Latest news with #OccupiedPalestinian
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
France says it obtains Palestinian reform pledge ahead of conference
PARIS (Reuters) -France said on Tuesday it had obtained new commitments from the Palestinian Authority to reform, ahead of a conference next week at which Paris could become the most prominent Western power to back recognition of an independent Palestinian state. President Emmanuel Macron has received a letter from Mahmoud Abbas in which the Palestinian president condemns the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack against Israel, calls on all hostages to be released and pledges further reforms, the Elysee said. Abbas, 89, has headed the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority since the death of veteran leader Yasser Arafat in 2004. The PA exercises limited self rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank but lost control of Gaza to its rivals Hamas since 2007. It has previously condemned Hamas for the attack that provoked the Gaza war and has called for the militant group to be disarmed in a future settlement. The letter to Macron, who is working on organising an international conference with Saudi Arabia to discuss recognition of Palestine, contains "unprecedented" pledges, Macron's office said, without elaborating. "Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces, which will oversee their removal outside the Occupied Palestinian territory, with Arab and international support," the French leader's office quoted Abbas as having written in the letter. Israel has said it will not accept any role for the PA in Gaza after the war and has denounced countries that consider recognising Palestinian independence, which it says would reward Hamas for its attacks. French officials have said Macron is leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state ahead of the U.N. conference which France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting from June 17-20.
The Journal
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Drafting of bill to ban imports from Occupied Palestinian territories to get greenlight
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS is to seek Cabinet approval today for a bill to ban imports from the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian territories. The bill in its original form would have banned all trade with illegally occupied territories, including illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. The revised bill, however, is not expected to cover services, just goods. The government has faced consistent criticism from opposition parties and pro-Palestine activists for its failure to pass the Occupied Territories bill, which was first introduced in 2018. The government's own version of the bill comes after Harris said it was the government's analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most, if not all, of the original bill's provisions in order to bring it in line with the Constitution and to try to reduce the risk of EU infringement procedures. It is understood that Harris will tell his Cabinet colleagues this morning that Israel's humanitarian blockade and renewed bombardment of Gaza has resulted in a situation of unprecedented gravity. While Ireland does minimal trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Tánaiste will say that the government has been resolute in its determination to use every lever available to end the war in the Middle East. He will say there is now growing support at EU level on issues where Ireland demonstrated early leadership with a small group of partners, including on the review of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement which now take place. Advertisement Harris will tell ministers that it is the government's desire to pursue a twin track approach, seeking to build support at a European level to ensure compliance with international law, while advancing domestic legislation, which he hopes the relevant Oireachtas committee can begin to scrutinise in June. Last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the EU Israel Association Agreement with Israel should be suspended now, pending the review agreed by EU foreign ministers. He said this would be 'a sign that there can be no business as usual'. Martin said there is absolutely 'no justification in any shape or form' for Israel's actions which is causing immense death and destruction to an entire population. Inflicting hunger on a civilian population 'clearly constitutes a war crime', he said. Tariff threats and CETA controversy Separately, harris will also update Cabinet today on the latest trade developments after a threatened 50% tariff on the EU was paused by US President Donald Trump until 9 July. The Tánaiste will tell colleagues that the halfway mark of the original 90-day pause has now passed, meaning there are just 43 days left for the EU and the US to engage in meaningful and substantive negotiations aimed at reaching a deal. He will outline that the EU has shared with the US its ideas for an 'EU-US Agreement on Reciprocal Mutually Beneficial Trade'. Related Reads Opinion: We don't need a new Occupied Territories Bill – improve this one and pass it quickly Occupied Territories Bill to be replaced by new legislation, Martin confirms FactCheck: The Occupied Territories Bill will not ban all trade between Israel and Ireland This proposal includes options aimed at reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, promoting economic security, as well as facilitating strategic purchases, business opportunities and investment. The Tánaiste will also ask Cabinet to approve the drafting of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 which will allow for the ratification of the EU-Canada trade deal, known as CETA. Harris will point out that in his view, CETA is an important part of Ireland's market diversification strategy. However, CETA has been mired in controversy, with 10 member states declining to ratify it . The Irish Supreme Court ruled that ratification of CETA would be unconstitutional in the absence of a change to Irish domestic legislation. The ruling stated that a referendum could be avoided on the matter if legislation were introduced, but the court said that was a matter for the government. Finally, the Tánaiste will ask ministers to approve the participation of the Defence Forces in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a further period of 12 months. Ireland's participation in UNIFIL represents the State's largest overseas deployment, with 345 Defence Forces personnel currently serving as part of a joint Irish-Polish Battalion in Southern Lebanon. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Dubai Eye
