic and military blockade on Cuba since the 1960s, making it the longest blockade in modern history.” But Burgsdorf believes that "the Gaza siege is more cruel and strict than the Cuban siege."

“Although Israel claims that it is not the occupying power in Gaza, it is, and international law is clear. Israel controls Gaza’s sea and air borders 100%, and everything that comes in or out, whether a person, good or service, is controlled by it. When it comes to the Rafah crossing, Egypt controls it, but Israel monitors what enters through it sometimes, so it is complete control.”

The ambassador adds, "This cannot be said about the embargo imposed on Cuba, because most countries in the world do not accept this embargo, and certainly not the European Union. We used to trade with Cuba, invest, and have tourists there. The embargo was a problem for Cuban economic development, and for creating a more open society. But In fact, the US embargo on Cuba helped the Castro regime stay in power because it got everyone to rally around it.”

The ambassador compares: “The blockade of Cuba did not cause the same hardship as the closure on the people of Gaza. I need three approvals as a diplomat to be able to enter there: the approval of the Palestinian Authority, the most important of which is the approval of Hamas, and much more importantly the approval of the Israeli military commander. The situation is even worse than that for For any Palestinian citizen.

Light plane provocation

According to a diplomatic source at the European Union delegation who spoke with Blinks, the Israelis were angry that Sven included a personal parachute in his diplomatic luggage during his final visit to Gaza without requesting prior permission, because Israel prohibits the entry of such sports equipment into Gaza. At the same time, the source explains that it would not have been possible for the Israeli authorities to accept the entry of that parachute if the ambassador had requested prior permission.

As for Sven, he told Blinks that as a diplomat, he has the right to “bring in sports equipment under the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Immunity,” and “I'm not supposed to declare what I'm using as a personal item.”

The ambassador adds, "This was a private recreational activity, and did not endanger public safety. I checked with the local authorities and was surrounded by them. I did not violate the airspace. I was flying slowly over a hill that was lower than the buildings next to it."

He added, "Israel in its statement did not attack me for that, but they considered this act provocative."

Ambassador Burgsdorf noted that he usually flies paragliding inside Israel, "I was captured north of Herzliya on the Israeli coast, and I also once tried to fly in Area C on the slopes of the Dead Sea." But my message from flying in Gaza was “a reminder of the opportunities for prosperity in the Strip if the siege is lifted. There is, of course, drama, despair, frustration, poverty and extremism, but Gaza has a lot to offer.”

“Every Palestinian has the right to do the same thing that every Israeli does or can do 10 kilometers from their borders,” Sven concludes, “It’s all about equal rights.”

Today, Tuesday, representatives of seven member states visited the Gaza Strip to celebrate World Humanitarian Day in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The event, chaired by Humanitarian Coordinator Lynne Hastings, was attended by senior diplomats from Australia, Chile, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The delegation visited the Shujaiya area in Gaza City, where it met a family whose home was destroyed during the escalation of hostilities in 2021.

The delegation discussed the urgent need to build and rehabilitate homes and treat psychological trauma among children and adults.

The group then visited the headquarters of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, where they paid tribute to frontline responders who often risk their lives to save the lives of others. They also learned about the impact of attacks on medical personnel and facilities.

World Humanitarian Day was observed globally in August, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.

In the occupied Palestinian territory, approximately 2.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and thousands are participating in efforts to support them, consisting of volunteers, Palestinian NGO staff, municipal workers, government employees, and international actors, among others.

The Presidency of the Republic of Iraq condemned in a statement on Tuesday the “repeated Turkish aggression,” the day after a drone attack on the Kurdistan region, which Iraq said came from Turkey, resulting in the killing of three members of the Counter-Terrorism Service in the region.

Ankara rarely comments on its military operations in northern Iraq, where it launches attacks against Turkish Kurdish PKK fighters. However, the attack by a drone on Monday on an agricultural airport in the autonomous Kurdistan region is considered unprecedented.

The statement published by the office of the President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Rashid, on Tuesday stated that “the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad will be summoned to deliver a letter of protest addressed to the Turkish presidency.”

At the same time, he wished "mercy and immortality for Iraq's heroic martyrs, both civilians and safe soldiers, who were killed as a result of the repeated Turkish aggression."

