Nablus - On Sunday, February 14^th, the Research Journalism Initiative (RJI) in cooperation with Zajel youth exchange program, facilitated a videoconference between An Najah National University and the Model United Nations (MUN) at Georgetown University in Washington DC. The exchange featured Mr. Saad Abdel Haqq, a representative of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Beesan Ramada, a local activist and student at An-Najah National University.

Mr. Abdel Haqq shared a PowerPoint presentation of maps detailing the conditions of the West Bank and Gaza. He started by explaining the situation in Gaza and explained there are only three crossings into the strip, all of which are controlled by Israel. He highlighted that Israel has not allowed the entry of raw materials, medical supplies or adequate food, and that this has dramatically, and tragically, affected life in Gaza. He also talked about the UN records after the Israeli military operation Cast Lead, and the destruction caused to Gaza's infrastructure, agriculture, economy, UN offices, buildings and schools. Mr. Abdel Haqq discussed the situation in the West Bank, and showed UN statistics and figures on house demolitions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He also talked about Israeli settlements, settler violence and outposts, and and how Israeli checkpoints, road blocks, and the Wall have restricted Palestinian movement. The presentation was followed with a question / answer session.

A student from the MUN asked if the distance between the West Bank and Gaza created emotional and national distance between the people. Beesan Ramadan answered that the geographical space did create an emotional and national distance between people, "but we're still one nation," she said. "During the Cast Lead operation on Gaza, people in the West Bank were sad and the solidarity reached its highest levels."

Another student of the MUN asked if economical stability was the key to end the conflict. Dr. Raed Badawi from the UNESCO chair at An Najah said that economy is not the problem, but occupation is. "Empowering the Palestinian economy might help, but it's not the key to peace and stability,” he said.

Another student asked about water issues related to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Saed Abu Hijleh, a Palestinian geographer, said that 80% of the West Bank water is stolen and pumped to the Israeli settlements in the West Bank. "These settlements are illegal,” he said. “What's happening is an outright theft, and Israel should compensate the Palestinians for that.”

RJI’s program at An Najah National University in Nablus is designed to provide new opportunities for cooperation between Palestinian students and their counterparts across the world. RJI is a project of the Assistant to the President for International and Strategic Affairs at An Najah National University and is hosted as an independent global studies initiative at the Korean-Palestinian IT Institute for Excellence. For more information, please visit us at www.RJIPalestine.net.