Arab MK, ex-minister to speak at event marking ‘50 years of occupation’

“It is shameful that a member of Knesset is abusing her position and is working together with the Palestinians to harm Israel at the UN.”

By DANIELLE ZIRI
Joint Arab List MK Aida Touma-Sliman (photo credit: FACEBOOK)
Joint Arab List MK Aida Touma-Sliman
(photo credit: FACEBOOK)
NEW YORK – Joint List MK Aida Touma-Sliman and former Israeli foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami will participate in an event titled the “United Nations Forum to Mark 50 Years of Occupation,” which will be held at the UN Headquarters on June 29-30.
The conference, organized by the Palestinian mission to the international body, will include five panels on subjects like “Beyond Occupation: The Path Ahead to Palestinian Independence and a Just Peace,” “The Costs and Consequences of 50 Years of Occupation” and “The Gaza Strip: An Integral Part of the State of Palestine.”
In addition to MK Aida Touma-Sliman and Shlomo Ben-Ami, speakers will include executive director of B’Tselem Hagai El-Ad, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace Rebecca Vilkomerson, as well as Secretary- General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Saeb Erekat.
UN officials, diplomats and scholars will also participate in the different sessions.
Although he did not comment on Ben-Ami’s participation, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said MK Touma-Sliman’s presence at the gathering “crosses all red lines” and described the event as “anti-Israel with the sole purpose of defaming our country.”
“It is shameful that a member of Knesset is abusing her position and is working together with the Palestinians to harm Israel at the UN,” Danon added.