"Our slogan is: Remove Suffering for everyone. The issue of Israel is about the occupation. We have no problems with religious beliefs; our problem is that Israel is illegally occupying our land. Since March 2005, we have honored a unilateral cease-fire. But Israel martyred 200 Palestinians, injured 1,200 and has detained 3,500. Many are under the age of sixteen. In the last two weeks Israel has killed twenty-five Palestinian and yet we have maintained the cease-fire. Israel does not recognize us and recognition takes both sides.
"Abbas has stated that we do recognize Israel , but there must be clear borders and Israel does not yet have them. The PA recognized Israel ten years ago but we Palestinians are detained in an open air prison. We resist the occupation which is our right guaranteed under International Law. International Law demands Israel withdraw to the 1967 borders, release the prisoners, and stop the assassinations, illegal wall and home demolitions.
"Hamas defines terrorism as a violation of the rights of others and their property. Bush defined terrorism as evil. We are weak with resources and our voice is not heard in the West, only the voice of America and Israel gets press. America asked us to hold democratic elections and we did. We thank everyone who was involved in our transparent and democratic elections. We did what the USA asked and now they are punishing our people. Democracies are supposed to respect and not intervene in what others want.
"We had democratic and transparent elections and how are we rewarded? By the EU and the USA who have cut funds to the poorest of people who live under occupation. Hamas suggested that the International community monitor all the financial aid to assure that it went to the people and not to Hamas. We offered this suggestion to the world and we have been ignored.
"We know there are people in Europe and America who will not allow us to go hungry. We believe aid and support are in Gods hands and not governments."
On March 24, 2007 , in Cairo , U.N. Chief Ban stated, "I believe this is a moment of gathering dynamism. Contacts between Israeli and Palestinian leaders have resumed, the Quartet has become more active… and there is a renewed determination in the Arab world to reinvigorate the 2002 (Saudi) peace initiative. Our challenge is to weave these strands of potential into a fabric of tangible progress."
The upcoming Riyadh summit is hope on the horizon that the National Unity Government in solidarity with the International community can bend the backs of Israel and the hawks in America to "weave these strands of potential" and begin the world again.
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