LOC20:24
17:24 GMT
VIENNA, June 16 (KUNA) -- A Palestinian MP described the situations in Gaza
Strip Thursday as "far worse than the former apartheid in South Africa."
"Israel turned Gaza Strip into the world's largest prison as the area has 1.
4 million population," said Mustafa Al-Barghouthi, independent member of the
Palestinian Legislative Council (parliament).
"The living conditions in the area are tragic and can turn to be a
humanitarian crisis," he warned in a conference on dialogue in Salzburg, west
Austria.
"Over 90 percent of the Palestinian population in the area live below the
poverty line, and more than 75 percent of the Palestinian workforce are
jobless and have no source of living," Al-Barghouthi complained.
Meanwhile, the independent parliamentarian held Hamas and Fatah responsible
for the political divide in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, terming the standoff
as "the worst" in the history of the Palestinian people.
He urged reunification of the Palestinian rank and preservation of nascent
democracy in order to prepare the ground for a viable independent state of
Palestine.
"The only solution for the political standoff lies in halt of struggle
(between the two rival movements) and the formation of a national unity
government to prepare for a new elections under international supervision," he
recommended.
He voiced disappointment at the EU and US policies towards the
Palestinians.
"Washington does not adopt a constructive policy towards the Palestine
cause as it boycotted the sacked national unity government formed by Fatah and
Hamas. It follows a policy always bias towards Israel.
"Though it is the major donor to the Palestinians, the EU failed adopt a
single strong position towards the sacked government," Al-Barghouthi
regretted. (end)
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