https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:08:12 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230710-chilean-football-team-wear-black-armbands-for-the-jenin-martyrs/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:04:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650989 WATCH: Palestinian youth choir sings in Italy while mourning the deaths of Palestinians in Jenin]]> 650989 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230604-i-worked-travelled-and-searched-a-lot-i-found-myself-in-palestine-says-chilean-businesswoman-elizabeth-kassis/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 08:15:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=641225 For Elizabeth Kassis, a Chilean woman of Palestinian descent, Palestine is much more than a land of her ancestors, it is a place of belonging, identity and history. She is passionate about Palestine and hopes to desire to do many things and with the courage to do anything for her people. Located on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Star Street, Kassis inaugurated the boutique Kassa Hotel in the occupied Palestinian city of Bethlehem. Situated within the historic Sabagh family home, which underwent a thoughtful restoration in 2016, almost 80 years after Elizabeth's father immigrated to Chile. The hotel is the first of its kind in the old city and reflects the traditional architecture of the Palestinian city as well […]]]> 641225 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230522-chile-municipalities-sign-twinning-agreements-with-hebron-in-occupied-west-bank/ Mon, 22 May 2023 09:54:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=638220 The head of Hebron Municipality, Tayseer Abu Sneeneh, signed twinning agreements on Sunday with Daniel Jadue and Gonzalo Riquelme, his counterparts from the Chilean municipalities of Recoleta and Macul in the capital Santiago. The agreements were signed within the framework of cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, waste recycling, dealing with stray animals, sport and housing. "Hebron deserves to be present on the world map," said Abu Sneeneh. He added that such agreements have positive impacts on the improvement of services due to Chilean expertise. "We made a tourist visit, but looked closely at the living conditions of the Palestinian people," explained Riquelme. "There are many challenges facing the Palestinian municipalities that we in Chile can help to solve […]]]> 638220 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230516-waves-of-solidarity-sweep-across-latin-america-on-75th-nakba-anniversary/ Tue, 16 May 2023 15:15:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637354 Solidarity activists across Latin America have marked the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba with talks, meetings, cultural activities, media interviews and social media campaigns. The Palestinian flag has been raised and people have chanted their support on the streets. Support for Palestine has been particularly strong in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela and Chile. Palestinians and their supporters around the world mark Nakba Day every year. The day has come to symbolise the struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate rights to their own land, homes and property; indeed, their legitimate right to their homeland. The Palestinian "Key of Return" was never an ordinary key. It speaks of the years of refugee status and suffering that Palestinians have endured. It […]]]> 637354 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230503-the-palestinian-cause-and-argentinas-equidistant-policy/ Wed, 03 May 2023 14:07:00 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=632759 Although geographically distant, Argentina has a history of solidarity with Palestine. Before the approval of the UN Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947, the South American country was a contender as a possible location for a "national home for the Jews". This idea appeared in Theodor Herzl's The Jewish State published in 1896. Argentina was identified as one of the options for the Zionist project, along with Palestine, due to the fertility of its lands and its small population at that time. According to the Zionist ideologue, Argentina was "one of the most fertile countries in the world, [that] extends over a vast area, has a sparse population, and a mild climate." Herzl believed that, "The Argentine Republic would derive […]]]> 632759 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230424-descendants-of-ottomans-in-latin-america-los-turcos/ Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:52:03 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=630888 Many Ottomans who migrated from the Ottoman Empire to Latin American countries in the 19th century in search of a better life and were described as "Los Turcos" (Turkish people) have achieved significant success in many fields from politics to business, from art to literature. There were various waves of migration from the Ottoman Empire to Latin America from 1860 to the end of World War I, while World War II forced even more people to migrate to Latin America. Some immigrants were first greeted by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and preferred to stay in Latin America, although they set off for the US hoping to see the Statue of Liberty. Immigrants who arrived […]]]> 630888 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230412-calls-for-brazil-to-look-for-paths-to-peace-in-jerusalem-the-middle-east/ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:58:30 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=628606 The Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil condemned the Israeli occupation's attacks against Palestinians praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the continuous storming of the site by Israeli settlers and the targeting of many young people in different cities of the occupied West Bank. The Arab ambassadors, who met on Saturday in Brasilia, urged the Brazilian government to play a more active role with the international