We just concluded a conference “Euro-Arab dialogue in the
twenty first century: Towards a common vision.” Some 350 representatives from
52 countries were there: government ministers, politicians, writers, academics,
journalists, and only a handful of grass-root activists. The opening session
was at the European Parliament headquarters in Bussels. The second day was in a
fancy hotel. The sponsoring foundation
was Al-Babtain Foundation which was established by Arab businessman and poet
Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain. Al-Babtain has a number of philanthropic activities
and tries to involve Arabs of varied backgrounds. The spokeswoman on behalf of the EU
Parliament welcomed us and indicated the importance for dialogue to advance democracy, understanding and peace.
The foundation gave an award to Avi Shlaim an Israeli
British academic who was born in Iraq and is one of the group of new historians
who showed that the Zionist version of the Nakba of 1948 is certainly
mythology. We benefited from useful discussions outside of the formal
presentations. The formal presentations
had some good speakers (for example the previous foreign minister of Malta Mr.
Michael Frendo) and some not so good (e.g. an EU person who gave an condescending
lecture and a Lebanese who blamed our ills not on Israel but on Iran!). The old orientalism ideas are expected but it
is more disappointing to hear Arab defeatist subservience on occasion
reinforcing Sykes-Picot and other colonialist ideas of divide and conquer. But there were many decent good voices
including from the sponsors. The
elephant in the room that could not be ignored was Israel despite attempts to
deflect this by talking about Iran. I
was pleased that many people (though not many current politicians) voiced strongly
the fact that the key to peace in the
Arab world and in Europe is justice for the Palestinian people.
The hospitality was superb at the conference and the food
was excellent. We did have time to network
with some important intellectuals and to visit a few key other landmarks in this
amazing and beautiful city. I had time to visit the natural history museum and
network with colleagues on issues of biodiversity. I wished we met in a less fancy
place and saved the money to help needy people.
Syrian refugees for example are reported to be selling their kidneys so that
they can survive. Gaza was not mentioned
in any of the speeches even though the news is that the electricity cut off is
plunging 1.6 million people into the Middle Ages and in some places sewage is
now filling streets. Israeli occupiers also continue attacks on Palestinians
and on holy sites especially Jerusalem
(one of the most important cities in the Arab world). Some of the attendees
were concerned as we talked to them. From Palestine itself, it was me and the
minister of culture Dr. Anwar Abuaisheh (a humble decent man, different from many
other Palestinian authority figures).
In photos: Gaza Strip plunged into darkness as fuel runs out
….A major waste water treatment plant in al-Zaytoun
neighborhood of Gaza City failed on Wednesday, leading sewage to flood the
streets of the neighborhood and blocking passage for residents through the
city's darkened alleyways.
Someday - Song for Palestine: Music and Lyrics By Finian
Cunningham - Video produced by Debbie Menon at MyCatBirdSeat. This video and song
pays tribute to the incredible resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinians
in their struggle for justice and end to apartheid and occupation of their
homeland.
Uri Avneri, a seasoned Israeli politician on the assassination
of Yasser Arafat
The choice is revealingly simple. Stop funding genocide in
the Middle East or start feeding Americans. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/11/02/332516/cut-zionist-genocide-feed-americans/
American Intifada: Shaking Off Six Decades of Deceit
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