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Protesters occupy Trump Tower following arrest of Columbia student
Scores of demonstrators led by a Jewish organisation poured into the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City on Thursday to protest the arrest and detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, whom the Trump administration aims to deport over his pro-Palestinian activism. The arrest of Khalil, who is in immigration custody in Louisiana after his arrest in New York on Saturday, has sparked an outcry by Democratic lawmakers, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian territories, and civil liberty advocates, among others. Jewish Voice for Peace carried out Thursday's demonstration. The group said it was "taking over the Trump Tower to register our mass refusal". "We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalise Palestinians and all those calling for an end to the Israeli government's US-funded genocide of the Palestinian people," the group said in a post on X. Trump Tower, located on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, is home to the Trump Organisation and where President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump own a penthouse apartment. Their son, Barron, has been living there since beginning his freshman year at New York University in the fall. At least 150 protesters gathered at Trump Tower, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, the New York Police Department estimated. Images on social media showed demonstrators surrounding the property. Video showed police arresting some of the protesters. The NYPD said 98 arrests were made. Kaz Daughtry, the deputy mayor for public safety, said on Fox News that there were no injuries and all the protesters had been removed from the building. The Trump Organisation did not immediately provide comment. By arresting Khalil on Saturday, the Trump administration began fulfilling its campaign promise to deport foreign-born activists who participated in the wave of protests on US college campuses last year. The protests followed Israel's military assault on Gaza, which came after the October 2023 attack by Hamas. Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the United States, has been a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian student movement at Columbia, perhaps the most prominent of the dozens of US universities where demonstrations erupted last year.
Reuters
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Protesters occupy Trump Tower following arrest of Columbia student
March 13 (Reuters) - Scores of people poured into the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City on Thursday to protest the arrest and detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, whom the Trump administration aims to deport over his pro-Palestinian activism. The arrest of Khalil, who is in immigration custody in Louisiana after his arrest in New York on Saturday, has sparked an outcry by Democratic lawmakers, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian territories, and civil liberty advocates, among others. Jewish Voice for Peace, which describes itself as a progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization, carried out Thursday's demonstration. The group said it was "taking over the Trump Tower to register our mass refusal." "We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalize Palestinians and all those calling for an end to the Israeli government's US-funded genocide of the Palestinian people," the group said in a post on X. Trump Tower, located on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, is home to the Trump Organization and where President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump own a penthouse apartment. Their son, Barron, has been living there since beginning his freshman year at New York University in the fall. At least 150 protesters gathered at Trump Tower, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, the New York Police Department estimated. Images on social media showed demonstrators carrying signs saying: "FIGHT NAZIS NOT STUDENTS" and "FREE MAHMOUD FREE PALESTINE." Video showed police arresting some of the protesters. The NYPD was not able to confirm how many arrests were made. Kaz Daughtry, the deputy mayor for public safety, said on Fox News that there were no injuries and all the protesters had been removed from the building. The Trump Organization did not immediately provide comment. By arresting Khalil on Saturday, the Trump administration began fulfilling its campaign promise to deport foreign-born activists who participated in the wave of protests on U.S. college campuses last year. The protests followed Israel's military assault on Gaza, which came after the October 2023 attack by the militant group Hamas, which controlled the Palestinian enclave. Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the United States, has been a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian student movement at Columbia, perhaps the most prominent of the dozens of U.S. universities where demonstrations erupted last year. Trump branded Khalil a "Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student" on social media and has said his arrest is the first "of many to come."
