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UN: Palestine calls for peace; US firm on Jerusalem move (Lead)

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By Arul Louis
United Nations, Feb 21 (IANS) Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has presented a three-point peace plan centred on convening an international peace conference by mid-year to resolve the intractable conflict with Israel and reiterated his readiness for negotiations.

He told a Security Council meeting on Palestine on Tuesday that the international conference should lead to the formation of an international multilateral mechanism that helps both parties to hold negotiations with a timeframe for implementing agreements they reach.

Speaking to the Council after almost nine years, Abbas said Palestine will push for full membership in the UN, where it now has only observer status, and that would be a condition for a peace settlement.

Reiterating Palestine’s commitment to hold negotiations with Israel, Abbas said it “is our strategic choice for the sake of the coming generations in our region.”

While he accused Israel of shunning negotiations with Palestinians and ignoring UN resolutions, he also criticised Washington saying it was creating a deadlock for the peace process by its decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

He recalled the four meetings he had with US President Donald Trump and asserted that his administration had not made clear if it stood by a two-state solution for the Palestine-Israel problem.

US Permanent Representative Nikki Haley said that Washington was offering the “outstretched hand of the US” to Palestine to find a path to peace, but remained firm on the decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem.

“You don’t have to like it, but that position won’t change,” she declared, adding, “Our negotiators are sitting right behind me, ready to talk.”

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned the Council that “the enemies of peace are growing more confident by the day” because “every failure of the forces of moderation was a win for the forces of radicalisation.”

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that only a two-state solution would work and there was no Plan B. Yet, he added, that its prospects could be receding.

Virtually all the members of the Council backed the two-state solution of having independent nations of Israel and Palestine side by side, while the US was silent on it.

Israel’s Permanent Representative Danny Danon, in turn, accused Palestinians of refusing to engage with his country, citing the walkout by Abbas as he began to speak.

He said that whenever they were close to a settlement – as with former Prime Minister Yehud Barak in 2000 – Palestine walked away.

Outlining his peace plan, Abbas said that besides the international conference, its other two elements were requiring all parties to not take any action that prejudges the outcome of the negotiations, and Palestine’s refraining from joining other international organisations.

In the interim, there should be an end to settlement activities by Israel and the US should not move its embassy to Jerusalem, he said.

“We are ready to undertake the longest journeys to the farthest places in the world in order to realise our rights,” he said. “But we are not ready to move one inch if anyone wants us to forsake these rights.”

(Arul Louis can be reached at [email protected])

–IANS
al/in

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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