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BDS founder unable to attend UK Labour event due to visa holdup
[IsraelTimes] Paleostine Solidarity Campaign blames delay in handling of Omar Barghouti’s visa request on ’growing efforts by Israel and its allies to suppress Paleostinian voices’.A founder of the Paleostinian-led boycott movement against Israel will be unable to speak at an event at the UK Labour Party’s upcoming annual conference due to his visa request being delayed. The Paleostine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), a pro-BDS group hosting the event on the sidelines of the Labour conference in Brighton, on Friday said Omar Barghouti would instead address the gathering by video due to the UK government’s "unexplained, abnormal delay" in issuing him a visa. "The unprecedented delay in processing Barghouti’s travel visa application by the British government is part and parcel of the growing efforts by Israel and its allies to suppress Paleostinian voices and the movements for Paleostinian rights," PSC said in a statement. Barghouti had been set to speak at the "Paleostine in the age of Trump" event alongside Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and Unite union chief Len McCluskey, both allies of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. "They fear our shining a light of truth that reveals their lies. They dread our tireless quest for freedom, justice and equality," Barghouti said, according to the PSC statement. There was no immediate comment from the UK Home Office, which handles visa requests. Corbyn, a strong critic of Israel, has said he doesn’t support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, though at the Labour conference last year the party passed a motion calling to ban all UK weapons sales to Israel. Since becoming Labour leader in 2015, Corbyn has come under scrutiny for his criticism of Israel and past contacts with the Hamas, a regional Iranian catspaw, and Hezbollah terror groups, both sworn to Israel’s destruction. Labour and Corbyn himself have also been rocked by accusations of anti-Semtisim, with fresh scrutiny coming after a number of former party officials accused him and his allies of interfering in efforts to address the issue, in a recent BBC program. Earlier this year, Barghouti was denied entry to the US for a multi-city speaking tour. The Arab American Institute said at the time that Barghouti, a resident of Acre who is married to an Arab Israeli and holds Israeli permanent resident status, was not provided an explanation for his denial of entry beyond being told it was an "immigration matter." James Zogby, the head of the Arab American Institute, called Barghouti’s ban an "arbitrary political decision," and accused the Trump administration of working to "silence Paleostinian voices." Israel has barred Barghouti from leaving the county a number of times in recent years, by refusing to renew travel documents granted to Paleostinian residents of Israel who do not have full citizenship. The BDS campaign advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli businesses, universities and artists. Supporters say BDS is a nonviolent movement for Paleostinian independence, but Israel claims it aims to delegitimize the Jewish state, and it has been condemned by many as anti-Semitic at its roots. Related: Omar Barghouti: 2019-05-28 Drawing the Back the Curtain: Hamas Runs International BDS Campaign From Gaza Omar Barghouti: 2019-05-13 Former Miss Iraq lashes out against Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Omar Barghouti: 2019-04-12 Palestinian BDS founder Omar Barghouti denied entry to US Related: Jeremy Corbyn: 2019-09-05 British PM Johnson demands October 15 election after defeat over Brexit Jeremy Corbyn: 2019-08-30 Corbyn: Labour Will Move Quickly to Block Brexit Jeremy Corbyn: 2019-07-24 Boris Johnson Wins UK Leadership Race, Will be Prime Minister Posted by: trailing wife 2019-09-21 |
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