PALENTINIAN STUDENTS presented Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, Debbie Abrahams, with a commemorative shield at the House of Commons to thank her for supporting a motion urging the Government to recognise the state of Palestine.
Debbie Abrahams was one of 274 MPs who voted for the motion in a backbench debate last October, with only 12 voting against, and it was followed by similar votes in the Irish, French, Spanish, Danish, Portuguese and European parliaments.
Five Palestinian student leaders, including one from Gaza, flew into London this week to present the shields to MPs “to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your continuous efforts to champion Palestinian statehood and human rights”.
The presentation was organised by the General Union of Palestinian Students which represents hundreds of students from the West Bank and Gaza studying at British universities.
After receiving the award Mrs Abrahams said: “Recognising Palestine on an equal footing with Israel, as a state in its own right, is an essential part of this process if real and lasting change is going to be made.
“Lasting peace can only be established if the issues regarding blockades and settlements are addressed and human rights for all Palestinians and Israelis are respected and upheld.”
The union’s Secretary-General, Fouad Shaath, said: “I don’t know whether MPs have any idea just how much encouragement this vote gave to Palestinians. We often feel close to despair – but this vote gave us hope.
“The vote was supported by MPs of every party in Britain and it was welcomed by supporters of every party in Palestine.
“The example set by Debbie and other British MPs was soon followed in Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and the European Parliament and we believe that parliamentarians can galvanise their governments into international action that will bring us justice and peace.”
The Palestinian students’ union has members in universities across the UK and will be pressing all parties, MPs and candidates to declare their support for the recognition of Palestine in the coming election campaign.
More than 130 countries have said they recognise Palestine as an independent state.
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