PalExpo:
Biggest Palestine
Event in Europe
Dr.
Mozammel Haque
Two days Conference on Palestine – the biggest event in Europe –
took place at Olympia National, London, on Saturday and Sunday, 6th
& 7th of July, 2019 respectively.
A two-day family celebration of Palestinian culture, history and arts, PalExpo
brings a range of immersive and innovative experiences to London.
Visitors took part in dozens of activities
including Dabka workshops led by the Palestinian groups Fatafeet and
Hakaya, attended a Palestinian wedding, Darbuka drumming workshops, admired
bridal dresses collection from 1900, used a virtual reality spray to write
on the apartheid wall, and listened to acclaimed poets, storytellers and
musicians.
PalExpo aimed to raise awareness of the daily
experiences Palestinians face under occupation through 20 exclusive
interactive installations. One of the installations was the Gaza hospital,
where visitors spoke to Palestinian doctors and learned about the struggles of
providing and receiving medical care in Gaza. Another installation was the BDS
bowling alley to encourage visitors to become familiar with Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions (BDS) targets.
This year's event featured a wide range of
high-profile speakers to share their expertise and experiences. They provided
thought-provoking ideas and covered subjects from global justice, cultural
boycott, apartheid, Deal of the Century and future of Palestine.
Speakers included South African MP and Nelson
Mandela’s grandson, Zwelivelile Mandela; former director of Al-Jazeera, Wadah Khanfar; journalist at Israel’s Haaretz, Gideon Levy; Palestinian activist, Issa Amro and Claire Anastas from
Bethleham whose home is surround by apartheid wall.
“Attending PalExpo is not just about learning or
entertainment but showing solidarity with Palestinians at this current,
critical political juncture,”
said Ismail Patel, Chair of PalExpo.
Welcoming the guests, speakers and visitors,
Ismail Patel, Chair Friends of Al-Aqsa said,
“We gather over the two days to
celebrate Palestinian history, heritage and culture. Unfortunately, we cannot
escape the dire conditions of Palestinians under occupation. The last year has
seen an overt USA colonialist interference in the Palestinian cause. Trump
unilaterally and against international law declared the Golan Heights as part
of Israel, shifted USA embassy to Jerusalem and taken upon himself to decide the
future of Palestinians, in their absentee, in his Deal of the Century.
“Trump mirrors the European colonialist approach
of the last century were the voices of the rightful heir to the land is not
only ignored but drowned out by Colonial ambitions. The unconditional USA
support to Israel has directly led to greater human rights violations of the
Palestinians. In this sense, Palestine is a metaphor of the continuation
struggle against Eurocentric colonial projects.
Palestine Expo thus provides an opportunity to
not only showcase Palestinian culture in all its diversity and richness, but
also to discuss the question of Palestine with people from all walks of life
and from all over the world. Palestine Expo, makes it clear that what is taking
place in Palestine is registered globally. Palestine Expo in its way hopes to
provide a counter discourse against hate, occupation and segregation. I thank you for joining us today and being part
of those seeking justice and peace.”
Two-day Conference was part of the Palestine Expo
festival. In this two-day conference there have been many different topics
discussed by many scholars, academicians, political leaders, and speakers from
all over the world.
The subjects were manifold. On the first day on
Saturday, 6th of July 2019, there were many topics discussed such
as: Jerusalem: Vanishing City; Nation Law: Israeli Apartheid State; Gaza: The
Great Return March; Deal or Disaster of the Century; Cultural Boycott;
Understanding Israeli Apartheid, Britain, Zionism and Jewish Resistance to
Israel; Understanding Islamophobia: A People’s Definition; Generation
Palestine: Student Movement; Settlement and House Demolitions; Global
Palestinisation; Media: Honest Reporting? Why are Anti-Palestinian Groups
Attacking Aid work in Palestine? Academics for Palestine? Faith & Activism;
Palestine: A Brief History; Trade under Fire; UK Parliament & Justice for
Palestine? Change for Palestine: An International Perspective and BDS.
The above subjects were discussed and deliberated
by the following scholars, academicians, political leaders and parliamentarians
such as Laila Hassan; Salma Karni Ayyoub; Professor Joseph Massad; Chief
Zwelivelile Mandela MP RSA;Ahdaf Soueif, Majd Masharawi, Professor Ilan Pappe;
Yasmine Abouzanad; Gideon Levy, Wadah Khanfer, Yousef Jabareen MP Knesset; Remi
Kanazi; Ronie Barkan; Mohammed Ahmed; Leah Levane; David Cronin; Dr. AbdooKarim
Vakil; Professor Salman Sayyid; Julianna Mohamed Noor; Yasmine Abouzanad;
Zamzam Ibrahim; Hatty Ruddick; Issa Amro; Daphina Baram; Dr. Ramzy Baroud; Faiz
Ilyas; Aziz Isa Elkun; Dr. Goldie Osuri; Professor Hatem Bazian; Hamza Shaikh;
John Altman, Rawen Damen; Saleem Kassam; Faiza Shaheen; Hilary Aked; Ibrahim
Hewitt; Claire Smith; Professor Neve Gordon; Laila Hassan; Atif Choudhury; Samayyah
Afzal; Adnan Rahman; Julie Ward MEP; Andrew Shaughter MP; Ahmed Mahbub; and Yara Sharif.
The second day, on Sunday, the 7th of
July 2019 following subjects were discussed, deliberated and spoken. They were
as follows: The Campaign to Stop Arming Israel; Gaza: The Siege; UK Parliament:
A Moral Responsibility for Palestine? One State: The Future; Beyond PalExpo;
Media: Marginalising Palestinian Voice; Al-Aqsa: Religious & Political
Importance;; Decolonising Palestine Unliveable: The Future of Gaza Post-2020;
Iteration of Racism: Islamophobia & Anti-Semitism; Global Justice
Compromised; Critical Muslim Studies; Decolonising Muslims: From Islamic
Studies to Critical Muslim Studies; From Balfour to Trump; Mental Health Trauma
under Occupation; United Against Racism; In Conversation with Wadah Khanfar
President Al-Sharq Forum and Unrecognised Palestinians in Israel.
Following were the speakers who talked discussed
and spoke on the abovementioned subjects. They were as follows: Ben Jamal; Liz
McKean; Huda Ammori; Dr. Swee Ang; Ahmad Abu Artemeh; Mickey Brady MP; Rev.
Stephen Saxby; Gideon Levy; Huda Elmi; Ismail Patel; Tez Ilyas; Jehan Al-Farra;
Myriam Francois; Sarah Al-Aride; Professor Rebecca GouldDr. Tajul Islam; Dr.
Mustapha Sheik; Professor Hatem Bazeian; Chris Nineham; Osama Abu Irshad
In the Opening Session on 6th of July
following speakers spoke: Chief Zwelivelile Mandela MP Republic of South
Africa, Ismail Patel, Yasmine Abouzanad; and Wadah Khanfer, and on the last day
on Beyond PalExpo, following speakers spoke: Chief Zwelivelile Mandela MP
Republic of South Africa, Ismail Patel, Yasmine Abouzanad; Tez Ilyas and Zamzam
Ibrahim.
On the UK Parliament & Justice for Palestine
following speakers spoke under the chairmanship of Ahmed Mahbub: Julie Ward MEP
and Andrew Slaughter MP. Similarly on the second day on UK Parliament: A Moral
Responsibility for Palestine, following speakers spoke under the chair of Ahmed
Mahbub: Colin Monehen; Michey Brady MP and Rev Stephen Saxby.
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