The Governor of Qalqilya in the Palestinian Authority, Hussam Abu Hamda, met today with the Dutch Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, Michel Rentenaar, and used the meeting to present a series of allegations against Israel and Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. During the meeting, the governor accused Israel of harming Palestinian Authority residents and called on countries around the world to support the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Governor: “Israel Has Given Settlers Free Rein”
During the meeting, Abu Hamda claimed that “the Israeli government and the occupation army have given settlers free rein to carry out acts of sabotage, destruction and assault against our people and their property.”
He further claimed that the district was suffering from “the policies of annexation and expansion pursued by the occupation” and accused Israel of continuously harming Palestinian Authority residents.
The governor called on the countries of the free world to “stand alongside Palestinian rights” and “enable our people to establish their independent state with holy Jerusalem as its capital.”
Tour of the Qalqilya Area and Allegations Against Jewish Communities
The governor and ambassador subsequently toured the Qalqilya area, including sections of what Abu Hamda described as the “racist separation wall.” During the tour, the governor presented what he characterized as its “devastating consequences for the Qalqilya district.”
The tour also included observations of what he described as “the ongoing expansion of settlements in the area” and the accompanying “violations and restrictions imposed on citizens” of the Palestinian Authority.
Ambassador: “The Legitimate Rights of the Palestinian People”
The ambassador thanked the governor for his hospitality and the information presented to him, emphasized the “legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” and expressed hope for peace in the region.
During the visit, the two also met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and members of the Palestinian Youth Council, discussing the district’s economic, commercial and social conditions.
Questions and Answers
Who met during the visit to Qalqilya?
Qalqilya Governor Hussam Abu Hamda met with Dutch Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Michel Rentenaar. The two also toured the Qalqilya area and met with local representatives.
What did the Qalqilya governor claim during the meeting?
Abu Hamda accused the Israeli government and the IDF of responsibility for what he described as acts of sabotage, destruction and assault by Jewish settlers. He also alleged that Israel was pursuing a policy of “annexation and expansion” in the area.
What did the governor demand from the international community?
The governor called on countries of the free world to support “Palestinian rights” and enable the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
What did the governor and ambassador’s tour include?
The two toured the Qalqilya area, including sections of Israel’s security barrier, and examined what the governor described as the consequences of the barrier and the expansion of Jewish communities in the area. They also met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and members of the Palestinian Youth Council.