Palestinian NGOs pull plug on Madrid forum

According to the statement, an Israeli establishment delegation was imposed on the forum under pressure from the Spanish government bypassing the forum's international organizing committee.

An Israeli civil society delegation, led by the Alternative Information Center (AIC), also withdrew, as did delegations from the occupied Golan Heights, Lebanon and the Basque region.

In a 14 December follow up statement, the Palestinian civil society groups elaborated that "an Israeli establishment delegation, larger than the original delegation led by AIC" had been "undemocratically invited by Spanish officials against the will of the overwhelming majority of the forum's main organizing body." This expanded Israeli delegation included "Israeli organizations and municipal officials who are on record opposing the application of justice, international law and universal rights to reach a sustainable and genuine peace in the Middle East." The expanded Israeli delegation included mayors, military officers and at least one official of the Jewish Agency, the state-backed Zionist organization that helps enforce Israel's racist "Law of Return" that allows only Jews to immigrate to Israel and gain citizenship.

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