Palestinian Global Peace Award

The State of Palestine has honoured Limkokwing University Founder Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato' Dr Lim Kok Wing with the Distinguished World Citizen of Peace and Humanity Award in recognition of his untiring efforts in creating awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people.

In his tribute to Tan Sri Lim, Ambassador of the State of Palestine Abdel Aziz Aboughosh, said his "kindness in granting scholarships for Palestinian students has made a remarkable impression on the Palestinian people."

HE Abdel Aziz also noted that Tan Sri Lim - in an extension of his global efforts in promoting a new model of education in developing countries- plans to establish a free training centre in Palestine to empower young Palestinians with the skills to make the country more competitive.

Fast Facts:

Youth and Education

In 2007, available statistics showed that 44.1% of the youth (15-29 years) were enrolled in education, composed of 87.5% among the age group (15-17 years), 48.9% among the age group (18-22 years) and 10.8% among the age group (23-29 years). Statistical indicators also showed that dropout rates (both of those who previously enrolled and left or not attending) has reached 33.4% among males aged (15-29 years), compared with 27.4% for females. 7.5% of males in the age group (15-29 years) have completed at least the first university degree, compared with 7.8% for females in the same age group, whereas 4.3% of males haven’t completed any educational stage compared with 3.4% for females in the age group (15-29 years).

0.9% of the youth (15-29 years) are still illiterate, of which 0.9% are males and 1.0% females.

Culture and Technology

The 2006 data showed that 67.3% of persons aged 15-29 years in the Palestinian Territory use the computer, 76.1% for the age group (15-19 years) and 61.5% for the age group (20- 29 years). Also 29.4% of persons in the age group (15-29 years) use the internet. The same data revealed that 34.7% of total females who use the internet use it for study purposes, compared to 11.8% for males. The percentage of persons (15-29 years) who have mobile phones was 42.9% of total persons in the same age group.

Youth and Labor

In 2007, available statistics showed that 34.3% of the youth (15-29 years) are economically active (employed and un-employed), 36.4% in the West Bank and 30.8% in Gaza Strip, and  55.6% among youth males (15-29 years), compared with 12.2% for females. The age group (25-29 years) was the highest group with participation in the labor force, 85.7% for males and 22.6% for females.

The unemployment rate among young people totaled 30.3%. The highest unemployment rate was for the age group (20-24 years) which totaled 36.0% compared with 23.8% for the age group (25-29 years). 35.2% of unemployed persons had completed at least 13 scholastic years.

The services sector and its branches employs about one third of the youth (15-29 years), and 43.5% of the persons aged (25-29 years). The commerce sector, restaurants and hotels employ 31.5% persons aged (15-19 years).

28.0% of the employed persons in the age group (25-29 years) are technicians and specialists and clerks, whereas about 26.6% of the youth (15-29 years) work in basic level occupations.

The Palestinian Territory is the main work place of the employed persons (15-29 years),  distributed by 60.0% in the West Bank, 29.3% in Gaza Strip, while employed persons in this age group in Israel were only 10.7%.

Youth and Intifada

According to the “Intifada” uprising data, until the end of June 2008, the youth (15-29 years) represent about 62.2% of the total martyrs in the Palestinian Territory, 61.5% in the West Bank and 62.7% in Gaza Strip.

Key Historical Events

1917-1947 - Palestine, along with other Arab states in the Middle-East, was a territory under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of Turkey in the First World War, Palestine was among the several former Ottoman Arab territories which were placed under the administration of Great Britain.  Palestine was viewed as an important territory because places sacred to three world religions were located here.

The root of the Palestine situation can be traced to a declaration issued by the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Arthur James Balfour, and which became known thereafter as The Balfour Declaration. The declaration made on 2 November 1917 was as follows:

“His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

From 1922 to 1947 large number of Jewish people migrated, mainly from Eastern Europe into Palestine. The numbers increased in the 1930s following * persecution of the Jewish population. Palestinians resistance to this influx of Jews led to an uprising in 1936 which resulted in violence. Unable to cope with the increasing violence Great Britain, in 1947, handed the problem over to the United Nations for resolution.

1947 - The UN proposed the partitioning of Palestine into two independent states – one Palestinian Arab and the other Jewish. Resolution 181 which was passed on November 29th, 1947 gave the Israelis 56 percent of the Palestinian territory. The Jewish side proclaimed its independence as Israel in 1948. Jordan and Egypt controlled the other parts of the territory assigned to the Palestinian Arab state which did not come into being.

