Former Palestinian Prime Minister and co-architect of the Oslo Peace Accords, Ahmed Kureia, has died.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85. The founding member of the Palestinian Fatah movement was to be buried in Ramallah on Thursday.
Born in Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, Kureia was considered a key player in the Oslo peace negotiations with Israel. He was the first parliamentary chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1996 until he became head of government under Abbas in 2003. He was replaced about three years later after an election defeat against the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas.
The Oslo Accords were seen as a milestone in the Middle East peace process. On September 13, 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed a statement of principles in Washington that led, among other things, to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. However, the expected breakthrough towards a lasting peace settlement failed to materialise. Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have been dead since 2014.
Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Today, more than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there. The UN classifies the territories as occupied. The Palestinians want them for a separate state of Palestine – with East Jerusalem as its capital. (rbu/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
