nly justice can bring peace to this land inhabited by two populations in conflict for too long… not bombs, the wall or checkpoints. Only justice brings security and all the so-called security measures adopted so far by Israel have had the contrary effect”, said to MISNA Claudette Habesch, secretary general of Caritas in the Holy Land, contacted by phone in Jerusalem a day after the release of the International
Labor Organisation (ILO) report on the social-economic situation in the Palestinian Territories.
“In East Jerusalem, in Gaza and the West bank – according to the Caritas humanitarian personnel – the economic situation worsens by the day. In Gaza, 70% of the around 1.4-million residents live on a dollar a day and in the West Bank 55%”, figures that reflect “the impossibility or great difficulty of ensuring the survival of ones family” added Claudette
Habesch, emphasizing that this leads “to a loss of dignity for those living without any prospect of employment or life”.
The main Caritas projects in the region therefore aim to creating jobs, even short term, though “also our activities are hindered by security measures decided by Israel”, continued Ms. Habesh, explaining, “our operators often do not obtain
authorization to transit between the two territories or spend hours blocked in traffic”.
In East Jerusalem, in Gaza and the West bank the economic situation worsens by the day. In Gaza, 70% of the around 1.4-million residents live on a dollar a day and in the West Bank 55%
Claudette Habesh, a Palestinian born and resident in East Jerusalem, exclaimed: “Imagine the humiliation to which Palestinians are subjected each time they have to travel for work, health or family reasons! Not to mention the fact that the institutions of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) are not able to operate efficiently given that some legislators and officials were arrested and imprisoned by Israel, while others, restricted from
traveling between Gaza and Ramallah, are forced to work by video-conference… the Israeli government is the strong part and the Palestinians the vulnerable, hostage of an unsustainable situation. In absence of hope, some are pushed to commit illegal and violent actions”.
Even Israeli peace groups, which Ms. Habesch collaborates with, have comprehended that “without justice there can be no peace”, explained to MISNA the Caritas secretary general, “the time has come to break this spiral of violence and work all together, Israelis and Palestinians, for a lasting peace with the support of the international community, starting from the ‘quartet’, which must finally decide whether to play a neutral and positive role in this conflict”.
According to Ms. Habesch, collaboration between the two populations is only feasible through “mutual understanding of one another, respect and the will to share what we have been given… because it takes two to make peace, one cannot make peace alone”.
Ms. Habesch explained that in reality the two populations have the same needs – security, peace, respect of civil rights, liberty, dignity and mutual recognition. “We will lose together if we continue on the usual path and win together if we stop with the excuse that the situation is too complicated to be resolved. Let’s work together before it is too late. Let’s hope together for an end to the conflict”, was the final appeal of the Caritas secretary general.
(From MISNA)