Fighting Israel's campaign against the Palestinian Return Centre
Comment: Palestinian solidarity activists in Britain have successfully fought back against Israeli attempts to smear them, writes Tom Charles.
4 min read
17 Dec, 2015
Israel’s campaign against the NGO began in 2010 when it was completely banned [AFP]
The Palestinian Return Centre held a parliamentary reception on Monday to celebrate its election to NGO consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The PRC has been a UN-accredited NGO since 2003, but its status at ECOSOC, awarded in July, represents a significant victory for the organisation in its struggle against an Israeli campaign to defame it.
Backed by the United States, Israel had sought to block the PRC's accreditation, which gives the London-based group access to ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies. PRC will now be able to influence ECOSOC's policy recommendations to member states on the economic and social policy towards Palestinian refugees.
From 2011, the PRC had sought consultative status, but was thwarted by what it described as an Israeli smear campaign. The claim was that PRC had "known links to terrorism" and was "affiliated to Hamas".
No proof of either charge was presented and the PRC initiated a lawsuit against Israel in response.
Israel's campaign against the NGO began in earnest in 2010 with the banning of the organisation in Israel. This was largely a symbolic gesture as PRC had never sought to work in Israel.
Worse was to follow, though, with increasing attacks on the PRC's reputation based on a report by the Israeli think tank The Reut Institute.
The Israeli campaign against the PRC presented the organisation with an additional obstacle in working within the European and UK parliaments, arenas that are not traditionally supportive of challenges to Israeli hegemony.
Despite Israeli concerns about London being a "Mecca of Delegitimisation" of Israel's right to exist in its current form, PRC is in fact unique in the UK in its focus on the rights of Palestinian refugees. Despite the ongoing plight of the seven million Palestinian refugees - two-thirds of the total Palestinian population - very little campaigning on their specific plight is undertaken by solidarity groups in the UK.
Pro-Palestinian rhetoric and campaigning has gained plenty of mainstream traction in recent years in the UK, yet the refugee issue has been largely absent from the debate.
In this unfavourable context, PRC has remained steadfast and consistent in its advocacy of Palestinian refugee rights, particularly the right of refugees to return to their homes and land, guaranteed by UN Resolution 194 in 1948, but denied by Israel ever since.
The celebration in parliament provided the NGO with the opportunity to thank the ambassadors of the countries that supported their ECOSOC application, as well as to show their appreciation to pro-Palestinian UK parliamentarians from a range of parties.
"This is a special and unique achievement because we are addressing what Israel has made a taboo," Majed al-Zeer, chairman of the PRC, told me.
"Israel called us a terrorist group in 2010, but we believe in international law."
Zeer continued: "It's a signal to Palestinians to keep going, within the law. It's a big indication of the new environment we’re working in."
In its ECOSOC application, despite Israeli lobbying efforts, the PRC was supported by 130 MPs and MEPs from the UK and European parliaments, including a vice-chair of the European parliament, Dimitrios Papadimoulis. Diplomatically, Sudan played a particularly effective role in pushing PRC's application, which was also backed by Russia and China.
"Palestine has gained strong ground," Zeer explained.
"Israel is no longer in an empty political space in which they can do whatever they want. We are a positive example for the Palestinian population across the world to do the same in their host countries. We have also provided a signal of support and hope to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Diaspora that somebody is doing something positive."
The Westminster celebration was broadcast live on television in the Middle East and was attended by a number of prominent parliamentarians with whom the PRC has worked.
"For the Palestinian issue and for the Middle East, this is the best of times and the worst of times," Baroness Jenny Tonge told me.
"The Palestinians have never had so much support, but at the same time the refugee crisis is worsening. People really need to start asking Israel why they aren't doing more for the refugees."
