Arab European League - Netherlands 9 December 2003
On 9 December 1987 the first Intifada arose in Palestine. The AEL commemorates this event. Today a number of actions were organised by the AEL in reminiscence of the Intifada. These actions took place in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Brussels and The Hague.
The first action took place around 3.45 pm on the public tribune of the Second Chamber in The Hague. Two AEL-activists hung out two Palestinian flags. The activists were removed from the tribune by the Chamber police and led outside. No arrests were made.
The second action was executed around 6 pm on the Amsterdam ring road. AEL-activists made a checkpoint in the midst of exit S104 and S105. Motorists were checked. At the end of the checkpoint the motorists were handed a flyer in which explanation was given about the checkpoint and the occupation in the daily life of the Palestinians. During this action four AEL-activists were taken into custody. These activists are still retained in the police station.
The third action took place in Antwerp . Around approximately 6.30 pm AEL-activists intruded the local television station of Antwerp (ATV). They temporarily occupied the ATV-building. During the live news broadcast AEL-activists hoisted the Palestinian flag. The Antwerp police took two activists into custody. These activists are also still retained in the police station.
The fourth and final action took place in Brussels . At 8 pm a team of AEL-activists entered the VRT (Flemish Radio and Television) building and managed to interrupt the broadcasting of the topicalities program Terzake. The VRT is co-responsible for the little attention that is given to the Palestinian affair. All three AEL-activists are taken into custody and are still retained by the police.
By means of these actions the AEL demands sincere and objective attention for the situation of Palestinians in Palestine and the Palestinian refugees. Palestine is being occupied for over 55 years. In the year 2003 Palestine is the only colonized country in the world. Zionism is (in)directly supported by Europe . Each resolution and condemnation that has been issued by the UN since 1948 in respect of the unjust, Zionist occupation towards the Palestinians and their country was blocked with a veto by the United States. Resistance against this occupation is marked as ‘terror’ or ‘anti-Semitism’ and the state terror of the occupier is being tolerated and supported for over 55 years. Financial support is being paid for with the tax money of European citizens.
Tens of attempts to achieve peace have failed. This is not due to, as is claimed, the Palestinians rejecting peace, but it is due to the proposals being unstructured and unjust. The only possible peace is an undivided, democratic state in historical Palestine in which each inhabitant has equal rights. Each Palestinian refugee has the individual and collective right, as recognised in resolution 194, to return to Palestine.
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