On Monday, a drone bombed the Arbat Agricultural Airport near the city of Sulaymaniyah, the second largest city in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, which is used for private aircraft to spray agricultural pesticides. The strike resulted in the killing of three members of the Counter-Terrorism Service in the region and the wounding of three others.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasoul, said on Tuesday in a statement that the drone “entered Iraqi airspace across the border with Turkey and bombed Arbat Airport.”

This senior military official considered that "this aggression constitutes a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," adding that Iraq "reserves its right to put an end to these violations."
Rasoul believed that "these repeated attacks are not consistent with the principle of good-neighborly relations between countries, and threaten to undermine Iraq's efforts to build good and balanced political, economic, and security relations with its neighbors."
In Sulaymaniyah, hundreds participated on Tuesday in the funeral of one of the victims of Monday's bombing at a mosque in the city of Sulaymaniyah, including security personnel, the victim's family, and residents of the area, as an Agence France-Presse correspondent witnessed.

For his part, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, Masrour Barzani, condemned in a statement on Tuesday “any violation that affects the sovereignty of the territory of the region and Iraq,” expressing his rejection of “all illegal actions that threaten the security of the Kurdistan region and undermine its stability.”

The United Nations mission in Iraq also condemned the attack, saying that "security concerns must be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy, not through strikes."

The Kurdistan region frequently witnesses bombing attributed to Turkey and Iran, targeting opposition Kurdish factions from both countries, which have been present in northern Iraq for decades.

For 25 years, Turkey has been establishing military bases in northern Iraq to confront the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels, who have training camps and rear bases in the region, and which Ankara and its Western successors classify as a "terrorist."

On Sunday, four fighters, including a "senior official" from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, were killed in a bombing by a "Turkish army drone" that targeted their car in the Sinjar region in northern Iraq, according to a statement by the Counter-Terrorism Service in the Kurdistan Region.

In April 2023, Iraq accused Turkey of launching a “bombing” in the vicinity of Sulaymaniyah Airport, the second largest city in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

These strikes occurred simultaneously with the presence of American forces and the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by Washington, at the airport.

The Iraqi presidency said on Tuesday, “Day after day, systematic military attacks on Iraqi territory, specifically in the Kurdistan region, are escalating.”

She added, "We explained to the relevant Turkish authorities on previous occasions that Iraq is ready to sit with the relevant security authorities to fill the gaps that Turkey believes are places of infiltration for those who want to harm its security," but "without seeing a real response to our calls."

The Prisoners' Club said on Tuesday, "The detainees Kayed Al-Fasfous and Sultan Khalouf continue their open hunger strike in rejection of their administrative detention for the 48th day in a row."

The detainee Kayed Al-Fasfous is still detained in the cells of the Negev prison, and is subjected to systematic abuse, amid difficult health conditions.

The detainee, Al-Fafsous (34 years old), from the city of Dura/Hebron, was re-arrested by the occupation in May 2, 2023. He is a former prisoner who spent about (7) years in the occupation’s prisons, and he began facing arrest in 2007.

Meanwhile, the detainee, engineer Sultan Khallouf (42 years old) from the town of Burqin/Jenin, has been facing a difficult health condition in the cells (Ramla Prison Clinic), since the moment of his arrest and the announcement of his strike on 8/3/2023.

Today, Tuesday, the Fatah Advisory Council, under the auspices of President Mahmoud Abbas, discussed the regional and international variables and their repercussions on the Palestinian issue.

The discussion session, which was held in the city of Al-Bireh, was attended by members of the Central Committee, the Revolutionary and Advisory Councils of the Fatah movement, the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, ministers and officials, leaders from the security services, and representatives of public and private institutions.

Deputy Chairman of the Fatah movement, Mahmoud Al-Aloul, said: “The title proposed for the session is very important, because we do not live in isolation from our surroundings. Everything that happens in the region affects us directly, especially since our issue is a central issue and has an impact in the world, and even the major powers do not.” "It can ignore our issue, which is on the table for discussion in all international forums."

He added: “There are attempts by some parties to force the Palestinian issue into a justification for their conflicts with others, and this is what causes a lot of harm to our cause. There are also great efforts being made to distance ourselves from conflicts in the world, not to interfere in the affairs of others, and not to allow others to interfere in their affairs.” "Our affairs."

Al-Aloul stressed that the Palestinian people want someone to stand with them and interact with them, and this is what prompted them not to be drawn into other issues, and this is what formed a kind of immunity for the Palestinian cause, and maintained its continuity until it achieves its goals.

