Embassy of the State of Palestine

Palestine have made history by securing their first ever spot at the AFC
Asian Cup after defeating the Philippines 1-0 in the final of the AFC
Challenge Cup.

The Palestinians secured the 16th and final berth at Asia's biggest
football tournament through a second half free-kick from the tournament’s
leading scorer, Ashraf Al Fawaghra, to slot into Group D of the 2015
competition to be held in Australia.

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) – All Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Israeli custody since April 24 have been evacuated to hospitals after their health deteriorated seriously, a lawyer said.
Over 200 Palestinian prisoners are currently on hunger strike in Israeli jails in solidarity with dozens of administrative detainees who have been refusing meals since April 24.

Strikers are demanding Israel stop imprisoning Palestinians without charge or trial in a procedure known as "administrative detention," a policy based on legislation from the British Mandate period

Housing Minister Uri Ariel said on the eve of Jerusalem Day that there won't be any more freezes on construction in Jerusalem or the West Bank.

'We will not come to terms with the delays and restrictions [on construction] in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and we will continue to build in all parts of our land,' Ariel said at a Jerusalem Day ceremony at Mercaz Harav Yeshiva on Tuesday night.
'Jerusalem will never again be divided. Between the Jordan River and the sea, there will be only one state –the State of Israel,' Ariel said."

Israel on Monday approved plans for 50 new settler homes in annexed East Jerusalem as Pope Francis wrapped up a visit to the region, city officials said.
"The municipality has given the green light to build 50 new housing units in five buildings in Har Homa," city Councillor Yosef Pepe Alalu told AFP

BETHLEHEM, May 25, 2014 (WAFA) – Received in an official ceremony by President Mahmoud Abbas, Pope Francis I of the Catholic Church said in his statement:
“In expressing my closeness to those who suffer most from this conflict, I wish to state my heartfelt conviction that the time has come to put an end to this situation which has become increasingly unacceptable. For the good of all, there is a need to intensify efforts and initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for a stable peace based on justice, on the recognition of the rights of every individual, and on mutual security.”

B'TSelem in a press release issued May 20th, reported that findings refute the military's claim that no live ammunition was fired in the incident

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, stated: “In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the deliberate execution of two Palestinian teenagers (Mohammad Mahmoud Odeh and Nadeem Siam Nawara) who were fatally shot with live ammunition outside Ofer Prison last week. Both boys were unarmed and posed no direct or immediate threat.”
“Israel’s use of excessive and indiscriminate violence and live ammunition at non-violent Palestinian demonstrations constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.”

The chief Palestinian negotiator has delivered a stinging rebuke to Australia for possible ''complicity in ongoing Israeli violations'' of international law, after the Australian ambassador met a senior Israeli minister in East Jerusalem.

Saeb Erakat, head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation's negotiation arm, has warned Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that the meeting may be deemed as ''aiding and abetting … illegal Israeli policies''.

"We will lay the responsibility for the hunger strikers on the ambassadors and consuls and we will call upon them to urgently take measures before the situation reaches an explosive level both inside and outside the prisons," Minister Issa Qaraqe said on Sunday.

Speaking to the Palestinian local news agency Quds Net, Qaraqe said that about 150 Palestinian prisoners are in an open-ended hunger strike; most of them are administrative detainees. He expected more prisoners to join the strike.

Palestine will urge delegates at next month's FIFA Congress to take sanctions against Israel while it continues to act "like the neighbourhood bully", FA president Jibril Rajoub said on Tuesday.

Rajoub, speaking at the Soccerex Asian Forum being held on the banks of the Dead Sea, said the relationship between the two Middle East neighbours had seriously deteriorated following the recent arrest of a Palestine footballer and the shooting of two other players.