The number of important discussions on Palestine at the European Social Forum (ESF) showed just how much the struggle of the Palestinians has moved centre stage.
The first workshop, on "The exemplarity of the Palestinian question" dealt with building strategies.
Michel Warshawsky, from Jerusalem's Alternative Information Centre stressed the universal importance of the struggle, referring to it as "our Vietnam".
The controversy in the discussion arose from the contributions of two "refuseniks", both of whom had served prison terms.
People saluted their struggle, but some were hostile to the fact that Palestinians should declare that they were for two states, and for only limited numbers returning to
A session on "Europe's Responsibility" produced details of countries making trade concessions to Israel, and also information about increasing arms sales to the Israelis from Britain, Germany and France.
The packed plenary "What Future for Palestine?", attracted at least 2,000 people. (The "democratic" Israeli authorities had refused to allow two of the intended speakers to come).
Those on the platform included Jamal Juma'a, director of the "Stop The Wall" campaign and Nurit Peled, peace activist and mother of a 13 year-old daughter, killed in a suicide bombing. Mustapha Barghouti, director of the HDIP in Ramallah pushed
the need for sanctions, and the
importance of the people at the ESF to
the Palestinian
struggle.
Nurit Peled said that when she was asked why she discussed with Palestinians, "the enemy", she replied she never discussed with "the enemy"Sharon's government.
This plenary featured another "refusenik", Yonathan Shapira, leader of the group of pilots who refused missions in the West Bank, and Gaza.
The high point of his speech was when he called for all-out sanctions against Israel.
He later said that he was in favour of a Palestinian state, but as a step to a unified single state, with Palestinians and Jews living together:
Mustapha Barghouti, director of the HDIP in Ramallah pushed the need for sanctions, and the importance of the people at the ESF to the Palestinian struggle.
A member of the audience from Gaza described the killing that was going on there.
He went and shook Yonathan Shapira's hand saying he never ever believed he would be doing that.
Determination at the ESF to turn enthusiasm into practical