Prof. Dr. Saleh Abu Osba, the President of Al-Istiqlal University, and Col. Salman Abdallah, his Deputy for Military Affairs, participated in the CICA Forum in China which is affiliated with the Heads of the Military Institutes within “The Forum for the Heads of Military Academies of CICA Member States”, concentrating on the interaction and building confidence in Asia, in the People's Republic of China.
Prof. Dr. Abu Osba expressed his, and the Palestinians, appreciation, for the People's Republic of China and its continued support to the Palestinian people, saying “We have come from the State of Palestine, carrying the hope and determination of our independent state and its capital in the Holly Jerusalem. We came carrying in our memory the saying of Prophet Muhammad “Ask for knowledge even in China.”
Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Abu Osba stressed the importance of this Forum which carries within its folds opportunities for cooperation and exchange of experiences among military institutes within the framework of CICA, and under the goals of this Forum, including the studying of the needs of individuals and military institutions for training in the age of information, and the need of these institutions for international cooperation in the domain of military education and the development of systems and instructions.
Moreover, he said “Al-Istiqlal University, as you know, is the only military and Security University in the State of Palestine, at the age of ten years, but it aspires to promote its programs and develop its elements, laws and instructions.
Also, he pointed out the negative hard circumstances which affect the lives of the Palestinian people, noting the existence of the Israeli occupation that prevents the normal life, the establishment of borders and checkpoints, the confiscation of the Palestinian lands, the arresting of the people, and withholding the funds of the Palestinian Authority, mentioning the occupation’s recent threat to annex the Jordan Valley, where Al-Istiqlal University is located in the city of Jericho, and this decision is considered a violation of international law.
Al-Istiqlal University delegation was received by the Ambassador of the State of Palestine in China Mr. Fariz Mahdawi and the Deputy Counselor Mr. Shadi Abu Zarka (Al-Khalayleh) at the Palestinian Embassy in the People's Republic of China.
It is noteworthy to mention that Al-Istiqlal has many international relations in the academic, security and military sectors, to develop the academic and military process according to its action plan and to meet the needs of students and Palestinian security institution.