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])