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Hezbollah members to speak in Belgian Parliament hall

December 15, 2008

BERLIN (JTA ) -- Representatives of Hezbollah are scheduled to speak in the conference hall of the Belgian Parliament.

The Hezbollah representatives and the manager of the terrorist organization's Al Manar TV will address a symposium on Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The CCOJB, which represents Jewish secular organizations in Brussels, and the Forum of Jewish organizations in Antwerp are organizing a protest, sources told JTA.

The conference has nothing to do with the Belgian government, but is sponsored by the International Union of Parliamentarians for Palestine. It reportedly was organized by Fouad Lahssaini, a Belgian parliamentarian from the Ecolo Green Party who requested the use of the room last month and received approval on Dec. 9.

The articles of association of the International Union of Parliamentarians for Palestine refer to Israel as "the Zionist entity" and calls for its "expulsion ... from international institutions."

The Belgian Parliament is not endorsing the event, sources told JTA.

The American Jewish Committee condemned the parliament's willingness to turn a blind eye to the speech in their seat of government.

“Hezbollah has the blood of thousands of American, French, Israeli, Lebanese and other citizens on its hands. It is simply disgraceful that Hezbollah officials were permitted to address a meeting in the parliament building of a leading European democracy,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris.

 

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