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28 Jamada al-awwal 1441 A.H. - March 1 2020 Issue # 9, Newsletter #1852



Editorial

Taliban Triumphant.
US & NATO to Withdraw.
US Pumped in $778 Billion on military.
plus $44 billion on Civilian activities. [BBC].


 Editorial

US and Taliban signed historic deal to end 19-year war | 29 Feb 2020 | The United States and Taliban signed a deal Saturday aimed at bringing an end to the country's longest war. The agreement sets the stage for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan more than 18 years after President George W. Bush ordered bombing in response to the 9/11 attacks. The US has spent more than 750 billion fighting the war, which has cost tens of thousands of lives on all sides. The historic deal was signed in Doha, Qatar, by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on hand to witness the ceremony. The signing between Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban officials will set the stage for the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 19 years of violence that has killed more than 3,500 Americans and coalition troops and tens of thousands of Afghans since the U.S. invasion following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

[Excerpted from CLG, Connecticut.]

Pakistan helped the US fight the mujahideen as all resources at the ground level were transported through Pakistan. With all the money spent in Pakistan by the US to support the war, the total went up to two TRILLION and more dollars.

In addition to the 3500 US troops killed in the fighting, 20,660 US troops were injured.

The US also set up a large military force from among tribal enemies of the Taliban, Shias and Communists. They constantly fought the Taliban and only within the last five years lost more than 45000 killed.

Thousands of civilians were also killed as they were caught in the battles between the two sides.

Already on March 1, the US-installed regime in Kabul expressed unwillingness to release 5000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1000 in Taliban hands, as the first step in the agreement stipulates. [The regime is holding more than 10,000 Taliban prisoners.]

Another problem is that some Taliban do not accept the deal and have joined the Islamic State. [ISIS]

In recent years, India had made big time contacts with the Kabul regime and invested large sums of money to surround Pakistan from its western frontier. The Pakistani support for the recent peace deal has nixed the Indian moves by supporting the Taliban in their direction with the USA.

 Hurjeet Singh Aulakh

This blogger, Hurjeet Singh Aulakh, explains in eloquent Punjabi language the collapse of the Indian moves. He is a supporter of Sikh Rights and Kashmiri Rights and tells Indians about the fake propaganda they have been putting out to defame Pakistan. He thinks that the Peace Deal came at exactly the right time to end 19 years of conflict.

YouTube.com/watch?v=DbjZ0utirYI





PAKISTAN

 Pakistan

JI on Women's Rights in Islamic Pakistan
by Qaiser Sharif

LAHORE- March 1: Jammat-e-Islami on Sunday launched a 20 days special campaign for the protection of women's rights in the country.

JI Emir Senator Sirajul Haq said the objective of the three-week (March 1 to March 20) long campaign was to ensure the safety and security of women, end harassment culture and cruel old traditions and ensure their right of inheritance.

He was addressing a conference in connection of International Women's

Day at a local hotel on Sunday. JI women's chapter organized the event which was addressed by Dr Durdana Saddiqui, Dr Samia Raheel Qazi and others. Women from different walks of life attended and shared their thoughts on the occasion.

The program highlighted the importance of women's role in nation building' JI chief said a country could not prosper without giving due righst to its female portion of the society. But, he added, Islam never allowed a mixed culture and it guided Muslim men and women about their role in the society. He said Islam emphasized on girls' education as a literate mother played a key role in the education of the family while the family was the basic unit of the society.

Presenting a charter of demand, Siraj called for building women's universities in all provinces while basic health units should be set up in all villages. He said government must take steps against girls' and child trafficking.

He said girl student sshould be provided first aid and civil defense training at schools and colleges. He said the women prisoners who were innocent or under bars for years in some minor crime must be released. He said strict laws be made against women's harassment at work places.

Protection of women working in media industry must be ensured, he said, adding, the government must take steps to promote the Islamic culture in the society. He said JI would soon submit women's protection bill in the Senate





War News

 War News

Syria

Turkey Blunting Assad-Iran-Hizb-Russian Offensive. Two Assad jets Shot down. Heavy Regime losses at Ground Level.


Latest report. Mujahideen groups have captured 27 villages on the southern Idlib border which were under Assad regime control.

