Qalqilia’s commerce and industry exhibit is in ‘clear defiance of the racist Wall that surrounds it,’ says Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi. ‘The Wall is a nightmare for the people of the city, turning them into prisoners of a narrow area not exceeding four square kilometers.’
The Palestinian Legislative Council member and head of the Palestinian National Initiative visited the Qalqilia Municipality’s trade fair that includes work from Palestine and Lebanon and was organized in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce.
PNN sat down with Dr. Barghouthi to discuss forming a unity government and the current spate of Israeli arrests of elected Palestinian officials. The attorney said the PLC must create a safety net to care for the people and combat the arrests. He pointed out that the local Qalqilia government has not come to a standstill, in spite of Israel arresting its Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
As far as the lack of salaries is concerned, Dr. Barghouthi said, ‘The salary problem is not with European countries sending assistance to the Palestinian people, but rather Israel’s theft and detention of Palestinian money in the amount of nearly 600 million dollars. This amount is sufficient to meet the needs of employee salaries without any European or American aid. The media has ignored this issue and does not adequately cover the role the occupation plays in this issue, having contrived it.’
He praised the municipality's role in organizing the exhibition in the current circumstances, placing great value on the role of the municipal council to choose the time, place and name, which also reflects the close relationship between the wounds of Palestine and those of Lebanon.
He told PNN that the budget should be approved at the beginning of September in order to give the government enough time to prepare. Dr. Barghouthi also said that any government in the world has three basic tasks; providing security, providing food, and achieving sovereignty. ‘If Israel continues to prevent the government from introducing these things, the occupation bears the full burden of subjugating a defenseless people.’
Regarding Hezbollah’s perceived victory during the 34 day war that Israel waged against Lebanon, he said, ‘This represents the failure of Israeli aggression in Lebanon, and has turned the regional tide and enhanced the resilience of the peoples of the region.’
Standing amongst the displays at the Commerce and Trade from Lebanon to Palestine exhibit, the PLC deputy and PNI leader said, ‘Today I am proud to honor this achievement that was created under blockade in the shadow of the Apartheid Wall.’