Having commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day with Holocaust survivor Hajo Meyer and some Jewish friends, after a talk at Goldsmith University last week, I feel that Palestinians have many common experiences with the survivors of the Holocaust.

The way Meyer was imprisoned in the ghetto and moved across the checkpoints could be a stereotypical image in occupied Palestine. I was personally amazed to hear Hajo Meyer himself saying that the Palestinian suffering is so close to the Holocaust and sometimes it is the same. I was amazed because I heard it not from a Palestinian, but from a Jewish man who has suffered a lot.

For a long time, it has been widely argued that genocide has never been committed in Palestine. Some media outlets close to the Palestinian viewpoint reckon there was genocide, one that is still in progress. The Israeli narrative rejects the use of this term for the Palestinian experience. Without doubt, the Germans perpetrated a heinous crime and genocide against the Jews in World War Two. This should never even be argued. Around 6 million Jews were killed across Europe in an act that can never be tolerated by humanity. It was a huge crime.

There have, however, been genocides against many other peoples such as the American Indians and the Armenians, which must also be remembered. Most of these genocides are on a smaller scale than the Holocaust, but surely the fact that genocide has occurred must be condemned no matter the scale. Indeed, this seems to be the feeling of many Holocaust survivors themselves. They believe it is crucial to recognize, condemn and fight against genocide wherever it is happening no matter whether it is a few thousand or millions.

The core question here is, have the Palestinians suffered genocide by Israel? Has Israel really ethnically cleansed Palestinians? Does the term genocide apply in the Palestinian case? Is it legally applicable? Readers can make their own judgme... [Read More]

Gaza, January 22, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Exactly one year ago, the Gazans who were seared by the bright flames of phosphorous bombs used by what is ironically called the Israel Defense Force, placed much hope on the new president of the United States. They believed he would promptly intervene and press Israel to stop its crimes against our beleaguered land, that he would be just and fair as he promised. However, he did practically nothing: Israeli crimes are still perpetrated against the Palestinians, the worst of which was the siege imposed on Gaza as a retaliation for the people's exercise of democracy in the elections of 2006.

Those elections were hailed as clean and fair by ex-U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

As an "Americanist" in Gaza -- a professor who loves America and the wonderful American people, and teaches American literature and American culture, I was disappointed with the performance of the new American administration in its first year.

I expressed this disappointment in a message to Obama sung by Palestinian children -- those who do not know why they are orphaned, why they are jailed in a big concentration camp called Gaza, or why they are being suffocated by a siege imposed by the most unethical force of oppression in the world -- one that uses the most sophisticated American weapons. My message is a lyric written on behalf of Gaza kids, yet sung by them. My song is titled "Gaza kids are calling for Obama."

It is exactly what Gaza kids want Obama to do to improve the image of America in the Muslim world -- not the highly rhetorical speech delivered in Cairo by President Obama, the Noble Prize winner!

I think Obama should quickly develop a real peace plan that would meet the legitimate demands of the Palestinians for an independent state next to the state of Israel. The Palestinians also are expecting Obama to waive the Israeli and American veto power on Palestinian reconciliation, because w... [Read More]

The events which will last one week will remember the victims killed in more than 30 massacres like Dair Yasin, Qibya and Sabra-Shatlia.

 In commemoration of the victims of Gaza and also in remembrance of six decades of brutality against the Palestinians, The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC), Palestinian Forum in the UK, European Campaign to End Siege on Gaza, Islamic forum of Europe (IFE), Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Islamic Human Rights Commission in Britain (IHRC), Russell Tribunal, Student Council Goldsmith University and Action Palestine will be holding a number of events between 13th to 19th of January 2010.

The week will include a number of organized events in many cities with the main event on the evening of 13th of January.

Palestinian speakers from Gaza and the occupied territories will speak about the recent crisis caused by the Israeli army especially the last turmoil and onslaught in Gaza.

