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29th Mar 2024

EU assembly to host controversial panel on Palestinian rights

The European Parliament is due to host a controversial UN panel on the Palestinians' right to self-determination without external interference, despite criticism by Israel and some MEPs.

A gathering of the UN's Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People - founded in 1975 - will take place in Brussels' seat of the EU assembly on 30-31 August.

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The panel consists of 22 member nations and 26 observers. Of them, only Malta and Cyprus are EU countries.

It reports annually to the UN assembly, with its key objective being to promote the cause of Palestinians' national independence and sovereignty, as well as their right to return to homes and property lost during the conflict with the Israelis.

Israel has protested against the committee's event to be held on the premises of the European Parliament, arguing that its debates were in the past strongly one-sided and its activities not contributing to the international efforts for peace in the Middle East.

Moreover, Jerusalem views the panel as such as a legacy of the 1975 UN Assembly resolution which likened Zionism with racism.

Some Polish MEPs have also argued against the gathering, urging the EU legislature's president, Hans-Gert Poettering, to call it off.

But the parliament's spokesman said the event will take place as planned.

He said Mr Poettering had replied to Israel's EU envoy and Knesset officials that "the conference is not patronized or supported by the European Parliament, which will only provide the space," according to AP.

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