Gaza, June 16, 2009
Dr. Eyad El Sarraj, President of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, and President of the Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace-International, met today with ex-President Carter as part of a delegation representing civil, business and academic sectors. The gathering took place at the headquarters of UNWRA and intended to highlight the suffering of Palestinians in the context of an ongoing siege and in the aftermath of the Israeli war on Gaza.
President Carter expressed his solidarity with the residents of Gaza and voiced deep concern over the destructive impact of the war and the diverse negative consequences it produced. He also indicated his worries over the internal Palestinian, conflict hindering the peace process. Without an agreement between parties, he said that nothing will move forward.
President Carter went on to decry human rights violations inflicted by all groups, and demanded that all forms of abuse come to a halt.
Referring to President Obama, he applauded him for his genuine commitment to advance the peace process and establish a Palestinian state side by side with Israel.
For his part, Dr. El-Sarraj announced his personal gratitude for President Carter’s visit. Referring to the Israeli-Arab conflict, Dr. El-Sarraj suggested the most concise description of the choices ahead comes from the title of President Carter’s book,” Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.” In the book, the President both sounds a warning and lays out an agenda to achieve justice and peace.
Dr. El-Sarraj suggested that the siege represents a decision, not only by the Israeli government but also by the Bush administration, with support from Arab regimes. The time has come to revamp this policy via tangible changes on actions on the ground, not just words and slogans.
President Carter expressed his particular interest in the social and psychological well-being of Gazans who have endured a brutal war and a protracted siege. He emphasized that Mrs. Carter intends to visit the Gaza Community Health Programme in August to see the mental health situation of Palestinians in Gaza.
At the end of the meeting, the delegation thanked President Carter for his decision to come to Gaza and to once again give evidence of his abiding friendship.
