Campaign for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights
Activity Update (October - December 1999)
EUROPE
BRUSSELS:
Lobbying the European Union for a
Just and Sustainable Peace in the Middle East - Report of the First
Meeting with the European Parliament: On 17 November 1999, the
European Inter-Network Group (composed of the ECCP and the four
European NGO-networks) and a delegation of their Palestinian
partner organizations headed by Mustafa Barghouthi/UPMRC
(www.upmrc.org), met with 40 members of the European Parliament to
raise three major issues related to a just and durable peace in the
Middle East: a) Palestinian sovereignty and substance of the
Palestinian state in creation; b) development of a sustainable
Palestinian economy; and, c) the solution of the Palestinian
refugee question based on international law and UN resolutions. The
meeting concluded with a consensus that while Palestinian statehood
is becoming a reality, the viability of the emerging state
continues to be threatened by Israeli policies implemented on the
ground as well as by the Israeli positions held in the final status
negotiations. In a next step, the European Inter-Network Group and
a Palestinian partner delegation will hold a second meeting with
the European Union in order to discuss the requirements for a just
and durable solution of the Palestinian refugee question. A
discussion paper prepared by BADIL Resource Center (see: page #),
as well as BADIL's Petition for Palestinian Restitution, were
presented to the European parliamentarians as part of the
preparations for the special meeting on the Palestinian refugee
question scheduled for spring 2000. The Inter-Network Group and the
Palestinian delegation were hosted in the European Parliament by
MEP Luisa Morgentini/United Left.
NAMUR/Belgium:
Photo Exhibition -
Palestinian Refugee Children Picture their Lives and Perspectives:
Photos produced by refugee children from Aida Camp/West Bank in the
framework of a workshop conducted by the BADIL Friends Forum and
the Quinoa volunteer team in summer 1999. The exhibition was
organized by Quinoa-Palestine ([email protected]) at the Forum
Cinema, Namur/Belgium between 25 November - 15 December 1999.
LONDON:
Lobby Day in the British Houses of
Parliament (organized by the Palestinian Return Centre
[www.prc.org.uk], London, 24-11-99): Hundreds of participants came
from all over the United Kingdom. The lobbyists succeeded to secure
an Early Day Motion emphasizing the ongoing importance of the
Palestinian right of return for a just and stable peace in the
Middle East. The motion was signed by 74 MPs; additional MPs
continue to be recruited. Dr. Phyllis Starkey, the Chairperson of
the All Party Britain-Palestine Group told a packed gathering in
the Grand Common Room that a special debate will take place on the
issue on Tuesday, 30 November 1999. The proceedings of the debate
will be officially recorded and the government will, in due course,
have to respond on the issue. (For details contact:
[email protected])
BADIL is proud to announce: The Establishment of BADIL-London, a
group of Palestinian and British activists who will work to
strengthen the Campaign for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee
Rights in Britain.
(Contact: [email protected]; or:
[email protected])