community and search for paths to peace in the Middle East after Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Aqsa last Wednesday, fired stun grenades at Palestinians, injured dozens and arrested more than 400 worshippers. In a statement, they said: "The disproportionate use of violence by the Israeli forces is a desperate attempt by the Israeli government […]]]> 628606 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230411-chile-argentina-cuba-slam-israel-attacks-on-al-aqsa-mosque/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:15:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=628206 Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Cuba condemned the Israeli aggression on Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing that Israel must avoid escalating violence. In a statement reported by Quds Press, Argentina said: "Holy places in Jerusalem are designated for safe and peaceful prayers," calling for Israel to "respect the historical and religious status quo in this holy site." Meanwhile, Chile expressed its concerns about the violence which erupted "when the Israeli police stormed a place of worship and forcibly expelled the people who were inside it." It called for "avoiding such provocative actions because they lead to escalation of violence," reiterating the importance of respecting the religious historical status quo at holy site. For its part, the Mexican Foreign Ministry expressed its "deep worries about the use of […]]]> 628206 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230218-4-latin-america-countries-condemn-israels-decision-to-legalise-west-bank-settlements/ Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:00:57 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=615891 VII Cumbre de la @PPT_CELAC | Unidos, podemos tener una fuerza arrolladora. Para lograrlo, toda América Latina y el Caribe deben integrarse en una sola región que defienda los mismos intereses para el crecimiento de nuestros pueblos. pic.twitter.com/RcHqycwWLV — Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) January 25, 2023 It seems that the return of the left wing in Latin America has now begun to bear fruit after expectations that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Lula)'s victory will lead to a profound change in the political arena in Latin America and a real threat to US hegemony in the region. Internationally, a victory for Lula has represented the latest in a series of triumphs for a resurgent left wing in Latin America following […]]]> 615891 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230217-latin-american-governments-profoundly-worried-by-israels-west-bank-settlement-expansion/ Fri, 17 Feb 2023 18:17:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=615810 The governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico said on Friday they were "profoundly worried" by Israel's decision to expand settlements in the West Bank. "Our governments express their opposition to any action that compromises the viability of the two-state solution," they said in a joint statement, noting Israel's move violated international law and calling on both sides to resume talks and refrain from escalating the violence. READ: Israel preparing for 'major battle' against Gaza, media says]]> 615810 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221225-we-deeply-appreciate-this-historic-gesture-to-open-a-chilean-embassy-in-palestine-palestinian-community-in-chile-president-speaks-to-memo/ Sun, 25 Dec 2022 13:20:17 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=602658 Thirty-six-year-old Gabriel Boric, the youngest Chilean president ever to have been elected, has announced yesterday that his country will raise the level of its representation in the Palestinian territories to an embassy in order to establish bilateral relations between Palestine and Chile that are currently only represented by a the charge d'affaires. Among 10 Latin American countries, Chile will be the first country to open an embassy in Palestine while others have consulates and representative offices only "We are going to elevate the character of our official representation in Palestine as chargé d'affaires today, we are going to open an embassy in our government to give it the representation that corresponds," the Chilean president explained . The president also regretted […]]]> 602658 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221222-chile-to-open-embassy-in-palestine/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:27:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=602276 Chilean President Gabriel Boric has announced that during his presidency his country will raise the level of its representation in the Palestinian territories to an embassy. Boric made the announcement in a speech on Wednesday evening at a Christmas celebration with the Palestinian community in Santiago, during which he also stressed that Palestinians are "a people who exist, who resist, who have a history." Chile recognised Palestine as a state in 2011 and then supported its membership to UNESCO. It currently has a representative office with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, which was opened in April 1998. Palestine has an embassy in Santiago. The Palestinians in Chile have repeatedly organised huge demonstrations to protest against […]]]> 602276 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221120-club-deportivo-palestino-chile-palestine-solidarity-on-the-football-pitch/ Sun, 20 Nov 2022 13:56:19 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=595261 Anyone who watches Club Deportivo Palestino playing, or sees one of its shirts in official photographs, may think that it is a Palestinian football club. In a way, that's exactly what it is, and yet it is based in Chile, thousands of miles from occupied Palestine. It is Chile's own version of Palestine solidarity — on a football pitch. Chile has the largest Palestinian diaspora community in Latin America; the third or fourth largest in the world. There are 400,000 Palestinian Chileans now in their fourth or fifth generation; the sons and