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THIRD WORLD SOLIDARITY meeting on ‘Palestine – the forgotten land’
Opening remarks by Chair: Dave Anderson MP
Welcome to this meeting, which carries on the rich tradition of promoting human rights, peace and justice throughout the developing world. I have been privileged to be part of Mushtaq’s organization that has dealt with areas such as Nepal, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Palestine, Morocco, Latin America and other regions. I would like to welcome our guest speaker today, the Special Representative of Palestine Delegate General in UK.
Usam Zomlot, Palestine Delegate General, UK
I thank the Third World Solidarity and Mushtaq for giving this opportunity to come here today in Parliament to share with you the issue of Palestine. The Third World Solidarity has been aiding the Palestinian cause for many years now and in all these years I have known Mushtaq and his organization, they have been with us side by side on our quest for the truth.
We meet at an acute point of history not just for Palestine but the region as the whole, as the world’s attention draws to events that shape our present and future. The region as we know it today sits on the fault line. The issue of Palestine and Israeli is not just a regional issue that can be solved with these two entities, the reason being it was not created by these two groups but indeed through global and in particular European and British involvement in the land of Palestine. To this day we have not had the courage to stand up to the real issue – as we look at yesterdays headline news and the plan set out by former Prime Minister Tony Blair i.e. the plan for economic prosperity for the beleaguered Palestinian people.
What Mr. Blair talks about is jobs and remuneration, for a people besieged in their own land, my friends we all know what comes first the hen or the egg? How can there be economic stability before peace and justice – yes peace and justice the very words Third World Solidarity promotes through dialogue; Tony Blair or the United States initiative seem very much like the other plans which make up the agenda as what I call the virtual Palestine. Lets not go back to far in history but just to the Oslo accords, and what we see now as the post Oslo period, it was meant to be the time for peace building, trust and reconciliation between the two parties involved. But what is the ground reality? Settlements have doubled since Oslo, and everyday land is being stolen. While the world talks about peace, elections, and economy, on a daily basis land is being grabbed and Israel keeps not one of its promise, during the time from Oslo to the Intifada not one Israeli life was taken within the borders of the State of Israel.
So what message is the world trying to give to our people and my land? You talk as if Palestine was a virtual reality, no one talks about settlements but instead focus on irrelevant issues such as institutional building- while ignoring the fact that under direct violation of International Law this is a foreign military occupation. It is much easier for Quartet to talk about police, democracy and schools. Israel fails to recognize the democratically elected government of Palestine and targets and assassinates its leader, which other country of a sovereign people would stand for this? On the day Hamas won the elections – Israel arrested 40 ministers of parliament? Would England stand for this here in the very building I speak?
In this country every prisoner has a right? If they are treated baldy or not given food or water, the media and people would be up and protesting, even though these are criminals, murderers, rapists. Even they have a right in this country. But my friends in Palestine; in Gaza 1.5 million people are held prisoners and Israel announced it would cut off supplies and electricity for these people, from which 60% are under the age of 12!
This is a straightforward case of military occupation and until the world realizes this there will be no solution.
Mark my word ladies and gentlemen the coming peace accords and talks on the 27th November in the United States, between Mahmoud Abbass and Ehud Olmert are the last chance – why am I so negative? Because we people gave Israel a chance in Oslo, in Camp David and now here again – we say ok lets go Mr. Abbass lets see what they say?
But this will be the last chance, after this there will be only one way to look at this conflict or issue and that as a military occupation deemed illegal in all courts of law, which needs to be resisted. Till when will Israel be above the law? Get ready after the day of Annapolis.
Mushtaq Lashaire, Chairman TWS
Who would have thought as we leave behind the bloodiest century of them all – the 20th century we would embark on another turmoil filled time. We would have been wise enough to learn from our mistakes and live in peace and harmony. Yet barring the two world wars from the last century this has been a bloodier decade and it is not even out yet. Palestine remains an unresolved issue which is at the heart of all Middle East matters, and without its resolution no hope for peace in the wider perspective when looked at Lebanon, Syria and even Iraq and Iran.
The floor is opened and questions taken:
First question about the division between Hamas and the Fatah movements.
Mr. Zomlot responds: Gaza is a prison, it is not a normal functioning state or region where rules and regulations apply. We are under foreign occupation and surrounded by force – and this situation of internal fighting is nothing unique to us – it has been manipulated by outside spoilers of which Israel remains the number one cause. Who benefits from this – Israel as they can show the world –see this is what we deal with, who will rule them? The APC in South Africa had divisions in fighting the apartheid, the Indians in fighting the colonial rule and lets not forget who Gandhi was killed –so we see these things are bound to happen and in Gaza after 60 years of unity we have some problems. But again for the first time in the whole of the Arab world and region we brought together the nationalists and Islamists together at the Makkah accords and there was a Palestinian National Unity government set up. This has never been done in Egypt, Jordan or Syria – we took a lead and pioneered this – yet some of the neighbouring regimes have again used their political selfishness to hijack the Palestinian cause.
But last week according to the most conservative estimates 300,000 people took to the streets of Gaza demanding unity between Fatah and Hamas and not to forget the greater cause of Palestine. That is a clear message to some leader of the two respective parties who had lost their heads in haste. Israel has spoilt the first step for the Palestinian National Democratic process but they shall fail. We need to get back to basics and the real issue of occupation and injustice and then talk about other issues. We have 112 seats of which Hamas have 74% and altogether there is a 96% participation of al Palestinian parties in the Palestinian National Government – show me anywhere where this is done! We have fulfilled our obligation – shouldn’t Israel and the world fulfill theirs?
Mohammed Sarwar MP
I got into politics because of Palestine and during the 1980s and 1990s visited Palestine 8 times, believe me these people suffer and every family has been hit be tragedy. It is heart breaking and needs to be solved as soon as possible otherwise there will never be peace in the region. 90% of my constituents are not white and they keep sending emails and letters to say what is our government doing to solve this issue? 85% of UK’s 2 million Muslims see this issue as the number one priority for cause and concern and the foreign policy implementation. We must move one and do something – Tony Blair feels passionately about this issue, even though me and him and our differences on the Iraq war one thing he wanted to bring about a solution was a state for Palestine – and let us give him a chance. We need to return to the pre 1967 border – after all the Palestinians are not asking for the moon but only 22% of the their own homeland! The rest Israel has already carved up. It violates various UN resolutions:
Zomlot speaks Yes we know and appreciate the fact that most people sympathize with the Palestinian cause, infact more identify with us than the Israelis – and even on the eve of the Iraq War the UK witnessed the biggest anti war demonstration in its history. But my friends the answers do not like with these protestors or media – but here in this very building – Parliament! The MPs need to take up the issue to their government – if weapons are being sold to Israel and those weapons violate human rights and all international law then the Parliament needs to hold its government accountable. Time for talk and protests is over – the MPs need to act. Otherwise you will not see a solution or Britain taking a positive role.
Dave Anderson MP Closing Remarks
Ladies and Gentlemen with that we must come to an end – thank you very much for your time – the Third World Solidarity through the all Party Committee back this cause of Palestine and put forward the motion to Parliament so we can carry on the work and message to our government. We must not let this issue stay on protests and talk but act through our actions as MPs and political activists. Children should not suffer in the future and TWS is adamant to that cause.
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