Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Oct 13, 2024

Nakba conference calls for educating Europeans about realities of life for Palestinians and their cause

Nakba conference calls for educating Europeans about realities of life for Palestinians and their cause

Delegates at a conference in Belgium to discuss the Nakba — the word, meaning catastrophe, used by Palestinians to describe the loss of their land when the state of Israel was established — called for intensive efforts to educate and inform European citizens, governments, parliamentarians and other decision-makers about the reality of life for Palestinians, and attract support for their cause.
Speakers at the event, titled “75 Years and the Nakba Still Continues,” included European and Palestinian academics and experts in politics, law and the media, the Kuwait News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The one-day event, which took place at the Brussels Press Club on Tuesday, was organized by the European Palestinian Council for Political Relations, a nongovernmental organization based in the Belgian capital.

In a video message to the conference, Manu Pineda, a Spanish member of the European Parliament who chairs its Delegation for Relations with Palestine, said: “The Nakba was a unilateral decision by the Zionist movement to occupy Palestinian territories and expel Palestinians from their villages.

“It was what we called the beginning of the policy of ethnic cleansing which continues till this day and which aims at the total annexation of the historic territory of Palestine. The international community must take concrete action to end this apartheid regime.”

Hasan Ayoub, a professor of political science at Al-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus, presented delegates with a historical overview of the Nakba and the crimes committed by the occupying force.

The conference examined four main topics: The story of the Palestinian people and the threats they have faced, including ethnic cleansing and the denial of their right to self-determination; the situation in Jerusalem, settlement activity and the detention of Palestinians as a continuing reality of the Nakba;
the plight of Palestinian refugees inside and outside of Palestine; and ways to encourage the adoption of European policies on Palestine that are more just for the Palestinian people.

Majid Al-Zeer, the head and founder of the European Palestinian Council for Political Relations, said: “The Israeli crimes associated with the Palestinian Nakba are many but the common denominator among them is the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians and their uprooting from their lands.”

The council aims to ensure the Palestinian cause and its history remain at the forefront of the minds of European decision-makers, to encourage them to work in the name of justice, he added.

The UN has adopted the 75th anniversary of the Nakba this year as an international day of commemoration, and has requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, which will test the entire international system’s commitment to justice, Al-Zeer said.

In its efforts to achieve its goals of raising awareness in the EU of the Palestinian situation, the council engages in various activities, including conferences, meetings with political delegations, letter-writing campaigns and petitions, he added.

