The UK-based Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) has announced that the eighth annual conference of Palestinians in Europe will be held from May 7-8 in Berlin, Germany. According to the announcement:
Since its birth in 2003 the annual conference of Palestinians in Europe has become a major event for Palestinians in diaspora. The conference pulls crowds of up to Seven Thousand from Europe and across the world in affirmation of the right of return. Every year politicians, academics, activists and NGOs come together during the anniversary of the Nakba in a strong show of support for the Palestinian people. Last year the conference was held in Milan where it provided a strong platform to organize a large aid convoy to Gaza. Amongst raising the right of return it also addresses key political issues and takes a strategic look at assisting the Palestinian cause, developing stronger relations between Palestinians and Europe and to celebrate their culture. The event is widely publicized and is covered by Arab and international media. In past conference many notable and high profile politicians participated from Europe. And this year in Berlin we also hope to bring together a group of strong panelists. Join us in Berlin and show your solidarity and support with thousands of others from around the world.
The PRC has also co-sponsored past Palestinians in Europe conferences which have featured individuals tied to the global Muslim Brotherhood and/or Hamas. For example, the PRC was the co-sponsor of the Sixth Palestinians In Europe Conference which featured Nihad Awad of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), former US. Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammad Akram Al-Adlouni, and Raed Salah, a leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel and close to Hamas. The 2009 conference was addressed via video link by Gaza Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The PRC, a co-sponsor of the conference, has strong ties to the global Muslim Brotherhood. Two PRC directors are also directors of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), generally regarded as part of the UK. Muslim Brotherhood. The PRC is also listed as an affiliate of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) dominated by UK. Muslim Brotherhood groups. PRC activities are frequently promoted by the MAB, MCB, and other U.K Brotherhood organizations. PRC director Ghassan Four is also a Trustee of INTERPAL, a key member of the Union of Good and part of the Muslim Brotherhood Hamas fund-raising network . PRC director Zaher Birawi is a Trustee of Education Aid for Palestine (EAP), also a part of the Union of Good. Mr. Birawi is also head of programming for Al-Hiwar TV which frequently features MB/Hamas individuals and organizations and was founded by Azzam Al-Tamimi, a U.K Muslim Brotherhood leader and close to Hamas. An Israeli web site, known to be close to Israeli military intelligence, has reported that Mr. Birawi, along with another PRC Trustee are “past Hamas operatives who found refuge in Britain in the early nineties.”
The executive director of the PRC is Arafat Madi (aka Arafat Madi Shoukri) who is also the chairman of the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG). Previous posts have discussed the campaign aimed at ending the Israeli blockade likely orchestrated by the global Muslim Brotherhood and its European representatives. A NEFA Foundation report documents the numerous ties between the ECESG and the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE), essentially the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe. Recent posts have discussed plans by a British MP and the Campaign to launch legal action directed at the EU in regard to the Israeli blockade of Gaza and reported that a delegation from an anti-Gaza blockade campaign, likely the ECESG, had been expected to meet with high-ranking EU official Javier Solana. In January, Arafat Madi reportedly met with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek to discuss the Gaza situation.
Discussion
It should be noted that the 2nd Palestinians in Europe Conference was also held in Berlin in May 2004.