In Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights

(E/18/2003)

BADIL Resource Center
Fwd from Al-Awda (Palestine Right to Return Coalition)
24 April 2003
For Immediate Release

Affirm The Palestinian Refugees' Right to Return to their homes and lands
Resist Plans to Normalize Occupation and Legalize Ethnic Cleansing
Resist Israeli Apartheid and Racism
Attend the International Convention Organized by the Palestine Right To Return Coalition

The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (http://al-awda.org) calls on its members and supporters to participate in the organization's first annual convention scheduled for 20-22 June 2003 in Toronto, Canada. This year's gathering is of utmost importance in light of the intensified attacks on the right to return, the re-occupation of Palestinian cities, and the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Now that Israel's apologists have managed to get their Iraq war, they are turning their attention to settle the Palestine/Israel question at the expense of Palestinian refugees. We reject as illegal and immoral requests for the Palestinian authority to renounce Palestinian human rights including the individual and collective rights of Palestinian refugees to return and restitution. We reject as illegal and immoral the demand that Palestinians accept a "right" for Israel to exist "AS A JEWISH STATE" or a "right" for it "to retain a Jewish majority" at the expense of Palestinian fundamental and historic native rights. We call on all individuals and groups working on behalf of Palestinian rights to partake in this important event.

Regularly updated information on this conference is available at our daily UPDATED web site http://al-awda.org

Among the events planned for the conference:

• Developing a political program for Al-Awda/PRRC
• Sessions on strategies for Palestinian activism
• Workshops on issues of activist concerns (media, political action, humanitarian support, organization, outreach, coalition building, etc)
• Keynote speakers from Palestine and the Arab world
• International speakers representing the spectrums of the Palestine solidarity movement
• Cultural events

To REGISTER send a check for US$35 to PRRC (Palestine Right to Return Coalition), P.O. Box 1172, Orange, CT 06477-7172. In Canada, send Canadian $50 to Al-Awda, P.O. Box 1102 STN F, 50 Charles St. E., Toronto, ON, M4Y 2T8 Canada. (include your contact information, address, email, and telephone number). You may also use our secure payment method (paypal) online at our webpage (http://al-awda.org under International Convention Page).

Tabling available for US$100 (non-profit groups) and US$150 (other groups). Email us at info@al-awda.org

Finally, we ask that you contact your elected representatives, as well as the media through the handy links provided on http://al-awda.org and insist (as Amnesty International stated) that no peace can be lasting without respect for basic human rights.

Inquiries maybe addressed by email to info@al-awda.org or by fax at 1-802-609-9284.

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