14 - 20 February 2002
Issue No.573
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 14 - 20 February 2002 Issue No.573 |
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Taking responsibility
An Italian member of the European parliament recently returned from Ramallah after taking part in protests against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. She spoke to Samia Nkrumah in Rome
Luisa Morgantini, an Italian member of the European parliament, is no stranger to the Middle East. Aside from her role as head of foreign parliamentary affairs between the European Parliament and the Palestinian Legislative Council, her interest in Palestinian affairs stretches back over two decades, dating from the massacres of Sabra and Shatila in 1982. "That was the turning point for me, when I saw Palestinians as Palestinians and not as a people who do not exist and whose land belongs to others by divine right," Morgantini told Al-Ahram Weekly.
Morgantini collaborated in Israel with peace movements such as Women in Black, which emerged in 1988 during the first Intifada . Dressed all in black, they helped post banners stating, "Stop the Occupation" all over the occupied territories and worked on solidarity projects with Palestinian activists.
When the second Intifada began a year ago, Morgantini launched an appeal to women MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) to foster links between Israeli and Palestinian women. Efforts finally took shape in the form of an international group made up of Europeans, including Italians, French and Belgians as well as Israelis and Americans, in association with Palestinian NGOs and members of civil society organisations.
Prominent Palestinian human rights activists like Mustafa Barghouthi are among the founding members. A 500-member delegation from the Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians, as the group became known, went on to execute protests last December in the Palestinian territories, acting as self- appointed observers. Delegates went at their own expense, making a show of solidarity with the people who are daily subjected to the Israeli occupation.
The group's aim is to impress upon international public opinion that peace can only come about if the occupation ends. Morgantini explained that a need for a non-violent resistance became pressing because armed Palestinian resistance and suicide attacks had alienated popular participation to a large extent, one of the main differences between the first Intifada and the present one.
In the most recent protest, on 2 February, Morgantini, together with other peace activists, tried to deliver to the Israeli troops holding Palestinian President Yasser Arafat under siege in Ramallah a written request calling upon them to follow the lead of more than 150 Israeli reservists who have refused to serve in the occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza.
In Ramallah, Morgantini's group was hindered by tear gas. The TV crew and journalists covering the incident were also aimed at. She talked of the build-up to the protest. The Israeli authorities had banned a demonstration in Tel Aviv which was supposed to take place on 2 February. The Israeli pacifists then joined the Italian and Palestinian activists on their way to the Ramallah protest.
In order to get there, the Israelis posed as Italians. Most likely nobody believed them, but they were allowed to get through all the same. Israel's army bans Israelis from entering Palestinian- controlled areas for alleged security reasons.
As one passed through the Qalandia checkpoint from Jerusalem to Ramallah, the ill-treatment of the Palestinians at the hands of Israelis officers was plain for all to see. Those waiting to cross had to wait in long queues, with the exhausted and the sick being no exception. They all had to cross on foot and were subjected to humiliating searches. Some were delayed, others refused entry. Frustration reached boiling point.
Palestinian activist Zahira Kamal remarked on one occasion that it was good for the Israelis to see for themselves that Palestinians were not terrorists but normal people who wanted peace.
Before leaving, the delegation also met Arafat in Ramallah. "We expressed our solidarity with Arafat as the internationally recognised representative of the Palestinian people," Morgantini said.
Certain events have been big setbacks to the Palestinian cause, the Gulf war and 11 September being prime examples. Morgantini told of one medical centre that had not received any funding since the attacks on New York and Washington, and whose employees had not been paid. There have also been even greater delays at checkpoints and road-blocks and ever increasing numbers of Israeli soldiers making armed incursions into Arab towns.
Back in Italy, preparations are being made for another gathering and protest in the Palestinian territories on 8 March, Women's day. Before that there will be a demonstration in front of the Italian parliament building demanding that pressure be brought to bear on the Israeli government. First, international presence and protection must be guaranteed for the Palestinians in the form of multinational monitors. Until then, and while the US continues to veto any such presence, individuals and civil society groups will continue to visit the Palestinian territories on a regular basis.
Second, the demonstrators will call on the EU to suspend its association agreement with Israel on the basis that Israel is violating Article 18, on human rights, in the Palestinian territories.
Morgantini believes that the European Commission should seek compensation for the destruction of EU-funded infrastructure. "In the news we hear that the Palestinian security headquarters have been attacked, but we're not told about the destruction of infrastructure and of cultivated Palestinian land," she added.
The EU is always speaking of the need to maintain neutrality in the Palestinian question but what it does not address is the issue of who the occupier is and whose land is occupied.
"I take my responsibility as a European for things that happen in Europe, but I don't understand what is up with Arab states. They have a big responsibility to end the killing of Palestinians. They should say to America and Israel that there should be international observers in the territories, that Palestinians should have a state of their own. Why don't they use their strength more effectively?" questioned Morgantini, adding that she was planning to organise protests in front of Arab embassies in Rome.
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