Press Releases
BADIL Resource Center recently concluded a highly successful two-week speaking tour across the United Kingdom (UK), which was launched as part of the activities commemorating the 75th year of the Ongoing Nakba.
The speaking tour spanned across several cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Halifax, Sheffield, Leeds, Brighton, and London for a total of 9 events hosting hundreds of participants. Throughout the tour, BADIL Center's team of speakers shed light on crucial topics. These included a discussion of the historical context of Zionist colonization in Palestine and the Ongoing Nakba, and how this has culminated into a widening protection gap and the worsening situation faced by Palestinian refugees and IDPs. Furthermore, the responsibility of the international community, especially that of the UK, was highlighted, and the speakers emphasized how the three pillars of the Israeli colonial-apartheid regime – namely, colonization, apartheid, and forcible population transfer – must be dismantled, and discussed a three-tiered decolonization framework as a solution for Palestinian self-determination.
The presentations were followed by engaging and fruitful Q&As, revolving around topics such as decolonization, conditional funding restrictions, and potential solutions moving forward. Throughout both the presentations and the Q&As, BADIL discussed what the responsibilities of the Palestinian solidarity movements and groups in the UK are and how they can ensure that their organizing can best support the total liberation of the Palestinian people and decolonization of Palestine. In particular, BADIL emphasized the importance of uplifting and supporting Palestinian voices in the UK, of conducting strong and consistent boycott and divestment campaigns, and to strongly oppose all initiatives of the UK government and institutions to repress Palestinian voices through various oppressive efforts, such as via the harmful IHRA definitions and narratives.
The engagement with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign branches in UK, as well as other local campaigns and groups such as CADFA, Labour for Palestine, Sheffield Coalition Against Apartheid, and Stop-JNF, was a key highlight of the tour. BADIL's collaboration with these campaigns enabled them to connect with dedicated activists who are working tirelessly to support the Palestinian cause.
Together, they shared knowledge, experiences, and strategies, fostering a stronger network of solidarity and amplifying the voices of Palestinians in the UK.
BADIL’s tour in the UK highlighted the strong solidarity on the ground that still persists despite ongoing campaigns of the UK government and the Zionist lobby to criminalize, delegitimize, and silence support for the Palestinian cause. In an age of censorship, conditional funding, and blatant support for colonization, apartheid, and forcible transfer, local campaigns and groups offered reminders of their steadfast support for Palestinian liberation.
BADIL extends its gratitude to all the organizers, partners, and attendees who made the speaking tour a success, and looks forward to continuing its advocacy work in the UK.
