The EU's Priorities Are Not Our Priorities

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

The European Union runs advertising on billboards across the West Bank under the slogan “Your priorities are our priorities.” That is, it addresses the people of Palestine in the West Bank with such warmth and affection that it claims to adopt our own priorities — we who have lived under occupation for tens of years. I have also seen its advertisements, carrying the very same slogan, on major satellite channels such as Al Jazeera.

Of course, the European Union is lying, misleading, and deceptive. Our priority is the removal of the occupation, yet I have not seen the European Union mobilizing its armies to join us in this effort, or to carry it out on our behalf.

Among our priorities is the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes and properties in the land occupied in 1948, yet we do not find the European Union defending the right of return. On the contrary, the European states reject the right of return, and work hard alongside the Zionists and the United States to search for a solution to the refugee problem outside Palestine.

Among our priorities is the right of self-determination without interference from anyone, yet the Europeans interfere in our affairs, and do not stand against those who interfere in our affairs.

Among our priorities is preventing Israel from confiscating land and dismantling the settlements, yet the European Union raises no objection to land confiscation for reasons Israel deems security-related.

Among our priorities is the release of our prisoners held in Zionist detention, yet the European Union considers these prisoners terrorists, and never criticizes Israel on this score.

Among our priorities is achieving freedom of expression, movement, organization, and assembly, yet the European Union finances the Palestinian Authority, which suppresses opinion, monopolizes the media, and bans organizing, demonstrations, and peaceful gatherings.

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…and the appointment of judges along political lines.

The list goes on.

As for the European Union’s own priorities, they consist of providing services to the Palestinian people so as to widen the gap between production and services, keeping the people under the weight of poverty, financial need, and degrading debt.

Its priority also lies in controlling the money, so that it may ultimately control Palestinian political decision-making together with the Zionists and the Americans.

Its priority, too, lies in the existence of Palestinian politicians loyal to the West who build cordial relations with the Zionists, so that they may mislead the people of Palestine, liquidate its cause, and abandon its established rights.

Its priority is to prevent freedoms so that no free elections take place that might bring to power people who refuse to carry out American and Israeli policy.

The result is that the Europeans are trying to extinguish Palestinian awareness on the road to fully liquidating the Palestinian cause, and if they offer us any aid, it comes as payment for our homeland and our rights. Those who created Israel, and who continue to support Israel in every field, and who are careful to safeguard its security and its prosperity, cannot possibly harbor in their hearts any compassion for the people of Palestine or the people of Palestine’s homeland.

So wherever we see a European Union advertisement, let us remember that these are the very people who contributed directly to the displacement of our people, the loss of our homeland, and the shedding of our blood. Whoever has done this does not deserve a hearing from us, and must not be allowed to remain in our midst. A free people refuses food soaked in the blood of its martyrs.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “أولويات الاتحاد الأوروبي ليست أولوياتنا” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.