27 December 2009, marks the first anniversary of Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip. The unlawful blockade imposed by Israel continues, and is in its Fourth year , producing further deterioration of the entire civilian population situation since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead against the territory on 27 December 2008, and maintained its military attack for 22 days. 

This report provides the AIC's analysis of the Annapolis process 18 months after it took place. Through our analyses we can affirm that in spite of the peace conferences, the Roadmap, and speeches, the Israeli Government has not fulfilled its commitments and the settlement project continues to rapidly increase, presenting one of the major obstacles to peace. The settlement issue is the reason for the big question mark on the future direction of the peace process. 

An analysis of the 2009-2010 State Budget proposal and what has been allotted to the Arab citizens in Israel has revealed that although this group comprises 19% of the total population they will receive less than 5% of the governmental development funds and less than 6% of the salary budget allotted to government employees. A breakdown of the budgets of most ministries shows that the percentages of funds allotted to Arabs are consistently and proportionately lower than the population. 

The report attempts to inject some gray areas into an issue that is often framed only in black and white terms. In a unique approach, the authors do not ask us to necessarily change our conclusions about the value of such engagement. Instead, they invite us to reevaluate our assumptions by providing a new prism through which to analyze Hamas. 

Until the Arab-Israeli conflict is resolved, a comprehensive approach is required that clarifies the Palestinians' status, formally excludes their permanent settlement in Lebanon, significantly improves their living conditions and, through better Lebanese-Palestinian and inter-Palestinian coordination, enhances camp management. 

Reporters Without Borders maintains that the closing of the Gaza Strip to the press constituted a serious and unacceptable violation of press freedom. On this too, the organisation strongly urges the United Nations to adopt a resolution immediately calling on Israel to stop using such coercive methods to control news. 

The humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) continues (see 'The Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion'). Its population of 3.7 million people, 52 per cent of whom are children, struggle for their basic needs. Palestinian women, children, and men are increasingly dependent on aid as their livelihoods are destroyed. The only sustainable solution to the crisis is a comprehensive peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians based on international law. 

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and Shams Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Participation on 12 March 2008 organised the first Forum 'Delivering Security to the People - Challenges to Palestinian Security Sector Governance' in Ramallah. The Forum is a new project by DCAF and Shams to enhance the Palestinian dialogue on security sector reform and to support a sustainable reform process based on the security needs of the Palestinian citizens. 

Despite [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert's announcement of a "settlement freeze", construction has been continuing in the settlements, East Jerusalem and the outposts, even after Annapolis. It is not only that existing construction has continued, but new plans have been promoted, construction tenders published and projects approved for marketing. 

How do Palestinian citizens see their individual future and the future of their national state still in the making? Do they appreciate democracy and equal rights for minorities or do we have to face tendencies in favour of an authoritarian state with a high inclination to ignore or simply deny the rights of women, religious or ethnic minorities? Starting from these and similar questions, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, commissioned an opinion poll on "Liberal Values in the Palestinian Society". 

Lawyers who represent Palestinians in Israeli military and civil courts face obstacles that systematically erode the right of Palestinian detainees to legal representation. Defense attorneys must contend with military orders, Israeli laws and prison procedures that curtail their ability to provide adequate counsel to their clients. This report describes how, from the moment of detention through the process of appeal, lawyers are prevented from giving adequate counsel to Palestinian defendants. 

On the face of it Israel's leadership has come a long way during forty years of occupation. In the aftermath of its 1967 victory, successive Israeli governments adopted a policy of "deciding not to decide" the future of the conquered West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under government protection, the system of settlements was set in motion. 

For decades, efforts to bring about a two-state solution in historic Palestine have failed to provide justice and peace for the Palestinian and Israeli Jewish peoples, or to offer a genuine process leading towards them. The two-state solution ignores the physical and political realities on the ground, and presumes a false parity in power and moral claims between a colonized and occupied people on the one hand and a colonizing state and military occupier on the other. 

Allow me, Mr. President, to thank you in my capacity as Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole representative of the Palestinian people, and on behalf of the Palestinian people, for inviting us to this international conference. 

A leaked November 17, 2007, draft of the planned joint Palestinian-Israeli declaration for the November 27, 2007, Annapolis peace conference. 

As Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations, we the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the lack of a clearly articulated legal framework for the upcoming diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to be held at Annapolis on 27 November. 

Israel continues to colonize the West Bank, particularly in and around occupied East Jerusalem, in violation of its Roadmap obligations and threatening the Quartet's vision of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state and, hence, of a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A freeze on Israeli settlement activity (as distinct from a reversal) could put an end to any further settlement activity and ensure that no further harm is done to Palestinian needs and interests. 

The "End of Mission Report" by Alvaro de Soto, the UN's outgoing Middle East envoy, obtained by the British newspaper The Guardian, presents a devastating account of failed diplomacy and condemns the sweeping boycott of the Palestinian government. It warns that American pressure has "pummelled into submission" the UN's role as an impartial Middle East negotiator, and blames Israel for setting unachievable preconditions for talks. 

This project sought to create a forum for Palestinian Arab citizens from as broad a social and political base as possible, a forum in which we could go beyond the boundaries of power politics and the limitations imposed on political parties' discourse to freely discuss our vision of the past, present, and future - specifically, our collective future and status in our homeland, the major challenges facing our society, our relationship with our people, nation, and the state of Israel. 

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Honorable Senators and Members of Congress, My friends, Thank you for such a warm welcome. It is an honor to stand, as my father did, before this historic institution. Allow me to thank you, on behalf of all Jordanians. Jordan and the United States have had a long friendship.