Freedom Flotilla Activists To Receive Palestinian Citizenship

Wednesday June 02, 2010 22:25 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that, in appreciation of their efforts, all those who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla or helped organize it will be granted honorary Palestinian citizenship.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo IMEMC-Archive)

The Palestinian President's comments came in the opening ceremony of the second International Investment Conference in Bethlehem on Wednesday.

In his speech, Abbas described the Israeli attack on the freedom flotilla as terrorism and demanded a complete lift of the siege on the Gaza Strip.

Abbas commenced on the Egyptian step to open the Rafah terminal for three days, a move that Hamas regarded as in sufficient.

He also said that this moment is a golden opportunity to realize the national unity among Palestinian factions and end the internal unrest. Hamas on its part welcomed this call, however, said that Abbas must prove his intentions by releasing the political prisoners in the jails of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

bethlehem | gaza siege | news report george at imemc dot org