Prominent British MPs, supporters of Palestinian rights will take part in the event. Clare Short MP, Baroness Jenny Tonge, Bob Marshall - Andrews MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP and Lord Nazir Ahmed will participate in the event which is scheduled from 6 to 9-30 PM at friends house in London.
A Palestinian woman, Om Kamel, whose house was destroyed many times over in Occupied Jerusalem is expected to be among the key speakers. A gallery on Gaza's recent conditions and the last onslaught will be placed in the venue.

Ken Loach one of Britain most famous film directors is taking part on the conference of 13th January. Ewa Jasiewicz, an ISM activist who lived in Gaza and worked with paramedics during the Israeli attack, will narrate part of her experience on the ground.

During the following days, between 14th and 19th of January, events will include the launching of the biggest parliamentarian delegation to Gaza. In the sam... [Read More]

 The website can be visited on www.goldstone-report.org, and includes valuable information not widely available or known elsewhere. According to PRC media department, there has been a number of websites launched by pro Israeli lobbies and groups which adopt the official Israeli narration in respect of the Goldstone report. These websites include misleading and misguiding information about the siege and the War on the Gaza Strip.

PRC commented on the new website launched by the center as a new dimension in its strategy in bringing the realities on the ground to the eyes of the world. It tries to highlight the Palestinian victims especially the refugees who were the majority victims in the December war of 2008.

The Goldstone report tackles key points from the war such as the attack on the UNRWA school, destruction of UN food stockpiles, targeting of civilians, use of illegal weapons, excessive use of force and violence and the overall damage to infrastructure.

Developing on the facts mentioned on the report, PRC is holding a memorial week for Gaza victims between 13 and 19 of January 2010 where a number of workshops, galleries and speeches would be held in commemoration.

PRC strongly believes that the mainstream media has miserably failed to represent the truth of the conflict. Israelis misuse and manipulate the facts depicting victims as terrorists.

PRC, through its media department, will monitor and provide analysis of upcoming event on the Palestinian arena in an effort to provide an alternative perspective especially the continual plight of the refugees.

PRC media department added that the website focuses on three main stages, the Israeli withdrawal, the siege and the war. The actions of the Israelis in these areas are evidence that there is no advancement towards improving the living conditions of the Palestinians that are ... [Read More]

The conference scheduled on Wednesday, 16th of December is expected to accommodate hundreds of guests which include Journalists, activists and academics based in the UK and around the world. The participation of representatives of Palestinian Refugees from officials in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan is an added rarity in such conference as they will provide opportunity to discuss findings from a survey of Palestinian refugees in the camps.

The Center has received wide interest from the public and various officials around the world. PRC are committed to making this event free of admission for those interested in the Palestinian cause and those that work directly or in related fields.

Key speakers in the conference include British MPs who will chair the main sessions which will be announced shortly in the program.

According to Majed al zeer, General Director of PRC, the conference will produce a number of recommendations that would be used by the Center and other Educational Research institution and policy makers.

“We will insure implementation of the outputs of this vital conference. Experts, Politicians, MPs, activists and Journalists will provide in depth analysis that will enhance the work of all institutions working in similar environments. We will touch upon all recent problems and future perspectives upon which we would launch specific actions to tackle them.” Said al zeer

PRC regards this conference as a series of intense actions to raise awareness of Palestinian cause on top of which for Palestinians is always the right of Return.

The Center will also release a detailed report about a parliamentarian delegation organized by PRC 4 weeks ago.

The delegation also visited refugee camps sheltering Palestinians from the Nakhba in 1948 in Danon and Speina located south of the Syrian capital Damascus. The delegation met with Syrian president Bashar Al Asad where they discussed different ... [Read More]

It will be holding a memorial week for the victims and the besieged population of Gaza and including all Palestinian refugees that have been living in exile for over the Six decades. In cooperation with the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, PRC will host various exhibitions, discussions, lectures and films over the course of the week.

The memorial week will commence with a big event on the evening of the 13th January 2010 at Friends House in London, Euston. A number of key speakers and politicians will participate in commemorating the first anniversary besides screening some short films and reports about the current conditions in the Gaza Strip.

