All parties should join hands in an open and constructive spirit to ensure that the outcomes of outer space development better benefit all humanity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
Guo made the statement in response to a question about the Position on Strengthening Outer Space Governance China would issue, as announced by Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Global Governance Forum (Xiong'an) on Oct. 23.
"Outer space is the common frontier of all humanity and space exploration is humanity's common endeavor. As announced by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the opening ceremony of the Global Governance Forum (Xiong'an), China has issued its Position on Strengthening Outer Space Governance. This is a major step by China to deliver on the four major global initiatives and advance efforts in building a community with a shared future for humanity in outer space," Guo said.
"The position paper takes the common values of humanity as the fundamental guidance and advocates that the development and security, as well as the stability and sustainability of outer space, should be pursued in a balanced way. It proposes that we should commit to openness and shared benefit, abide by the international rule of law, respect the rights of all states, advance innovation and development, safeguard common security, prevent armed conflicts, reduce misunderstanding and misperception, regulate commercial space activity, deepen international cooperation, and promote global governance," he said.
"The position paper outlines constructive approaches to address issues of common concern including development, security and governance in outer space, and provides a blueprint for relevant discussions and formulation of rules by the international community. China will continue working together with all parties in an open and constructive spirit to ensure that the outcomes of space development better benefit all humanity," Guo said.
Space development outcomes should better benefit all humanity: spokesman
Violence involving Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank is drawing growing scrutiny. For Palestinians facing attacks on their homes, families and livelihoods, there's little hope that the election will bring change.
Merzouk Abu Naim, a local resident, said Israeli settlers have taken everything from him, first his livestock, then his olive trees.
Five months ago, Merzouk Abu Naim's son was shot dead by a settler while trying to rescue students from a school under attack. A 14-year-old student was also killed, and others were injured. Still grieving his son, Abu Naim is struggling to survive.
"We used to have 43,000 dunams of land. Today, we have only 1,000 dunams left. That's all. The settlers have taken control of the rest with the help of the Israeli army. The settlers aren't acting alone. This is a settlement policy designed to drive people from their land by killing and stealing our livestock and destroying the trees. We can't even harvest our olives anymore. Look at this olive tree -- we can't even pick its olives. Every day, settlers attack vulnerable people who are simply trying to harvest their olives," said Merzouk Abu Naim, father of a Palestinian killed by Israeli settlers.
Hundreds of front lines in West Bank are dividing residential Palestinian villages from the Israeli settlements. There have been many unprovoked attacks by settlers towards Palestinians who are trying to reach their olive trees.
In recent years, especially in the past year alone, at least seven people have died and more than 400 locals have been injured, most of them by live bullets.
Al-Mughayyir village council head Amin Mohammed Abu Aliya has been a vocal critic of settler violence and what he calls a culture of impunity.
He says Israeli soldiers detained him without charge and tortured him -- beating him for hours until he lost several teeth and consciousness.
"Talking about the Israeli government, if someone tries to complain against the settlers, they would arrest the one who complains. For example, a group of settlers would attack a house, break things around, even try to burn it down, and if the house owner tries to bring the kids out or defend his family and himself, the army would immediately arrive and surround the house, then arrest the house owner as if he is the criminal," he said.
Settler violence has become an election issue in Israel, with opposition leaders accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to confront what they call "settler terrorism."
But for Palestinians here, hopes for change remain slim.
"From our experience with Israeli governments and political parties, they don't differ when it comes to controlling, killing and oppressing the Palestinian people. The only thing they disagree on is the means used to kill us -- whether carried out by an Israeli soldier or a settler. We don't expect anything from a change in leadership, whether it is the same one or a new elected one," Amin Mohammed Abu Aliya said.
Until then, Palestinians across the West Bank will remain at the mercy of armed settlers, determined to drive them from their homes and lands by making their lives unbearable.
Violence involving Israeli settlers in West Bank draws growing scrutiny
