Jewish group welcomes Polish MEPs decision to boycott Brussels ‘anti-Israel meeting’

[Aptrgangr]

Jewish group welcomes Polish MEPs decision to boycott Brussels ‘anti-Israel meeting’

WASHINGTON (EJP)---A Jewish human rights group has commended the decision by Polish MEPs from various political groups to boycott a conference sponsored by a UN panel on the rights of the Palestinians which will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The two-day entitled “International Conference of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace,” will bring together on August 30-31 August several non-government organizations. It is sponsored by the United Nations “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.”

The Washington-based B’nai B’rith International expressed concerns about what it called “the virulently anti-Israel nature of this gathering” and fears “it will give a prominent platform to parties that are determined to scuttle the Middle East peace process.”

“Past gatherings by this committee have featured primitive, extremist anti-Israel hatred and horrible, baseless accusations against Israel of genocide and apartheid,” it said.

“It is an outrage that the European Parliament would associate itself with this virulently anti-Israeli gathering,” the BBI added in a statement.
“The 54 members of the Polish delegation to the European Parliament are to be commended for setting an example other delegations should follow. The group is making a clear statement that it will not support or accept the one-sided castigation of Israel and the propagation of hatred,” the statement said.
“By lending its name to a forum aimed at the stark vilification of Israel, the European Parliament undermines the EU’s role within the Mideast Quartet “as an impartial and effective international arbiter.”

BBI has sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, asking the Parliament not to host the conference.
The European Parliament stressed last week that the conference is a “private event” and that the EU assembly is only providing rooms and logistics.

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