daughters of the pioneers who left the Middle East many years before the events that shredded their native land to pieces. The club attracts support not only in […]]]> 595261 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221114-mediterranean-marine-heat-waves-threaten-coastal-livelihoods/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 15:29:21 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=593369 A decade ago, Tunisian fisherman, Ahmed Chelli's nets bulged with fish and octopus that he sold at the local market in the Kerkennah islands. Today, he pulls up only "Isis" — the name locals have given to the blue crabs that have invaded their fishing grounds in the fast-warming waters of the Mediterranean. "The fisherman, … instead of finding fish to provide an income, he finds something that cuts his nets," Chelli complained. For more than 70 days this summer, a marine heat wave cooked the waters of the western Mediterranean. It was the worst swelter for the western part of the basin in the last four decades, said Marine Ecologist, Joaquim Garrabou, at Spain's Institute of Marine Sciences, who […]]]> 593369 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221027-chile-to-open-honorary-consulate-in-bethlehem/ Thu, 27 Oct 2022 10:46:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=589806 The Republic of Chile has announced its intention to open an honorary consulate in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The announcement was made during a meeting between Palestine's Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amal Jadou, and Chile's Deputy Foreign Minister Ximena Fuentes in Santiago, Wafa has reported. Jadou briefed the Chilean representatives on the latest political developments in Palestine, and the reality imposed by the Israeli occupation government on the ground in terms of violations, sieges and raids into Palestinian cities and villages, especially the city of Nablus. The city has been under Israeli siege for 16 days. She also mentioned the shoot to kill policy adopted by the occupation soldiers. Six Palestinians from Nablus and Ramallah […]]]> 589806 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220927-brazils-arab-latinos-project-seeks-to-strengthen-arab-latin-america-ties/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 12:18:45 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=582799 The acceptance of difference and respect for all, regardless of race or creed, are fundamental Brazilian values which have enabled immigrants to enter Brazil and blend into society with relative ease. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Arab migrants came mainly from the Levant: Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. According to the International Organisation for Migration, there are 13 million people of Arab descent living in Brazil. Those across Latin America are an example of a sizeable group of immigrants who have integrated successfully into the host cultures. This could still be costly, though, which is why the Arab Latinos project was launched in August at the Arab Brazilian Chamber headquarters in São Paulo, with the aim of strengthening ties and […]]]> 582799 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220924-blog-chiles-boric-wasted-an-opportunity-for-palestine-at-the-un-general-assembly/ Sat, 24 Sep 2022 12:35:25 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=582380 Chilean President Gabriel Boric may currently be the most outspoken leader in Latin America on Palestinian rights and Israeli violations. However, his rhetoric leaves much to be desired. It, in turn, raises questions about how Chile – the country with the largest Palestinian community in the region – can differentiate itself from other countries to become a model to follow, rather than following international consensus over the two-state compromise and Israel's security narrative. In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Boric spoke about Palestine's right to freedom and sovereignty while mangling his message by including a false equivalence with Israel that eliminates the colonial context. "[Palestinian people] should yield to their inalienable right to establish their […]]]> 582380 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220923-latin-americas-presidents-speak-loudly-for-palestinian-rights-at-the-united-nations/ Fri, 23 Sep 2022 08:05:22 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=582101 From 20 – 26 September, the United Nations General Assembly holds the 77th Session, where heads of State and Government come together at the UN Headquarters and discuss world issues. The majority of countries´ presidents talked about their country's political, social and economic affairs. On the other hand, some Latin American heads of State came out and spoke loudly, such as Chile's and Peru's Presidents, proclaiming the rights of the Palestinians and denouncing the persecution against them. The world's youngest leader, Chile's President Gabriel Boric, sounded the alarm on the violations of the Israeli occupations against Palestinian people. In his first speech at the UN, Chile's President urged the world "not to normalise the permanent violations of human rights against […]]]> 582101 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220917-chiles-palestinians-praise-borics-cancellation-of-israeli-ambassadors-credential-ceremony-and-look-forward-to-more/ Sat, 17 Sep 2022 15:02:06 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=580651 Thirty-six-year-old Gabriel Boric, the youngest Chilean president ever to have been elected, refused Thursday morning to receive Israel's new ambassador to Chile, Gil Artzyeli, who was summoned to the Chilean Presidential Palace to present his credential papers. The news was reported by Chilean newspaper Ex-Ante, however, the Chilean government denied this, stating that the presentation of the diplomatic letters had merely been postponed: "It is not that he was suspended, but that he was asked to postpone until the second week of October." Ex-Ante confirmed that the decision was taken into consideration: "Because of Israel