March 1. Turkish jets shot down two Assad regime SU-24 jets over Idlib province soon after the regime shot down a Turkish drone.

News reports indicate that Turkey has bombed Nayrab airport near Aleppo city, putting it of action. The airport was being used to bomb civilians.

On February 29, Turkish drones killed 19 Assad troops who had advanced into the Jabal a-Zawiya area of Idlib province. This brings to 93 the regime troops killed over 72 hours in Turkish counterattacks. SOHR has documented that 10 Hizb fighters, plus 4 Shia militia and an Iranian officer have been killed.

On February 28 one Turkish soldier was killed and 6 wounded in shelling by Assad's forces.

Turkish involvement in the fighting in Idlib province escalated after regime air strikes killed 34 Turkish troops on February 27 in the al- Bara and Billion area of Irbid.

SOHR is reporting IED attacks in the Assad capital of Damascus leaving military deaths.

Resistance to the Assad regime is taking on serious dimensions in Deraa province. In Sanamin and other towns of Deraa province crowds are demonstrating against Assad
and clashing with security forces/ [Ongoing om March 1.]

In Manbig area, north central Syria, Turkish artillery is shelling pro-regime elements around Russian headquarters killing 4 Assad troops and wounding 5.

Islamic State [IS] raiders are hitting SDF forces armed by the US in the Deir ez Zor south. ^ SDF are reported killed.




News Within the U.S.

 News within the US

Islam is Spreading in America's Prison System.
From Imam Abdul-Hakim Mumin

[Via Sis. Latavia Jones, the imam's wife.]

As Salaam Alaikum Dr. Siddique,

I had a brief interview with the Imam at Patuxent Institution in Jessup, Maryland in reference to current events with the Ummah.Here is what Imam Abdul Hakim Mumin had to say:

"Here at this Ummah, there are 300+ Muslims. Over 70% of them are between the ages of 20-28, literally. The average attendance of Juma'ah every Friday is about 150-200 Brothers who consistently and faithfully attend.

Alhamdulillah! We have classes every Thursday and Saturday nights from 7 pm until 9:15 pm. The attendance for class is about 50 to 70 Brothers. Again, most of the attendees are "millennials."

The reasons I choose to make the youth the focal point and direction of the Ummah is because often they are forgotten in an environment like this and if it seems like more focus is placed on the deficiencies rather than their growth in the religion according to the Quran and the Sunnah and in the way of the righteous predecessors.

The YOUTH are the FUTURE of the religion. And I think that given the circumstances of prison, I feel that there is no better time to focus on our youth to get them more engaged in the community and community activities to get them to diligently work towards the success of their own souls by understanding the correct aqeedah and the example of our beloved Prophet (SWT). It is truly time as stated in Surat Al-Asr . ."Wal-'Asr. Innal-'insaana lafee khusr. Illal-lazeena 'aamanoo wa 'amilus-saalihaati wa tawaasaw bilhaqqi wa tawaasaw bissabr" Translation: "By Al-'Asr. . .Verily, man is in loss, Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden and recommend one another to patience. . . ."

The YOUTH are the banners carriers of this deen, the torch bearers and as Imam this is why I choose to focus on the YOUTH, Inshallah. . . "

May Allah To'ala forgive us all for our sins and shortcomings. May we be amongst the righteously guided and be a righteous guide to others. . .
As Salaam Alaikum




Challenging a $500 Million Monstrosity For Obama in Chicago
By Sis. Aisha [jamaat al-Muslimeen.]

New York City - Although I live in New York City, I see trouble up ahead for Chicago's South Side should the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) get built in Jackson Park.

President Obama has proposed that his eponymous edifice, which is privately owned by his Obama Foundation, be built in Chicago's Jackson Park near Chicago University where he used to do his community organizing.

But, on February 19 2019, Federal Judge John Robert Blakey ruled that a 2018 lawsuit filed by the Protect Our Parks organization could move forward. They felt that park land was illegally designated for the building of the $500 million dollar center, thereby denying any future access to park land to be enjoyed by the people of Chicago. I am glad this lawsuit was filed and that people are challenging the erecting of such a monstrosity.

Let me explain why the OPC is a monstrosity and why it could lead to the future ruin of working-class Chicago, particularly the South Side.

