Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi is taking part in the three-day Bil'in conference on nonviolent resistance alongside activists like local organizer Iyad Burnat and the Vice President of the European Parliament.
VP Lusia Morgantini is currently engaged in Friday's demonstration against the Wall and occupation.
As a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Barghouthi gave a speech to conference goers. He provided a detailed description of what he refers to as the apartheid regime, including within the 1948 boundaries which is now Israel and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. "There is a system of settlements and the apartheid Wall and checkpoints, settler roads and laws, and military orders," he told a large group.
Dr. Barghouthi said that the "goal of that system, which was initiated by Israel during its occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967 is to Judaize the Palestinian territories and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state; the West Bank filled with Israeli settlements and Palestinian cities and towns into islands."
As the conference on popular resistance intended to discuss future strategies as well, Barghouthi noted the failure of the people to "foil the schemes of deportation."
He said, "The idea of the Palestinian struggle is not only to achieve freedom and independence and ensure the Right of Return of refugees, but also to struggle against the apartheid regime."
The PLC deputy noted seven war crimes committed by Israeli forces during the major attacks against the Gaza Strip in January: attacks on civilians, killing and excessive use of force, denial of access to medical staff and wounded citizens, attacks on medical teams, centers and institutions, and destruction of the environment infrastructure. "Each one of these violations constitutes a war crime punishable under international law."
He said, "There is a relationship between the geographic separation and the establishment of the apartheid wall in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and the separation of Gaza as the population is transformed into a ghetto population."
Barghouthi added, "Israel has proved it is a racist movement, and this is shown by a government that ignores the rights of Israeli - Palestinians, international laws and norms."
He said that remarkable models of popular resistance include the boycott of Israeli goods, supporting national job creation, and finding ways to stop the dependence on Israeli goods "that use their profits for the killing of the Palestinian people."
"The spirit of perseverance and determination are reflected in other models of popular resistance including Na'leen, Bil'in, Artas and Al Masra," he added.
MP Barghouthi concluded with the strategy "we are trying to promote."
He said, "It is based on four elements: the popular resistance, building a unified national leadership and the restoration of the unity of our people, supporting the steadfastness of the citizens, awakening of an international solidarity campaign to impose sanctions on Israeli as it was done against South Africa during the apartheid regime."
Friday demonstrations throughout the West Bank are in honor of Basem Abu Rahma, killed by Israeli forces during last week's protest against the Wall in Bil'in.
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