Israel seeks to ethnically cleanse Palestine: Activist

Press TV has conducted an interview with Dr. Donna Nassor, Palestine human rights activist in New York, to discuss the recent clashes between Palestinian mourners and Israeli forces at a mass funeral held for a Palestinian man killed by Tel Aviv’s troops in the occupied West Bank.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: At this point when we hear such stories coming out of the occupied territories, is there any surprise in your mind when you hear such things? 

Nassor: It is absolutely no surprise. This is ongoing. These are daily events that happen in historic Palestine, in the occupied territories and al-Khalil (Hebron), that area is one of the most dangerous places in the West Bank for Palestinians to live on a daily basis. So it is not a surprise, it is ongoing. Palestinians protest and then the Israeli army [shoots] them. It is like they are using them for target practice.

Press TV: And this of course continues as more land is being taken. We are hearing about the village Susya, which again the Israelis are planning on taking over. How much longer really can this continue?

Nassor: Every day I watch and I look and I observe and I say the Israelis are pushing, pushing, pushing, trying to start the third Intifada. And that would just give them their own excuse to continue to ethnically cleanse all Palestinians from the land of historic Palestine.  

So there has to be a breaking point for Palestinians. I would tell you that I have done academic research over there. I have sat face to face with the Palestinians living in the West Bank, Jerusalem and in Gaza and I will tell you that the Palestinians are tired. They want peace, they want this to end, they want a one state solution with equal rights for everyone and the return of all the refugees and they want their freedom and that is all that they want. They do not want this to continue to go on.

Press TV: You are sitting in New York so it seems appropriate to ask you this question - that is where the Headquarters of the United Nations is. How do you feel about the failure of the international community in this regard?

Nassor: I used to be affiliated with an NGO that was at the head consultative status at the UN and I have resigned my position because the UN has been completely ineffective when it comes to encouraging, resolving and really and most importantly for backing down and never really coming out and calling Israel on its activities and the way that it treats the Palestinians.

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