Despite pro Israeli campaigns, 13th Palestinians in Europe Conference held in Germany

The 13th Palestinians in Europe Conference commenced its activities today. Saturday, 25th of April 2015 in Berlin, Germany in partnership with the Palestinian Return Centre, Palestinian Assembly in Germany and other Palestinian organizations in Europe.

The conference started among huge participation of more than 10 thousand Palestinians who came from across Europe.

Chairman of the Conference and president of the Palestinian return centre opened the conference and welcomed the thousands who arrived to take part in the annual event. Al zeer stated that the efforts of the conference over the past 13 years have culminated where the support for the Palestinians in Europe grow.

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the audience through a special deputy to the conference. His speech asserted on the constant support of the Turkish people and government for the Palestinian people and their rights. Erdogan also welcomed the recognition of the Palestinian state across Europe and demanded the European governments to do more.

Mr. Pat Sheehan of the Northern Ireland Assembly spoke at the event where he addressed the audience and expressed his full support for the Palestinian people. He called on the British governments and other EU governments to support the Palestinian independence and their rights.

Lord Hugh Dykes and MP John Finnie also spoke at the event and express their support to the Palestinian rights and called on European governments to grant justice to the Palestinian people.

Mr. Adel Abdallah, General Sectertait of Palestinians in Europe Conference added that the masses which attended the Palestinians in Europe Conference send a message to the whole world that the Palestinian people will never forget their basic rights especially the right of return to their homeland in 1948 lands.

Speakers included,

Mr. Mustafa Al Rumaid, Minister of Justice, Morocco

Dr. Moustafa al Barghouti, head of the Palestinian Imitative Party

Mr. Raid Nuirat, academic and researcher, Nablus, Palestine

Journalist Jamal Rayan of Al Jazeera Arabic

Film and Media director Rawan Al damin

Ola Abid, Palestinian activist and researcher based in Jordan

Mr. Yousef Abu Al Sood, academic and researcher, King Abulaziz University, KSA

Mr. Taysir Nasrallah, former prisoner and chairman of Yaffa Cultural Centre

Mr.Khalid Barakat, Palestinian writer and activist based in Beirut

Mr. Samir Falih, Chairman of the Muslim Asembly in Germany

Father Manuel Musallam, the pastor of the Catholic parish in Gaza City

Dr. Muhsin Saleh, Palestinian Author and General Director of Al Zytouna Study and research centre

Dr. Yousef Al Mudalal, Palestinian Dentist who served at the Gaza Health Ministry in 2009

Over the past 4 weeks, a huge negative campaign from pro Israeli lobby supported with some right wing media newspapers smeared the conference and circulated various allegations. The campaign called on German authorities in Berlin to cancel the event however, they were turned back.

The Israeli lobby and right wing activists failed to mobilize for a set in where few dozens showed up to protest against the conference.

Dozens of Police offers arrived to the place to provide security in the light of this big event.

During the previous nine years the conference was held in various European cities like London 2003, Berlin 2004, Vienna 2005, Malmo 2006, Rotterdam 2007, Copenhagen 2008, Milan 2009, Berlin 2010 and Wuppertal, Germany 2011, Kopenhagen 2012, Brüssels 2013 and Paris 2014.