killing children in the recent escalation in the West Bank and increased Israeli military activity against Palestinians." The Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response […]]]> 580651 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220917-israel-rebukes-chile-envoy-for-cancelling-ambassadors-credential-ceremony/ Sat, 17 Sep 2022 08:58:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=580613 The Israeli Foreign Ministry has summoned Chile's ambassador to rebuke him after Chilean President Gabriel Boric cancelled the credential ceremony for the new Israeli ambassador to Santiago, Israeli media reported on Friday. Gil Artzyeli, the new Israeli ambassador, was already at the presidential palace for a scheduled presentation when Chilean Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola told him that the ceremony had been postponed until October. This came following reports passed to Boric about Israel's killing of a Palestinian boy in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. "Israel views Chile's bizarre and unprecedented behaviour with severity," Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Emmanuel Nachshon shared on Friday. "This seriously harms relations between the two countries. Chile's ambassador to Israel was summoned to the Foreign […]]]> 580613 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220916-israel-to-reprimand-chile-for-snubbing-its-new-ambassador-to-santiago/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:12:27 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=580427 A diplomatic tussle intensified on Friday after Chile's President put off accepting the credentials of Israel's new ambassador to Santiago over the killing in the occupied West Bank of a Palestinian teenager, Reuters reports. In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry summoned Chilean ambassador, Jorge Carvajal, for what it called a reprimand at a meeting where, it said, "Israel's response will be made clear." The dispute began on Thursday when Chilean Foreign Minister, Antonia Urrejola, informed newly appointed Israeli Ambassador, Gil Artzyeli that Chilean President, Gabriel Boric, was postponing a meeting to accept his credentials until October. "That's because today is a sensitive day because of the death of a minor," a spokesperson from Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a text message, […]]]> 580427 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220916-chile-president-refuses-israeli-ambassadors-credentials-over-israels-killing-of-palestinians/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:47:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=580381 Chilean President, Gabriel Boric, yesterday refused to accept the credentials of new Israeli Ambassador, Gil Artzyeli, due to Israel's killing of Palestinians. Artzyeli had been scheduled to present his credentials to Boric as a formality, but the Chilean government informed him that the ceremony had been cancelled, before he was instructed to leave. According to Ynet News, the decision was made "because of Israel killing children" in the recent escalation in the West Bank and increased Israeli military activity against Palestinians. It comes as Israeli occupation forces killed yet another Palestinian boy in a dawn raid yesterday. Seventeen-year-old Uday Trad Salah was killed when Israeli troops stormed the town of Kafr Dan, in the Jenin district, and shot him in […]]]> 580381 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220810-how-did-latin-america-react-to-israels-latest-onslaught-on-gaza/ Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:56:46 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=572523 A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell justified the latest Israeli onslaught on Gaza by claiming, "While Israel has the right to protect its civilian population, everything must be done to prevent a broader conflict." The reality is that, as an occupying power, Israel has no right to cite "self-defence" when it kills and maims Palestinian men, women and children. Israel started its military offensive on 5 August by killing Islamic Jihad figure Tayseer Al-Jabari at his home in Gaza City. A ceasefire came into effect on Sunday evening after at least 45 Palestinians had been killed, including 15 children, and hundreds more had been wounded. Dozens of residential buildings were destroyed in the Israeli bombardment, which has […]]]> 572523 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220616-the-baladi-foundation-helping-arab-and-palestinian-refugees-integrate-into-chile/ Thu, 16 Jun 2022 12:34:35 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=562202 Historically, Chile has always been a destination for global migration, currently hosting around one million Arab refugees, many of whom cannot return to their countries of origin. Refugees often wait months, or even years, before receiving language training and other forms of integration support. It is not only the government looking to support refugees' integration: employers, immigrant associations, community organisations and unions all play a role. Among the institutions serving immigrant communities is the Baladi Foundation, founded and tailored to address the needs of refugees in society. The Baladi Foundation was established by a group of friends who felt the need to connect with Arab and Palestinian families arriving in Chile with no links to others in society. The foundation's […]]]> 562202 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220517-palestinians-and-their-supporters-across-latin-america-have-commemorated-the-nakba-anniversary/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:28:26 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=555914 Many events have been held across Latin America on the 74th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, both official and popular. The Nakba — Catastrophe — was the ethnic cleansing of Palestine and the creation of the Zionist state of Israel by terror gangs helped by the British Mandate authorities. More than 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes