Reacting to the decision by the Palestinian Authority to ban all West Bank activities related to the Annapolis conference, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, declared that silencing Palestinian dissent in the West Bank will not restore national unity.

"An initiative based on entrenching Palestinian disunity, sidelining democracy, ignoring Israeli violations of human rights, and placing the onus on an occupied people to address their own occupation" was how PNI General Secretary, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, described Israel's behaviour on the eve of the upcoming meeting in Annapolis at a press conference held today in Ramallah.

Israel's release of 441 Palestinian prisoners in the run-up to Annapolis is a deception designed to create the illusion of Israeli goodwill, said PNI Secretary General Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP today. He revealed that Israel has arrested almost four times the number of prisoners it plans to free since the Annapolis meeting was announced on 16 July.

A 69-year-old cancer patient has become the latest Gazan to die due to being blocked access to life-saving treatment outside the Strip by Israel. PNI leader, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP labelled the death an entirely avoidable tragedy, and said that Israel's systematic denial of passage to patients in critical condition to exit the Strip amounted to no less than premeditated murder.

The death of two patients in two days in Gaza, both denied exit to access life-saving treatment outside of the Strip, underscores once again the brutal aspect of the Israeli siege of Gaza. “This is unacceptable, contrary to all humanitarian principles and laws, and still Israel continues unhindered. If the political will existed, these deaths could be avoided”, commented Dr. Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative. He added that the more than 10 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since August because of denied access to medical treatment are tantamount to premeditated murder.