The 1948 war between Israel and Palestinians enabled Israel to occupy 78 per cent of the territory of Palestine gaining an additional 22 percent over what was stipulated in the resolution. Over half of the indigenous Palestinian population were then expelled or displaced.

1967 - In the 1967 war Israel occupied the remaining territory of Palestine which was under Jordan and Egypt (West Bank including East Jerusalem, some parts of the Lebanese territory, Golan Heights from Syria, Sinai peninsula in Egypt, and Gaza Strip). This resulted in a second exodus of half a million Palestinians. That same year the UN Security Council called on Israel to withdraw from the territories it had occupied .

1973 - A three week war beginning on October 6th 1973between Syria, Egypt, and Israel takes place to reclaim the territories taken by Israel.

1974 - The UN reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty and to return.

1975 - The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) was conferred by the UN the status of observer in the General Assembly in in other international conferences held by the UN.

1982 - In June 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon with the intention to eliminate the PLO. A ceasefire was agreed upon and PLO troops withdrew from Beirut to neighbouring countries after the safety of thousands of Palestinian refugees were guaranteed. However, a large-scale massacre of refugees took place in the camps of Sabra and Shatila.

1983 - The International Conference on the Question of Palestine adopted the Geneva Declaration which contained the following: the need to oppose and reject the establishment of settlements in the occupied territory and actions taken by Israel to change the status of Jerusalem, the right of all States in the region to existence within secrture and internationally recognised boundaries, with justice and security for all people, and the attainment of the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

1987 - There was a mass uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (the intifada) resulted in heavy loss of life among the Palestinians as Israelis used strong tactics and force to fight off the Palestinians.

1991 - A Peace Conference on the Middle East convened in Madrid resulted in the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which represented the Palestinian people.

1993 - The signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by both Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in Washington eventually led to the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, the elections of the Palestinian Council and the Presidency of the Palestinian Authority, the partial release of prisoners and the establishment of a functioning administration in the areas under Palestinian self-rule.

2000 - The controversial visit by the Israeli leader Ariel Sharon to Al-Haram Al-Sharif (Al Aqsa Mosque) led to the second intifada. There was a massive loss of life, the reoccupation of territories under Palestinian self-rule, military incursions, extrajudicial killings of suspected Palestinian militants, suicide attacks, rocket and mortar fire and the destruction of property.

2002 - The Security Council adopted a resulition affirming a vision of two States – Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and rcognised borders.

2003 - The Middle East Quartet – US, EU, Russia and the UN – released a detailed road map to a two-State solution.

2004 - The International Court of Justice ruled that the separation wall built by the Israelis at the West Bank within the Occupied Palestinian Territory was illegal and dismantled, but Israel continues to build the wall ignoring the ruling by the international court.

2005 - Israel withdrew its settlers and troops from the Gaza Strip as part of its “Disengagement Plan” while retained effective control over its borders, seashore and airspace. Palestinians celebrated the end of Israeli 38-year presence in Gaza. After that a more intense power struggle grew between Hamas and Fatah for control of the strip.

2006 - In January, Hamas wins a surprise victory in Palestinian Authority parliamentary elections, taking 76 of the 132 seats. Hamas and Fatah struggle to find a way to work together. Hamas says it has no plans to pursue peace talks with Israel, while Western nations refuse to work with the new Hamas-dominated parliament.

On June 25, Hamas militants kill two Israeli soldiers and abduct Cpl. Gilad Shalit inside Israel. Israel closes the border with Gaza, cutting off the flow of people and many goods to the strip. The blockade is occasionally lifted to allow in humanitarian aid, but Gaza's economy is further crippled.

2007 - In March, a unity government is formed between Hamas and Fatah to try to stop the violence and ease an international boycott against the Palestinians. Hamas later seizes by force control over gaza including all the institutions previously under control by the Palestinian National Authority. As a result Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dismisses the Hamas-led unity government on June 14, and formed a new government headed by Dr. Salam Fayad.

2008 - In June, Hamas and Israel reach a ceasefire to halt the cross-border rocket attacks and end Israeli offensives in Gaza. The truce ends six months later. Palestinians accuse Israel of never completely opening its border, while Israel accused Hamas of continuing its rocket attacks.
Israel launches an onslaught against Gaza targets in late December.

2009 - As Israel continued to pound the Gaza strip Palestinian civilian casualties rise to more than 1,200 of which over half are women and children and injuring over 5000 people .