Meanwhile in Turkey, an Arab delegation to a European Union conference on the role of women in society said foreign occupation was hampering the movement for women’s equality in Arab countries.

Palestinian Deputy Minister for Women’s Affairs Salwa Hudeib: “In the end there are basic rights under international law to protect women and generally to protect people under occupation. But with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the world remains silent to please Israel, which is unjust and not balanced. We have called in our speech on the international community, the United Nations, the Quartet and everyone who affects decision-making in the Middle East to protect Palestinians, and Palestinian women and children.”