and villages at gunpoint. At least 500 Palestinian towns and villages have since been razed to the ground by Israel in the effort to Judaise historic Palestine. With more than 15,000 Palestinians killed during the Nakba, the refugees fled to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and neighbouring Arab countries. They and their descendants have never been allowed to fulfil their legitimate right […]]]> 555914 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220318-new-chile-president-calls-for-solidarity-with-palestine-like-that-for-ukraine/ Fri, 18 Mar 2022 13:31:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=544165 Chilean President Gabriel Boric called on the international community to show solidarity with Palestine as it has shown support for Ukraine. Speaking to Canal 13 Boric said: "We are monitoring what is happening in Ukraine, such as the attack on a children's hospital in the city of Mariupol, or the attack that targeted a military base 20 kilometres from Poland. We sympathise with the Ukrainian people because of war. However, there are a lot of other regions that witness other scourges, Palestine for example, nonetheless, we just see little solidarity." Boric explained that "Palestine has been occupied for a long time, and we do not know much about what is happening there." The president is a strong supporter of the Palestinians calling […]]]> 544165 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220217-keeping-palestinian-heritage-alive-in-chile/ Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:19:48 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=536611 Cultural appropriation is just one way in which the Israeli occupation seeks to eradicate Palestinian heritage. This is very obvious when it comes to food, with hummus being claimed as an "Israeli" dish, for example. In fact, the backstory of Palestinian grandparents' favourite dishes is often erased in the Zionist narrative imposed upon occupied Palestine. Food, therefore, is a very popular way to preserve Palestinian culture and heritage, as Palestinian Chilean Chef Sofia Halabi explained to me recently. "I try to keep our Palestinian heritage alive on the other side of the world through our cuisine," she said. "It's is an essential part of who we are, and is an ideal way of remembering our roots." Halabi feels responsible for […]]]> 536611 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220209-turkiye-researchers-set-foot-in-antarctic-for-6th-polar-expedition/ Wed, 09 Feb 2022 18:00:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=534223 After leaving Istanbul late last month to do scientific research as part of the country's 6th Antarctic expedition, a Turkish research team set foot in the world's coldest continent on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports. The journey, which took nearly three weeks including seven days' quarantine in Puerto Williams, Chile, started on 21 January in Istanbul, Turkiye, a city with a population of 15.5 million. The 20-member team of Turkiye's 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition reached Puerto Williams – population 2,900 – via Madrid, Spain after 22 hours of flights, three transfers and a 33-hour wait. READ: Iran races against time to revive vanishing wetlands After seven days' quarantine in Chile to protect against COVID-19, the expedition team arrived at […]]]> 534223 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211229-the-elected-president-has-always-defended-the-human-rights-in-our-ancestors-homeland-says-maurice-khamis-massu-president-of-the-palestinian-community-in-chile/ Wed, 29 Dec 2021 15:27:20 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=523005 In Chile, where the largest population of Palestinians in Latin America resides, the Leftist candidate Gabriel Boric has won Chile's presidential election after he defeated his far-right rival José Antonio Kast by 10 points. 35-year-old Boric's victory represents a major revival for Chile's progressive left. The President-elect, Gabriel Boric, is known to be a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and defender of human rights, which are being continuously violated in the Occupied Territories. More than once, Boric branded Israel as a "genocidal" and "murderous" state, including during an interview during his campaign: "It doesn't matter how much power that country has, we need our foreign policy to defend human rights with all its might, regardless of the government," Boric […]]]> 523005 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211130-latin-american-officials-join-parliamentarians-for-al-quds-conference/ Tue, 30 Nov 2021 11:34:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=516278 A delegation of parliamentarians from Latin America arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara today to take part in the two-day Parliamentarians for Al-Quds conference. The President of the Association of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds in Latin America, Ahmed Said Murad, from Brazil joined the delegation, along with Congresswoman in the Parliament of Mercosur Julie Berry, the Bolivian Minister of Justice Virginia Valasco, Uruguayan Congresswoman Sandra Lazo, Chilean Congressman Sergio Gahona, Mexican Congresswoman Julieta Ramirez, Congresswoman from Guatamala Andrea Villagren, and Brazilian Congresswoman Perpetua Almeida. Arriving following an invitation by the Turkish government, the officials will attend a conference, which aims to enhance efforts to support Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause by activating the role of parliamentarians locally, regionally and internationally. In […]]]> 516278 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210719-grandson-of-palestine-immigrant-not-elected-as-chiles-presidential-hopeful/ Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:32:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=483846 Daniel Jadue, mayor of Recoleta in Chile's capital Santiago and grandson of a Palestinian immigrant, yesterday lost in his bid to be a major contender in November's