London, Conference on Right of Return of Palestinians

July 25, 2003 - PRC Report

London: To assert their unwavering commitment to the right to return,
representatives of numerous Palestinian institutions and organizations,
as well as many Palestinian dignitaries from fifteen European countries
met in London to denounce the alien voices which rise from time to time
to call for surrendering the right to return.

The conference held on Saturday July 19th 2003 in the Holborn in
central London was attended by a vast audience in the presence of a large
number of diplomats and representatives of the Foreign and Arab embassies
in Britain, in addition to prominent Palestinian figures such as Dr.
Haidar Abd al-Shafi (Gaza), Professor Nassir Arouri (USA), Dr. Salman
Abu. Sitta and Bilal al-Hassan. The participants in this conference –which
is the first of its kind in Europe- insisted on the necessity of
commitment to the right to return and outright rejection of any attempt to
surrender, or even tamper with it, under any pretext whatsoever.

In his opening speech, Mr. Zahir al-Birawi Chairman of the Board (PRC)
maintained that the conference was convened under very difficult
circumstances and in dangerous and worrying times. “We, he continued, must
thus stand shoulder to shoulder and join hands with all the honest men
and women engaged in the struggle for the protection of the right to
return from the designs not only of its enemies but its friends too, who
were driven by their narrow personal interests to turn their backs to
their people’s sacrifices and its ongoing tragedy.”

The centre vehemently denounced the proposals, initiatives and
misleading opinion polls, which do nothing but promote the interests of the
occupier and provide it with the much needed moral and political cover at
the expense of the Palestinian people’s rights. He said in conclusion
to his speech that the geographic remoteness of Europe’s Palestinians
and relative comfort of their situation will never prompt them to accept
any resolutions that did not ensure a full restitution of their rights,
foremost return to their lands and villages.

The guests for their part insisted on the importance of the conference,
as a great gathering of institutions and individuals from various
European countries which gives a voice to the voiceless Palestinian refugees
scattered all over the globe and represents their unflinching
commitment to their right to return to their homes. Dr. Haidar abd al-Shafi laid
special stress on the vital role played by Palestinian communities in
Europe, thanks to the facilities they have at their disposal, which they
must use efficiently in support of the Palestinian cause.

Professor al-Aruri maintained that it is crucial for refugees to rally
around the issue of return and actively strive to marginalize the alien
voices calling for the burial of the right to return.

Dr. Salman Abu Sitta praised the Centre for its pioneering efforts in
defense of the sacred right to return, while strongly denouncing the
role played by Sirri Nseiba who had met Ami Ayalon head of Israeli
intelligence services in the latter’s home, which had before the catastrophe
been home to the Madhi family which had been displaced from its village
Ijzim.

Mr Bilal al-Hassan pointed to the impossibility of any solution to the
Palestinian problem without the resolution of the refugees’ issue and
the danger of dealing with the matter as that of a few territories
occupied in 1967. This he said would never bring Peace to Israel.

All the delegations that participated in the conference expressed their
absolute, and unequivocal commitment to the right to return and
repudiation of all attempts to relinquish it. Their presence in the
conference, they argued was itself a testimony of such commitment.

In conclusion, the conference congratulated the Centre on this valuable
initiative that made it possible for Europe’s Palestinians to express
their position vis a vis the recent developments in the Palestinian
arena and rejection of any proposal that did not ensure their return to the
homes and lands they had been displaced from in 1948. They furthermore,
praised the role played by popular institutions striving to safeguard
the right to return, both inside the occupied homeland and in the
Diaspora. The work of such institutions, they insisted, must be supported
that they may succeed in realizing their mission effectively.

In addition, the participants expressed their firm commitment to return
to the homes out of which they had been driven, as a fundamental
individual and collective right acknowledged by divine legislation and
international conventions and laws. This right is enshrined in a number of
United Nations’ resolutions, including resolution 194, which recognized
Palestinian refugees’ right to return and compensation. Return is also
an individual right which cannot be dealt with by representation and is
furthermore an inalienable right that does not lapse by prescription
and remains unaffected by the founding of a Palestinian state on any part
of Palestine.

The Participants rejected any negotiations, resolutions involving the
surrendering of the right to return, or plans of repatriation and
compensation. Palestinian refugees they insisted have a right to both return
and compensation. Compensation is for the years of suffering,
occupation and displacement and is no substitute for the sacred right to return.

In conclusion, the participants refused partial return to Palestinian
Authority controlled territories, or the return of the first generation
displaced in 1948 as a humanitarian solution, in the context of the so-
called “family re-union” plan, which is nothing but an attempt to bring
an end to the right to return.

 http://www.prc.org.uk

Posted by Dhoud