AMP condemns speech by Israeli prime minister

(PALOS HILLS, IL 03/23/2010) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), a national, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the American public about Palestine, today condemns in the harshest possible terms the speech Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu gave in Washington DC on Monday.

Speaking before the Zionist lobby group – American Israeli Public Affairs Committee – Mr. Netanyahu forwarded the same old, tired Zionist agenda that flagrantly distorts historical facts and promotes myths as truth. Mr. Netanyahu continued to forward the narrative of Israel as the tiny victim amidst a war-mongering, violent Arab world as well as presenting the delusional belief that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PALOS HILLS, IL 03/23/2010) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), a national, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the American public about Palestine, today condemns in the harshest possible terms the speech Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu gave in Washington DC on Monday.

Speaking before the Zionist lobby group – American Israeli Public Affairs Committee – Mr. Netanyahu forwarded the same old, tired Zionist agenda that flagrantly distorts historical facts and promotes myths as truth. Mr. Netanyahu continued to forward the narrative of Israel as the tiny victim amidst a war-mongering, violent Arab world as well as presenting the delusional belief that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people.

Jerusalem is sacred to all three monotheistic faiths – Christianity, Islam and Judaism. And it is not the capital of Israel. In fact, when the United Nations partitioned Palestine in 1917, it left Jerusalem as an independent, international city with full access to all. But thanks to punitive travel restrictions and permit system and a prejudiced national ID system, Israel routinely denies entry into Jerusalem to both Christians and Muslims. Israel continues to deny Muslims the right to worship in Al Aqsa mosque – Islam’s third holiest site.

“Mr. Netanyahu took the opportunity of speaking before a friendly crowd at the AIPAC meeting to circumvent the truth surrounding provocative actions by Israel – including the recent announcement for plans to build 1,600 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem as well as inciting violence by frequently storming Al Aqsa mosque,” said Dr. Hatem Bazian, AMP chairman. “But the problem with Mr. Netanyahu’s ‘Israel as perpetual victim’ speech is that it is no longer resonating in the world community. More and more, people are beginning to understand that Israel continues to violate international law as set forth by the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations and several UN resolution as it blatantly and with impunity continues to oppress and deny basic human rights to the Palestinian people and to desecrate holy sites in Jerusalem.”

AMP calls on President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of Congress to finally hold Israel accountable for its actions. Congress must withhold $3 billion in unrestricted military aid to Israel. AMP calls on Congress to force Israel to halt all settlement construction, to end the siege on Gaza and ultimately to end the occupation of Palestine. Continued U.S. support of Israel only weakens the U.S. stance in the Arab and Muslim world and calls into question this country’s credibility as a partner to peace negations in the region.

CONTACT:
Dr. Hatem Bazian
Chairman, American Muslims for Palestine
Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley
510.914.6722