presidential election. Presidential primaries left 35-year-old leftist former student leader Gabriel Boric with 60 per cent of the vote pushing Jadue out of the running. On the right, 43-year-old independent Sebastian Sichel, a former Cabinet minister and president of Chile's Banco del Estado who sports a tattoo of a trout on his forearm and began the race as an underdog, bested conservative mayor and two-time presidential candidate Joaquin Lavin, taking 49 per cent of the vote in a four-way primary, Reuters reports. Nearly 97 per cent of the vote had been counted by 9 pm (01.00 GMT). The May […]]]> 483846 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210624-grandson-of-palestine-immigrant-is-chiles-presidential-hopeful/ Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:04:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=479870 Daniel Jadue, mayor of Recoleta in Chile's capital Santiago and grandson of a Palestinian immigrant, is close to assuming the presidency in Chile. Jadue, who is outspoken about the fight for Palestine's freedom, traces his roots to the town of Beit Jala in the occupied West Bank and has been active in the cause since he was 11. Jadue spent a part of his youth working with the General Union of Palestinian students in Chile. The candidate joined the union in 1978 at just 11 years old and worked in the information and communication offices. Over the next few years, he joined the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). He went on to lead the General Union from 1987 to […]]]> 479870 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210510-chiles-club-deportivo-palestino-stands-in-solidarity-with-jerusalem/ Mon, 10 May 2021 09:59:28 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=469898 Solidarity with the Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and the people of occupied Jerusalem is being shown in many ways. Club Deportivo Palestino in Chile's Premier League expressed its solidarity with the team wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh before the game against Colo-Colo on Saturday. The football club was founded in Chile in 1920 by Palestinian immigrants in the city of Osorno, in the south of the country. It is known as Palestine's "second national team". According to club president Jorge Uauy, it is important to show solidarity with Palestinians in Jerusalem. "Palestine is an important part of our identity as a team," he told me. "Palestinian symbols, such as the keffiyeh, show the connection we have to our motherland .We need […]]]> 469898 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200922-more-than-a-team-it-is-an-entire-people-100-years-of-palestinian-football-in-chile/ Tue, 22 Sep 2020 10:16:22 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=423822 While some Arab countries were celebrating their normalisation deals with Israel and Google was removing Palestine from its maps, Club Deportivo Palestino in Chile was celebrating its centenary. One hundred years of Palestinian identity in a South American country suggests the continued failure of Israel and its brutal military occupation to erase Palestinian identity, and obliterate the very existence of the Palestinian people. One of the most unique football clubs in the world, Club Deportivo Palestino was founded in Chile on 20 August, 1920, by Palestinian immigrants in the city of Osorno, in the south of Chile. The club is known as Palestine's "second national team". On such a special occasion, a commemorative club jersey was produced with the legend, […]]]> 423822 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200908-lebanon-judge-starts-questioning-witnesses-ministers-in-blast-probe/ Tue, 08 Sep 2020 11:45:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=421016 Investigating Judge Fadi Sawwan has started questioning witnesses as well as former and current ministers as part of a probe into the causes behind the 4 August Beirut blast, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. Sawwan yesterday questioned four witnesses to the explosion and is set to hear testimonies from other bystanders today. The lead investigating judge has also reportedly questioned caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab over his involvement in the blast and will start probing other former and current ministers in the coming days. Diab and his cabinet were forced to resign in the aftermath of the explosion after documents came to light claiming that he, President Michel Aoun and former government ministers, were aware the highly explosive substance was stored in the port […]]]> 421016 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200904-rescuer-signs-of-life-detected-under-rubble-a-month-after-beirut-blast/ Fri, 04 Sep 2020 07:47:17 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=420158 Rescue workers in Lebanon detected signs of life on Thursday in the rubble of a building in a residential area of Beirut that collapsed after a huge Aug. 4 explosion at a nearby port, rescue workers said, Reuters reports. The state news agency NNA reported in the early evening that a team with a rescue dog had detected movement under a destroyed building in the Gemmayze area, one of the worst-hit by the blast that killed about 190 people and injured 6,000 others. "These (signs of breathing and pulse) along with the temperature sensor means there is a possibility of life," rescue worker Eddy Bitar told reporters at the scene. After several hours of digging through rubble, however, the operation […]]]> 420158 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200713-hamas-praises-chile-for-stand-against-israels-annexation-of-west-bank/ Mon, 13 Jul 2020 09:08:12 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=409926 The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement has praised the resolution passed by the Senate in Chile calling for a boycott of all Israeli goods in response to the planned annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank. The lawmakers in Chile approved a resolution urging President Sebastian Pinera Echenique to pass a boycott law to ban commercial