Tom Charles is a London-based writer, editor and literary agent. He previously worked in the UK parliament, including as a lobbyist for Palestinian rights. He has contributed to Jadaliyya and the Journal of Palestinian Refugee Studies. Follow him on Twitter: @tomhcharles
Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of al-Araby al-Jadeed, its editorial board or staff.
The PRC has been a UN-accredited NGO since 2003, but its status at ECOSOC, awarded in July, represents a significant victory for the organisation in its struggle against an Israeli campaign to defame it.
Backed by the United States, Israel had sought to block the PRC's accreditation, which gives the London-based group access to ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies. PRC will now be able to influence ECOSOC's policy recommendations to member states on the economic and social policy towards Palestinian refugees.
From 2011, the PRC had sought consultative status, but was thwarted by what it described as an Israeli smear campaign. The claim was that PRC had "known links to terrorism" and was "affiliated to Hamas".
No proof of either charge was presented and the PRC initiated a lawsuit against Israel in response.
Israel's campaign against the NGO began in earnest in 2010 with the banning of the organisation in Israel. This was largely a symbolic gesture as PRC had never sought to work in Israel.
Worse was to follow, though, with increasing attacks on the PRC's reputation based on a report by the Israeli think tank The Reut Institute.
The Israeli campaign against the PRC presented the organisation with an additional obstacle in working within the European and UK parliaments, arenas that are not traditionally supportive of challenges to Israeli hegemony.
Despite Israeli concerns about London being a "Mecca of Delegitimisation" of Israel's right to exist in its current form, PRC is in fact unique in the UK in its focus on the rights of Palestinian refugees. Despite the ongoing plight of the seven million Palestinian refugees - two-thirds of the total Palestinian population - very little campaigning on their specific plight is undertaken by solidarity groups in the UK.
Pro-Palestinian rhetoric and campaigning has gained plenty of mainstream traction in recent years in the UK, yet the refugee issue has been largely absent from the debate.
In this unfavourable context, PRC has remained steadfast and consistent in its advocacy of Palestinian refugee rights, particularly the right of refugees to return to their homes and land, guaranteed by UN Resolution 194 in 1948, but denied by Israel ever since.
The celebration in parliament provided the NGO with the opportunity to thank the ambassadors of the countries that supported their ECOSOC application, as well as to show their appreciation to pro-Palestinian UK parliamentarians from a range of parties.
"This is a special and unique achievement because we are addressing what Israel has made a taboo," Majed al-Zeer, chairman of the PRC, told me.
"Israel called us a terrorist group in 2010, but we believe in international law."
Zeer continued: "It's a signal to Palestinians to keep going, within the law. It's a big indication of the new environment we’re working in."
In its ECOSOC application, despite Israeli lobbying efforts, the PRC was supported by 130 MPs and MEPs from the UK and European parliaments, including a vice-chair of the European parliament, Dimitrios Papadimoulis. Diplomatically, Sudan played a particularly effective role in pushing PRC's application, which was also backed by Russia and China.
 |
Israel is no longer in an empty political space in which they can do whatever they want - Majed al-Zeer, PRC Chair |
"Israel is no longer in an empty political space in which they can do whatever they want. We are a positive example for the Palestinian population across the world to do the same in their host countries. We have also provided a signal of support and hope to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Diaspora that somebody is doing something positive."
The Westminster celebration was broadcast live on television in the Middle East and was attended by a number of prominent parliamentarians with whom the PRC has worked.
"For the Palestinian issue and for the Middle East, this is the best of times and the worst of times," Baroness Jenny Tonge told me.
"The Palestinians have never had so much support, but at the same time the refugee crisis is worsening. People really need to start asking Israel why they aren't doing more for the refugees."
Tom Charles is a London-based writer, editor and literary agent. He previously worked in the UK parliament, including as a lobbyist for Palestinian rights. He has contributed to Jadaliyya and the Journal of Palestinian Refugee Studies. Follow him on Twitter: @tomhcharles
Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of al-Araby al-Jadeed, its editorial board or staff.
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