In 2001, after President Clinton left the White House, former Congressman "Good 'Ol" Charlie Rangel suggested Clinton open an office in the Harlem State Office Building on 125th in Harlem, NY. There were already signs of gentrification approaching thanks to Harlem's "Gang of Four": Former Congressman Rangel, former Mayor David Dinkins, former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton, and former Secretary of State Basil Patterson (also father of former Governor David Patterson).

The pro-gentrification network conspired to rid Harlem of its protector and son, the late Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr, and replace him with Charlie Rangel. The "Gang of Four's" plan to usher in gentrification was done at the behest of greedy Zionists, racist land owners and Black church boards. In the 1960s/70s, many buildings fell into disrepair and heroin dealers turned some of them into shooting galleries for their junkie customers to freely share needles and diseases. The owner of these buildings refused to sell because they were biding their time for when future descendants of White Flight dupes would come back to urban areas, which occurred thirty years later. Yes, gentrification was planned that long ago. This was not happenstance.

So, President Clinton's "occupying" the Harlem State Office Building gave land barons the opportunity to increase the price of their properties by thousands of dollars. This happened almost overnight. Clinton's tenancy was a ruse used to price out local vendors and residents so that the billion dollar corporations, such as Marshall's and Red Lobster, could replace them. Many of the black-owned businesses there have shut down. The long-time Harlem residents have been priced out with many moving to Brooklyn or the Bronx.

Commercial and residential landlords, with properties across the street from the State Office Building, could now charge thousands per month in rent by claiming Clinton's occupancy as the major attraction. It was like claiming to be near the Empire State Building! President Clinton had only been to the State Office Building twice between 2001 and 2011, which is when he left.

President Clinton never lived in Harlem and President Obama does not live in Chicago.

Some fear that the Obama Presidential Library can create the same type of gentrification issues that Harlem and other working-class areas have experienced all over the country. Granted the world's beating a path to New York City's door is a major contributor to high prices here but, a $500 million library is an attraction, too. The City of Chicago "gifted" a section of Jackson Park to the Obama Foundation for $10 and a 99 year lease, according to Chicago Maroon's editor Emma Dyer.

To protect itself from rent hikes, which have already happened in properties across from the proposed OPC construction site, nineteen South Side community activists are seeking a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). The CBA would stipulate protections for low-income housing residents and home owners, guarantee construction and long-term jobs at the OPC, develop Black businesses and neighborhood schools. The Obama Foundation has refused to sign any such agreement because they feel it will lock other people out. This CBA is controversial and has its critics, namely local Aldermen who have drafted their own weaker version that of ordinances that would require any new developments built within a 2 mile radius of the OPC make 30% of its units affordable and provide first dibs to local residents.

Wow! They are already indicating that there will be new developments where there were none before. We have "affordable" housing in New York City, too. In this millionaire capitol of America, earning $100,000 a year puts you in the affordable housing group, now.

According to Emma Dyer, it is easy to gentrify and price people out of certain communities when there isn't any community development there in the first place for the longtime residents to enjoy. Heck, if they could afford to do it, they'd move, too. But, there are people who are just too poor to move, unless they have a family member who will one day be a number one draft pick for the Chicago Bulls.

This could happen to the South Side of Chicago, if the Obama Presidential Library is built in Jackson Park. Fortunately, with the lawsuit and conflicts between community activists and local politicians, the OPC has had to halt construction.....for now.

(Source: Time Magazine, The Chicago Maroon, & Wikipedia)




INDIA

 New Delhi

New Delhi Is Burning as Modi Throws a Party for Trump's State Visit

Violent clashes between rival groups over a citizenship law suggested "this could go down a pretty dark path," said one expert

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump's first state visit Monday, the streets of the capital New Delhi were burning over a controversial new law that could reshape the country's identity.

Clashes broke out in neighborhoods in the northeast of the city between pro-government nationalist groups and opponents of the law, which gives a fast track to citizenship for illegal immigrants from three neighboring Muslim-majority countries — Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh — as long as they aren't Muslim.

Three people were killed, including a police officer, homes and markets were torched, and police imposed emergency measures to restore law and order as mobs assaulted their rivals.