activity with companies operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem urged all governments to turn their opposition to the annexation plan into practical steps by imposing sanctions on the Israeli occupation and prosecuting its leaders. The growing international rejection of the Israeli annexation move confirms that the US and Israel are isolated in their current position, Qasem stressed. READ: Chile […]]]> 409926 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200710-chile-senate-approves-resolution-to-adopt-law-boycotting-settlement-goods/ Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:05:16 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=409687 The Chilean Senate last week approved a resolution calling on President Sebastian Pinera Echenique to adopt a law boycotting settlement goods and banning commercial activity with companies that operate in the occupied Palestinian territories. The motion passed on 30 June with 29 votes in favour and six abstentions, no votes were cast against the move. The resolution also called on the government to promote legislation that would ban all Israeli settlement products; prohibit any company involved in the Israeli occupation from benefiting from any agreement or bid signed by Chile; apply tourism guidelines for Israel and Palestine that would not allow the promotion of trips to Israel using pictures of East Jerusalem or Bethlehem "among other Palestinian cities"; forbid any kind of cooperation, […]]]> 409687 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200705-chiles-telephone-tower-lighted-with-palestinian-kufiyeh/ Sun, 05 Jul 2020 09:54:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=408991 As Israel moves closer to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank, solidarity in the Global South has been gaining momentum. On 2 July Chile's Telephone Tower was lighted with the Palestinian kufiyeh in support of the Palestinian people and rejection of the annexation plan. Chile, the country with the largest population of Palestinians in Latin America, directed their gesture of support to the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories. Chile was not alone in its solidarity efforts; representatives from most Latin American countries signed a joint statement against Israel's annexation plan. The document was released on 2 July by more than 320 public figures. Among them, former presidents, parliamentarians, ministers, academics and artists. They called upon the international […]]]> 408991 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200609-chile-slams-israels-annexation-plan-as-dangerous/ Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:44:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=405353 Chilean Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera has slammed the Israeli plan to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank as a "dangerous step with unpredictable consequences" on achieving a just and peaceful, Wafa news agency reported yesterday. Ribera stressed that annexation would hinder any peace settlement for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-state solution based on United Nations resolutions. In a letter sent to his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Al-Malki, Ribera stressed that the government of Chile is following with great interest and concern the impending Israeli plans. He reiterated his country's unwavering stance towards the Palestinian cause and stressed its commitment without restrictions to international law and UN resolutions, adding that Chile supports all efforts toward achieving a long-lasting peace and respecting […]]]> 405353 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200309-a-policeman-a-pastor-and-a-palestinian-the-chilestinians-as-a-model-for-palestinian-unity/ Mon, 09 Mar 2020 18:18:41 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=390974 I was only introduced to the term 'Chilestinians' last February at a conference in Istanbul, during a presentation by the Director of the Palestinian Federation of Chile, Anuar Majluf. When Majluf referred to the well-rooted Palestinian community in Chile, who number between 450,000 and half a million, using that unfamiliar and peculiar phrase, I smiled. Others did, too. It is quite rare that a conference on Palestine, anywhere, would include such an upbeat atmosphere as that introduced by the Chilean-Palestinian leader, as the current discourse on Palestine is one that is saturated with a deepening sense of political failure, disunity, and betrayal. I say 'Chilean-Palestinian' for the sake of convenience because, later on, I realized that the term 'Chilestinians' was […]]]> 390974 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191218-pompeo-expresses-support-for-arsenal-player-in-criticism-of-chinas-treatment-of-uyghurs/ Wed, 18 Dec 2019 07:59:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=376819 376819 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191025-palestinianised-chileans-revolt-against-their-israelised-government/ Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:55:36 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=368882 Watching Chilean President Sebastián Pinera brutally cracking down on protestors in the capital Santiago, I begin to recollect reflections of Israeli activists and author Jeff Halper. In his 2015 book, "War Against the People", the former director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, suggested that people across the world exercising their democratic right to challenge their governments' misrule were becoming "Palestinianised" and the rulers were becoming "Israelised". Halper's thesis, which seems more relevant now than ever as restive populations across continents question the policies of their governments, advanced the idea that our planet has entered a stage of "permanent emergency".  