“Today, 136 countries recognize the State of Palestine and its flag flies at the United Nations next to those of all Member States. However, these advances are not felt by children in Gaza, or by the residents of Nablus, Hebron and East Jerusalem [...] let us reaffirm our commitment to bring about the just peace that the peoples of Israel and Palestine deserve.” Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations (November 29, 2015).

In 1977, the UN General Assembly asked for November 29th to become the annual day of observance for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Thirty years earlier, in 1947, the Assembly had approved Resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine, on the very same day of the year. This commemoration is an act in favor of the rights of Palestinians and an opportunity to make the topic of Palestine and Israeli occupation more visible, now that it is becoming more and more overshadowed by the increasing cacophony of international news about the Middle East. The Palestinian refugees’ situation and the marginalization of Palestinians in Israel in 1948 are just a few of the factors that will be dealt with at this event.   

The conference will be given by Talab al-Sana, president of the Arab Democratic Party. It will include participation by Isaías Barreñada, a professor of International Relations at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid. Also taking part are Mahmoud Alwani, top advisor of the Diplomatic Mission of Palestine in Spain. The event will be presented by Pedro Villena, the General Director of Casa Árabe.

Talab al-Sana. President and founder of the Arab Democratic Party (in 1987), the first Arab party with representation in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset. A member of parliament since 1992, he served for seven legislatures, until 2013. In 1996, he created the United Arab List, allying with the Islamic movement. He is the president of the Committee Against Violence in Arab Society and president of the WOJOUD Center, which defends Arabs’ rights in the Negev region. He has a degree in Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.