He continued: "We are going through difficult and exceptional circumstances, especially since the priorities of the region and the world have changed, and the region is no longer a priority for them, unlike in past years when the impact of the Palestinian issue forced them not to ignore it."

For his part, Secretary of the Fatah Advisory Council, Lieutenant General Nasr Youssef, said: “The session discusses the latest requirements and needs of the Palestinian issue, the changes in the world and their repercussions on us.”

He pointed out that the increase in supporters and friends for Palestine gives the cause additional momentum and brings it closer to its goal in order to achieve its aspirations and the aspirations of its people.

Youssef stressed that there will be neither security nor peace in the world without a just solution to the Palestinian issue. He also called for strengthening popular resistance in all Palestinian regions, because of its importance in getting rid of the occupation.

Abbas Zaki, a member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, said: The regional situation and changes require us to remain attentive to them, in a way that is in the interest of the Palestinian cause and achieves all its hopes.

He pointed out that solidarity with our people must be effectively translated into means that force the Israeli occupation to surrender our legitimate rights, and force it to stop its ongoing crimes against our people, noting that the Israeli government practices racial discrimination, the “apartheid system,” against our people in a criminal manner, and constitutes An example of racist extremism witnessed and condemned by international human rights organizations and international public opinion.

Zaki stressed that our people will continue their struggle, rejecting submission, humiliation, and indignity in defense of their freedom and the dignity of their nation, based on the positions of our Arab nation, its living forces, and the free people of the world, which we are confident have not lost hope of rising again, in loyalty to Arab and Islamic history.

The first session discussed the transformations in American and European foreign policy and international double standards, and their reflection on the fairness of dealing in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the geopolitical and security transformations in the positions of the countries of the region related to global interests and policies, and their reflection on the Palestinian issue and the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

As for the second session, it discussed the Palestinian political discourse at the international level, in light of the rapid regional and global changes, and the impact of the rising capabilities of new international powers such as the BRICS group on the multi-global, multi-polar international policies supporting the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue.

Today, Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested  a  13 years Palestinian child in occupied Jerusalem

The Prisoners' Affairs Authority reported that the occupation forces arrested the Jerusalemite child, Muhammad Najib (13 years old).

In a related context, the occupation forces withdrew from the Al-Salam suburb northeast of Jerusalem after storming and searching several homes.

The occupation forces, accompanied by police dogs, also stormed the house of Al-Maqdisi Muhammad Bakr Mustafa and his commercial shop in the town of Al-Issawiya, north of Jerusalem, and wreaked havoc on them, under the pretext of inspection.

Today, Tuesday, the Hamas movement called on the Presidency of the Palestinian Authority and the security services to immediately release all political detainees and stop continuing their detention.

In a statement, Hamas called on the authority to stop persecuting the resistance and the resistors, and to adhere to the choice of the Palestinian people to confront the occupation that races day and night to displace our people. According to the text of its statement.

Hamas warned what it described as the "influential movement" in power against continuing what it called its "national crime," stressing that our people's self-defense is a legitimate right that will continue as long as the occupation remains perched on our land and our sanctities. As stated in the text of its statement.

Today, Tuesday, the Israeli “Salem” court issued a ruling against the prisoner, Yasmine Tayseer Shaaban, from the town of Rummana in Jenin, to 72 months in prison.

According to the Mohjat Al-Quds Foundation, the court imposed a fine of 8,000 shekels on the prisoner Shaaban.

On Tuesday, male and female graduates in the Gaza Strip organized a protest in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), west of Gaza City, to demand the provision of job opportunities for them, in light of the difficult economic conditions that the Strip is going through due to the Israeli siege.

Participants in the protest raised slogans stressing their right to obtain jobs, holding the UNRWA administration responsible for the conditions of refugee graduates, and the necessity of activating United Nations laws that affirm the right of refugees to work.

A female graduate spoke on behalf of the participants, noting that there are 16,000 male and female graduates waiting for employment opportunities, stressing the right of Palestinian youth to live a decent life by obtaining a suitable job opportunity.

Meanwhile, human rights activist Salah Abdel Ati said that the sector is subjected to a siege that has disastrous repercussions on the economic situation, which has led to high unemployment rates, especially among young people.

Abdel Ati called on UNRWA to prepare a first aid program for graduates in the Gaza Strip, calling for supporting youth development projects and providing them with soft loans.

He called on UNRWA to open a serious dialogue with young people to ensure that they find job opportunities and provide a decent life.