Our hearts continue to ache for tragedies like the death of hundreds of
refugees yesterday on a boat to Europe where I am now and seeing
significant political change. I have minimized my travels abroad and accept
occasional invitations when there is really good reason to travel. This is
because there is so much work to do in Palestine and I feel like a “fish
out of water” when I am abroad. I also feel I am more helpful educating
students (many courses and modules at three universities in the West Bank)
and building our botanical garden and museum of natural history (
palestinenature.org).

Now I am in Sienna, Italy because of an exchange program (funded by EU
Erasmus+ program) with one of the oldest European Universities.. I
saw many banners for the Italian student Giulio Regini who was tortured in
Egypt by the western backed dictatorship of General Sisi.

The day I left for the bridge to go (via Amman) to Italy, many areas in
Palestine had events in honor of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. Thousands of
Palestinians (including hundreds of Children) remain hostage in Israeli
colonial prisons (gulags).

Members of the European Parliament take action in solidarity with
Palestinian prisoners
http://www.eccpalestine.org/members-of-the-european-parliament-take-action-in-solidarity-with-palestinian-prisoners/

New Direction for Resolving the Middle East Crisis: Oppression of the
Palestinians has moved beyond a cause for the Palestinians and emergency
measures to relieve their plight. Countering the severe persecution is an
international cause that considers the dangers to all peoples from Israel’s
posture ─ breeding terrorism, nurturing continuous conflagrations in the
Middle East, and enhancing the possibility of a nuclear war.
http://www.alternativeinsight.com/New_Direction_for_Resolving_Middle_East_Crisis.html

As our martyred friend Vittorio Arrigoni ended his letters: Restiamo Uma (Stay human)
 & come visit us in occupied Palestine

Mazin Qumsiyeh
Professor and Director
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine
http://qumsiyeh.org
http://palestinenature.org

_______________________________________________

HumanRights newsletter
http://lists.qumsiyeh.org/listinfo/humanrights