Videos circulating on social media showed homes and shops burning, and mobs pelting each other with stones, and a man firing a handgun as he approached police officers trying to intervene.

It's the latest violence over the religious-based Citizenship Amendment Act, which has sparked sporadic protests since it was passed in December.

Opponents say the law diminishes the status of India's 200 million Muslims and undermines the country's secular constitution. But Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) argues the bill will protect minorities fleeing religious persecution in their homelands.

According to local media, the seeds of the latest flare-up were sown on Sunday, when Kapil Mishra, a minister representing the BJP in Delhi's government, led a pro-citizenship law march through a neighborhood where opponents were holding a sit-in against the legislation. In a video he tweeted, Mishra delivered an ultimatum to a police officer, saying that his group would remain quiet during the Trump visit, but after that, would not obey the police if they failed to clear the area of protesters. The first clashes broke out shortly afterwards, and escalated Monday.

The violence brought widespread condemnation and appeals for calm across the city. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, tweeted that he "unequivocally condemned" the violence. "Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified."

G. Kishan Reddy, the BJP's Minister of State for Home Affairs, said he believed the violence had been "orchestrated with an eye on" Trump's visit. He said additional forces had been deployed to the capital to deal with the unrest.

Gareth Price, senior research fellow at the Chatham House international affairs think tank, told VICE News that violence had "never been far away" in the protests which have gripped the capital in recent months.

But the recent flareup — the first time a member of the security forces has been killed in the unrest — potentially marked an ugly turn. He said the fact that the clashes were not just between protesters and police, but between rival groups who were for and against the law, suggested "this could go down a pretty dark path."

The fact a few people have died today does seem to take this to a higher level," he said.

Trump's whistlestop tour across the subcontinent Monday, including a speech before 100,000 people at a "Namaste Trump" rally, promises to boost trade and fight terrorism, and a visit to the Taj Mahal, where he shook hands with Yogi Adityanath, a hard-line Hindu monk and politician known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Trump made no public comments about the unrest shaking Delhi or the citizenship law debate, although in a briefing to reporters last week, a senior Trump administration official said the president would raise the issue of religious freedom in his talks with Modi.

Price said that at the heart of the current clashes were competing and irreconcilable differences over India's identity: the model, which prevailed since independence, of India as a home for multiple faiths, versus the BJP's vision of India as primarily a Hindu nation.

And with many fearing that the citizenship law was only one step in a campaign to remake India in keeping with the BJP's Hindu nationalist vision, tensions over the issue were only likely to escalate.

"Where it ends is a work in progress, I would suggest," he said.

Source: Vicenews




China

 China

UN demands 'unfettered access' for China Uighur region visit.

Beijing has said it would welcome UN officials to Xinjiang on the condition they stay out of its internal affairs.

A team preparing for the United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet's possible visit to the tightly controlled Muslim-majority Chinese region of Xinjiang this year should be given "unfettered access", she said on Thursday.
"We will seek to analyse in-depth the human rights situation in China, including the situation of members of the Uighur minority," she said, addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Bachelet welcomed the invitation from China to tour the region but added: "We will continue to request unfettered access for an advance team in preparation for this proposed visit."

China has come under international criticism for its treatment of the Uighurs, with activists and witnesses saying it is trying to forcibly integrate the mostly Muslim ethnic group and strip them of their Islamic heritage.

Beijing has described internment camps - in which an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic Turkic minorities have been held - as educational.

China's ambassador to the UN, Chen Xu, on Wednesday dismissed abuse allegations as "unacceptable", and said there had been "economic, social and human rights progress in Xinjiang".

"We are looking forward to the visit of the High Commissioner Mrs Bachelet to China, including to Xinjiang this year, and we are working closely with her office on detailed arrangements for her visit," he said.

Bachelet first asked Beijing in December 2018 for permission to carry out a fact-finding mission in Xinjiang.

Beijing has previously said it would welcome UN officials to Xinjiang on the condition they stay out of the country's internal affairs.

The UN rights chief typically only undertakes national visits provided the host government offers guarantees on certain conditions, including unfettered access to key sites and the right to speak with activists.




Guidance by Sis. Yasmin.

