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European MPs discuss Jewish state bill

European MPs discuss Jewish state bill January 24, 2019 at 5:02 am | Published in: Europe & Russia , France , Israel , Middle East , News , Palestine , UK January 24, 2019 at 5:02 am Representatives of the European Parliament and some human rights activists and supporters of the Palestinian cause discussed the Jewish state bill and the European role required to end Israeli Apartheid.

During a conference held by European Palestinian Relations Forum, based in London, on Tuesday 22 January, 2019, the MPs discussed the impact of the racist law on the chances of reaching a solution to the Palestinian issue and the future of peace in the Middle East, as well as the future of the European Union’s relation with the Israeli state.

Some MPs, journalists and activists, as well as human rights advocates from several European countries, attended the conference, which was held in the European Parliament, Brussels.

The conference was hosted and moderated by MP Keith Taylor, a member of the Greens Alliance of the European Parliament.

“Our duty as human rights advocates requires us not to engage in the crime of silence and stand motionless regarding the Israeli violations against the Palestinians,” Taylor said.

He added: “What Israel is doing and trying to legitimise under the Jewish state bill can only be described as Apartheid.”

He stressed that the Jewish state bill reminds the international community to take action and force Israel to comply with the international laws.

For his part, chairman of the forum, Zaher Birawi, expressed his gratitude for the participants, highlighting the importance of these conferences in exposing the racism of the occupation state and promoting the Palestinian account of the conflict with Israel.

“The Palestinian people are eager to see the efforts of the free world to stop Israeli racist practices and policies, and looks forward to ending the occupation that is the root of evil in the Middle East,” he asserted.

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Yousef Jabareen, a Palestinian member of the United Arab List in the Israeli Knesset, described the extent of the suffering of the Palestinian citizens living in the state of Israel and the practices as well as racist violations that have become more obvious in the daily lives of these Palestinians.

In his speech via Skype from Jerusalem, Jabareen wondered: “What democracy is Israel speaking about after drafting this bill!,” referring to the dangers of this “ basic law,” as Israeli officials call it, which is intended to be included in the future Constitution of the Israeli state.”

David Kronin, journalist and writer who specialises in monitoring Israel’s violations against human rights, explained the threat imposed by this bill against the Palestinians, who make up 20 per cent of the Israeli territories’ population, in addition to the potential damage that such law can cause to the national rights of the Palestinian people.

“The roots of this law were created and empowered by the European colonial powers of the last century, especially France and Britain,” Kronin said.

He referred to the relationship between the Balfour Declaration and this racist bill, indicating that “these countries, in addition to the US, continue sponsoring this dangerous ideology of the so-called Zionist project in the region.”

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