Renowned Belgian journalist Loos Baudouin, who writes on Middle Eastern affairs for Belgian daily Le Soir, told delegates he has come under pressure from Jewish groups in Belgium to alter his objective and fair reporting on Palestine, but refuses to give in to them.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Tesla's Robotaxi Design Strikes Controversy
Global Condemnation, Political Shifts, and Cultural Changes: Key Developments Around the World
Russia and Iran Bolster Economic Ties with Strategic Partnership Talks
Israel Issues Warning to Southern Lebanon Amid Ongoing Conflict
Poll Shows Trump Favored Over Harris in Handling Wars
Iran Enforces Electronics Ban on Flights After Lebanon Attacks
Gunfire Targets Jewish School in Toronto as Anti-Semitic Incidents Surge Across Canada
Global Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts: Key Developments from Turkey-Greece Talks to Electoral Concerns in Mozambique
Saudi Arabia Hosts Regional Environmental Summit Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
Saudi Arabia's Bold Reforms: Tax Exemptions, Water Security Initiatives, and Global Health Leadership Amid Middle East Tensions
100 Days of Keir Starmer: Navigating Economy, Controversies, and Global Challenges
Global Tensions Rise: Ukrainian Conscription Raids, Sectarian Clashes in Pakistan, and Natural Disasters in Florida and Nepal
Iranian Speaker Condemns Israeli Airstrike Amidst Regional Tensions; Saudi Arabia and Morocco Navigate Diplomatic Challenges
From Falconry to Foreign Relations: Exploring Heritage and Headlines Across the Middle East
Escalating Conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon Highlight Global Tensions Amid Nobel Peace Prize Reminders
Global Shifts: Navalny's Legacy, China's Taiwan Pressure, Saudi Arabia's Fintech Boom, and Middle East Tensions
Nicaragua Cuts Ties with Israel Amid Rising Global Tensions and Domestic Political Shifts
Putin and Pezeshkian Forge Economic Ties as Geopolitical Tensions Rise Across Middle East
Saudi Arabia Pursues Sustainable Future Amid Middle East Tensions and Iraq's Cultural Revival
Global Leaders Address Middle East Tensions Amid Regional Security Initiatives and Cultural Innovations
Bridging Cultures and Innovations: From Arabic Sign Language Tech to Saudi Heritage and Global Exhibitions
Cybersecurity Breach at Intesa Sanpaolo and Global Scandals: A Rundown of Key Developments
Noor Riyadh Celebrates Light Art Festival Amidst Middle East Tensions and Global Diplomatic Moves
Saudi Arabia Strengthens Global Economic Ties: Key Agreements and Strategic Investments Highlighted at Forums
Somalia Welcomes Egyptian Peacekeepers Amid Global Geopolitical Shifts and Economic Initiatives
Nobel Peace Prize 2024 Celebrates Japanese Atomic Bomb Survivors' Quest for a Nuclear-Free World
Global Tensions Rise: Spain Halts Arms Sales to Israel Amid Condemnation, While Middle East Conflicts Escalate
Global Alliances and Regional Tensions: A Week of Diplomatic Moves and Digital Advances
Global Challenges: UNHCR's Statelessness Victory, Hurricane Milton's Aftermath, and Rising Geopolitical Tensions
Historic Floods Reshape Sahara Desert Landscape
US Seeks Diplomatic Resolution in Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions
Ireland Urges Israel to Cease Fire on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Global Tensions Unfold: ASEAN Summit Criticizes China's Actions, Middle East Violence Escalates, and Ukraine Seeks Ally Support
Global Unrest: Mining Tragedy in Balochistan, Israel-Palestine Tensions, and Exploitation in Russia Contrast Tesla's Tech Innovations
Global Tensions Rise: Germany's Arms to Israel, Turkey's Influence in Albania, and Crises in Gaza and South Sudan
Saudi Arabia Unveils New Tourism Codes Amid Regional Diplomatic and Humanitarian Developments
Saudi Arabia's Dynamic Week: Market Gains, Innovative Initiatives, and Community Development
EU and GCC Summit Aims to Alleviate Arab Conflicts and Boost €170 Billion Trade Partnership Amidst Global Turmoil
Saudi Arabia and Oman Forge Green Economy Pact Amidst Cultural and Technological Advances
Gaza Tragedy Sparks Outrage as Saudi Arabia and France Strengthen Defense Ties Amid Regional Conflicts
Oman's Economic Resilience Amid Regional Tensions: S&P Upgrades Credit Rating; Saudi Arabia Advances Social and Industrial Growth
KAUST to Host Prestigious World Academic Summit Amidst Global Unrest and Escalating Conflicts
Turkish Energy Bourse Eyes Carbon Markets and IPO Amid Global Chaos: Geopolitical Tensions, Natural Disasters, and Notable Losses
Global Leaders Address Economic and Security Challenges Amidst Rising Tensions at ASEAN and East Asia Summits
US Warns Israel Against Expanded Military Operations Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East
Global Update: UNICEF Reveals Dire Sexual Violence Stats in Africa, NLD Faces Turmoil in Myanmar, and DACA Under Review While Storms and Safety Threats Unfold
Tensions Rise in Middle East as Lebanese Army Arrests Syrian Spies and Israel Intensifies Strikes, Amid U.S. Political Shifts and Nobel Prize Announcements
Tragic Missile Strike in Odesa, Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida, and UK Conservative Leadership Race Heats Up
Saudi Arabia's Strategic Moves: Wage Insurance for Foreign Workers and Strengthening Global Diplomatic Ties Amid Regional Turmoil
Saudi Arabia's Dynamic Shift: From Global Market Access to Cultural Innovation and Biotech Ambitions Under Vision 2030
×