*ALLAH WILL ALLEVIATE SUFFERINGS ON 'YAWM-AD-DIN*{!}~
'Alhamduli'Allahi Rabbil-'Aalameen'
wa-Salaatu wa-Salaamu 'Alaa Ashrafil-Anbiyaa-e-wal Mursaleen 'Amma 'Baa'd

*********************************************************** 'As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu'.
Abu Huraira (Radi 'Allahu anhu) reported:
*Allah's Messenger * (Sall'Allahu Alaihi Wasallam) as saying... he who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world... Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection. and he who finds relief for one who is hard pressed...
Allah would make things easy for him in the Hereafter {!}
and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the World and in the Hereafter {!}
ALLAH is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother ... and he who treads the path in search of Knowledge,
Allah would make that part easy leading to Paradise for him...
Those people who assemble in the house among the houses of ALLAH ('Masjids') and recite the Book of Allah ... and they learn and teach the 'Qur 'an'... there would descend upon them the Tranquility and Mercy would cover them, and the Angels would surround them... and Allah makes a mention of them in the presence of those near Him {!} and he who is slow-paced in doing good deeds...
his (high) descent does not make him go ahead.'

~My 'Salaams' to All~
... Y a s m i n ...
 Sis Yasmin





Hadith of the Week

Narrated By Abdullah Ibn Abbas. r.a.: The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) said: Gabriel (pbuh) led me in prayer at the House (i.e. the Ka'bah). He prayed the noon prayer with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when the twilight had ended; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when food and drink become forbidden to one who is keeping the fast.

On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer at the time when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about the third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was a fair amount of light.

Then turning to me he said: Muhammad, this is the time observed by the prophets before you, and the time is anywhere between two times.

Abu Dawud Book 002,
Hadith Number 0393
 Sis Kristi

[With thanks to Sis. Kristi]





 Outreach

New Trend of February 24 reached 61392 people on Facebook.
Articles included:

  1. Indian occupation of Kashmir.

  2. Defending Abu Huraira, r.a., against sectarian attacks.

  3. Russian bombing in Syia. Mass civilian flight.

  4. Hamid Hayat case in California ended after 14 years.

  5. Sagacious Guidance.

  6. China & Pakistan.

  7. Israeli atrocity.

  8. Imran regime pressuring Red Mosque.






 Word Around The Net

by Br. Nazeer, Texas
US Athletes Kneel Down during Israel's National Anthem - Accused of 'Anti-Semitism'
PalestineChronicle.com/us-athletes-kneel-down-during-israels-national-anthem-draw-accusations-of-anti-semitism-video

What does the Taliban-US agreement say?
alJazeera.com/news/2020/02/taliban-peace-agreement-200229134403285.html

Palestinian artist jailed by Israel for "crime" of inspiring people
MiddleEastMonitor.com/20200229-the-palestinian-artist-jailed-by-israel-for-the-crime-of-inspiring-his-people

How Israel is Becoming a Refuge for Jewish American Pedophiles (CBS New Report)
PalestineChronicle.com/cbs-news-report-how-israel-became-a-refuge-for-jewish-american-pedophiles-video

Turkish drones kill 26 Syrian soldiers in Idlib
MENAFN.com/1099779486/Turkish-drones-kill-26-Syrian-soldiers-in-Idlib

'Hard to trust': Afghans sceptical of US-Taliban agreement
alJazeera.com/news/2020/03/trust-afghans-sceptical-taliban-agreement-200301052025171.html

Dubai's Emirates has "measurable slowdown" in business due to the coronavirus - asking staff to take paid and unpaid leave
MiddleEastMonitor.com/20200301-take-paid-leave-says-dubais-emirates-group-to-staff-due-to-coronavirus

Israel and Palestinian militants exchange fire after video of Israeli bulldozer carrying body goes viral
CNN.com/2020/02/23/middleeast/israel-palestinians-gaza-rockets/index.html

Political Prisoners :

AhmedAbdelSattar.org

FreeZiyadYaghi.info

FreeMasoudKhan.net

Civil Discord Show






 Call to Action

Pakistani Blasphemer Supported by Canada and France.
We Urge Muslim Ummah to Show Concern for Muslim political prisoners in America.


by Kaukab Siddique

Recently a blasphemer, Asia Bibi, escaped from Pakistan with the connivance of the Imran Khan regime, and was comfortably ensconsed in Canada. Pakistani High Court convicted her for blasphdeming the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, and overturned her appeal with assurance that she was not a simple peasant woman blamed by locals but part of a missionary network. However the international media and powers pressured the Supreme Court and she was summarily acquitted, concealed by the regime and flown to Canada. Now France is publishing her autobiography in French.