During the following days there will be a number of exhibitions, of which there will be one in Speakers Corner in Hyde Park with speakers in various languages Sunday 19th of January.

A short film about Gaza Strip will be screened one 13th of January. This film is one of the most recent documentaries released after the war. It depicts unseen moments of the Gaza war and is being screened in some European countries at the moment.

As part of its extensive week of activities, PRC is preparing a media package that includes posters, videos, leaflets and information packs that will be distributed for organizations and institution across the UK.

The memorial week according to PRC will take place yearly for the victims of Gaza most of whom have been on the path of victimhood and aggression since their initial expulsion in 1948 from their land in Palestine.

There would be a number of senior politicians, academics, activists and students participating week of actions.

 http://www.paltelegraph.com/hot-topic/2942-commemorating-the-1st-anniversary-of-gaza-war

The delegation which was headed by Lord Muhammad Eltaf Sheikh also included Baroness Jenny Tonge- Former British MP, Geremy Corybon British MP, Jim Hume MSP, Bat Breen Irish MP, Jim Tolson MSP, Muhammad Hamed, PRC chairman of Board of Trustees, Arafat Madi, PRC executive director and Nasim Ahmed Researcher at the PRC.

PRC organized the visit as part of its continuous effort to mobilize and raise awareness of the refugees whose plight is muted in the international arena and their basic human right to return to their home is obstructed. The delegation inspected the current conditions of Palestinian Refugees taking careful note of the terrible suffering especially those who fled the Iraqi war and are sheltering in Al Tanaf camp on the Syrian-Iraqi borders.

The delegation also visited refugee camps sheltering Palestinians from the Nakhba in 1948 in Danon and Speina located south of the Syrian capital Damascus. In describing their plight, the refugees, they spoke of their desire to return to their ancestral home in Palestine but also underlined their deep gratitude and appreciation to the Syrian government and people who have shown them great generosity for over Sixty Years.

The delegation met with Syrian president Bashar Al Asad where they discussed different methods to ease the suffering of Palestinian refugees in the camps and more importantly to find an imminent solution for those stranded on the borders between Syria and Iraq. President Abbas, showed his keenness to close the camps and find a more long term and humane solution with all the infrastructure in place and with the support of the international community.

Member of the Delegation and PRC chairman of Board of Trustees, Muhamad Hamed, expressed great satisfaction after the meeting with Syrian President.

"The meeting was positive as we touched upon the dilemmas and challenges faced by the Palestinian refugees. The Syrian president gave his support and will... [Read More]

The survey showed different views on the performance and services of UNRWA, with ratings between satisfied and unsatisfied. Some of the examined samples regarded the problem as one which is solely political.

Abu Ali, 70 said 'We have been suffering for decades. The UNRWA succeeded in filling the humanitarian gap. However, the political gap was never bridged by the United Nations. I think UN should have tried to set a body like UNRWA to solve our political problems" said the old man.

The survey which includes various samples would be shown and discussed at the conference. Majed al Zeer, PRC General Director said that the conference is expected to witness momentum participation from various academics, journalists, politicians and activists.

"We have received tens of requests to participate in the event. We aspire to achieve tangible results as we have invited key speakers such as MPs, politicians, activists and UNRWA speakers. They will discuss the future of Palestinian refugees and UNRWA to come out with a number of recommendations in that regard." said al Zeer.

He also said that the participation and admission to the event is free, thus enabling those interested like students, academics and public to take part.

More than six decades have now passed since the collective dispossession and forced expulsion of Palestinians from their ancestral home in Palestine because of Zionist aggression. For 5 Million Palestinians, forced exile still continues and their Nakba (catastrophe) is still a daily reality.

A detailed timetable of discussions will be announced shortly on our website: www.prc.org.uk . Many high profile personalities have agreed to join and there are more to confirm. The following is a list of those already confirmed:

•Claire Short- British MP
•Neil Gerrard MP
•Baroness Jenny Tonge- Former British MP
•Professor Norman Finkelstein- American Political Scientist and Author[Read More]