According to Halper, the current global capitalist system is in crisis. Millions of people are disillusioned with politics and […]]]> 368882 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190724-chile-doctors-carry-out-surgeries-in-gaza/ Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:31:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=354832 A Chilean team of orthopaedic surgeons is carrying out urgent operations in the European Hospital in southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, Al-Resalah newspaper reported yesterday. Doctor Lautaro Campos headed the team which arrived in the Strip on Friday and is expected to leave tomorrow evening. In a statement, the Palestinian orthopaedic surgeon Jamal Abu-Hilal said that the three-member team carried out 16 surgeries and they are expected to carry out 30 more. This week, our volunteer orthopedic surgery team from Argentina arrived in Gaza to provide surgery for in-need children. The team screened over 80 children on their first day, scheduling 44 for surgery. We are honored to work with these great surgeons from South America. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Iqp8Hi2FHd — […]]]> 354832 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190630-israel-releases-palestines-jerusalem-affairs-minister/ Sun, 30 Jun 2019 14:21:34 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=350688 Israeli police released Palestinian Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, Fadi Al-Hadami today, shortly after being detained from his home in East Jerusalem, as reported by Anadolu Agency.  Israeli forces arrested Hadami during a dawn raid and searched his home, lawyer Muhannad Jabara said. Israeli police gave no reason for the minister's arrest. "He was arrested as a result of pressure by the Israeli right-wing on the Israeli government after Hadami joined the Chilean president's tour in Al-Aqsa Mosque," Jabara said in a statement. READ: Israel censures Chile President after Al-Aqsa visit Hamadi had accompanied Chilean President Sebastian Pinera during a visit on Tuesday to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The visit has angered the Israeli government, which summoned the Chilean ambassador to […]]]> 350688 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190626-israel-censures-chile-president-after-al-aqsa-visit/ Wed, 26 Jun 2019 14:03:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=350043 The Israeli Foreign Ministry has rebuked Chilean President Sebastián Piñera for visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem in "violation of protocol and clear agreements," Haaretz reported. Piñera yesterday visited Al-Aqsa while accompanied by Palestinian officials, which, according to the Foreign Ministry, went against an earlier agreement with Chile. They added that "one must separate between complete religious freedom, which Israel insists on upholding, and the maintenance of our sovereignty over the Temple Mount." Foreign officials normally coordinate their visits to Al-Aqsa with Israeli officials. For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site after Makkah and Medina. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount", claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient […]]]> 350043 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181210-chile-declares-support-for-bds-illegal/ Mon, 10 Dec 2018 16:04:44 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=319035 319035 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181129-erekat-applauds-chile-for-standing-by-palestinian-rights/ Thu, 29 Nov 2018 09:42:33 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=317030 Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat, yesterday applauded the Chilean parliament for standing by Palestinian rights in a resolution it passed calling on its government to review all agreements between Chile and Israel to ensure they respect the 1967 borders. At the invitation of the PLO, a delegation of 11 Chilean lawmakers, from all the political parties represented in the parliament, visited the occupied Palestinian territories in September. The Chilean parliament voted, on Tuesday, 99 in favour to seven against with 31 abstentions on a resolution, which called on its government to review agreements with Israel to ensure that there are specific references to the borders of the State of Israel and their applicability to […]]]> 317030 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180511-chile-supports-palestines-right-to-independence/ Fri, 11 May 2018 08:45:28 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=288753 Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has expressed his support for efforts to establish a "free, independent, sovereign state" during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "Palestine has the right and the support of Chile to be a free, independent, sovereign and autonomous country, and the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination," he said. Chile supported the accession of Palestine to UNESCO in 2011 and to the status of observer state at the United Nations during Pinera's first presidential term. Pinera was the first Chilean president to visit occupied Ramallah. Santiago was the first country to have a diplomatic representation with the Palestinian Authority in 1998 and officially recognised the State of Palestine since January 2011. Read: Israel and Chile are […]]]> 288753 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180510-abbas-arrives-in-chile-for-official-visit/ Thu, 10 May 2018 10:28:23 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=288631 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday arrived in the Chilean capital of Santiago as part of a two-day official visit. Abbas is scheduled to meet with his Chilean counterpart, Sebastian Benireira, as well as a number of officials to discuss issues of common interest, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Abbas began an official tour of Latin America starting with Venezuela on Sunday. He is expected to visit Cuba later. The Palestinian president's adviser for foreign and international affairs, Nabil Shaath, said Abbas' visit aims to mobilise more political support for the Palestinian cause. Read: Israel and Chile are partners in the oppression of their indigenous populations]]> 288631