By contrast Muslim political prisoners in the US and Canada are given horrific long sentences for "thought crimes" and for traps set by informants.. The Muslim world remains silent.

Think about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, 86 years on trumped up charges.

Think about Imam Jamil al-Amin, dying slowly from neglected health in prison, America's greatest Imam.

Think of the Blind Shaykh, Dr. Omar Abdel Rahman, who died slowly in prison, PhD in Islamic Law, hafize Qur'an, blamed by the regime of the tyrant Hosni Mubarak [now deceased].

Innocent Momin Khawaja, Canada's victim, who never harmed Canada or anyone else.

The list is long. Why is the Ummah silent? See how the kuffar use the claims of blasphemers and Malala [given international stature] to attack Islam and the faith of the Muslims.

Can you, O Muslims, say NOTHING?

We know that mujahideen groups have spoken in support of US prisoners but they are labelled as enemies of America and hence ignored.

It is the duty of every "ordinary" Muslim to speak up.

Muslim political prisoners should be household names.

The Ummah's silence allows the West to put a sense of collective guilt on the entire Ummah.

Wake up! Speak up! Write!!





 Palestine

The United States' announcement of a new vision for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, touted as the "Deal of the Century", is a "mockery".

Speaking at the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, Mahathir Mohamad also slammed "the ultimate dishonest brokerage" of the unilateral proposal, saying that his country "finds the plan utterly unacceptable and grossly unjust".

Under the theme "South-East Asian Support for the Rights of the Palestinian People", the two-day Conference - which brought together over 300 Government and civil society representatives - was organized by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in partnership with the Government of Malaysia and the Perdana Global Peace Foundation.

Prime Minister Mahathir went on to urge member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue their cooperation not only in political and economic affairs, but also in the pursuit of justice and peace for the Palestinian people.

"Our collective voice regionally should...extend a united front in supporting the rights of the Palestinians," the Prime Minister said, calling that "the primary purpose of this peace conference."

Committee Chair Cheikh Niang also underscored the region's strong commitment to the Palestinian cause.

"The peoples of this region have a long-standing, principled support for the quest of the Palestinian people to be free from oppression and occupation", he said, explaining that they, like the people of many developing countries, endured hard struggles to free themselves and gain independence and sovereignty.

He pointed out that almost all ASEAN countries have recognized the State of Palestine and called for more active engagement in establishing a multilateral mechanism for negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator who represented Secretary-General António Guterres, said that the deteriorating situation on the ground further erodes the possibility of a viable and contiguous Palestine based on the two-State formula.

He underscored the UN position that if the annexation of territory in the occupied West Bank were implemented, it would not only be illegal under international law, but also close the door to negotiations.

Moreover, it would have negative repercussions across the region and severely undermine opportunities for peace.

Meanwhile, Palestine's UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour emphasized that Palestinians do not need a new plan, but a mechanism to implement existing agreements and UN resolutions.

To defeat the US vision, Palestinians must first "must put our house in order," and overcome internal divisions, namely between Hamas and the Palestinian National Authority, he stressed, calling for national unity and elections across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

In the ensuing panel discussion, experts presented their perspectives on the US plan and reported on the current realities of Palestinian life under occupation, including the consequent political and socioeconomic challenges.





 Africa

GAMBIA

A Group educating and helping orphans in Gambia has reported that supplies collected and sent by Br. Abu Talib (of Jamaat al-Muslimeen) has arrived safely.

They thank Br. Abu Talib for his efforts and New Trend urges readers to work with him to continue this service to the Muslim orphans of Gambia.

 Br Abu Talib

Br. Abu Talib is a long-time member of Jamaat al-Muslimeen. He resides in New York and works diligently to help the children of Gambia and to spread the message of Islam.

2020-03-02 Mon 12:11:45 ct

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