Timothy Hosts Symposium On Jerusalem
Brussels -- 1 June, 2011
Jerusalem Day fell on the 1st June this year, commemorating the end of the Six Day War in 1967 and marking the anniversary of the liberation and unification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty. To mark the Day I sponsored a Symposium on Jerusalem in which I urged people to see Jerusalem as place of peace, where people of all faiths can come to worship freely.
In the European Parliament two events were held to celebrate the landmark. A photo exhibition and speeches were organised by the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC) and my Symposium on Jerusalem, organised by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the European Coalition for Israel (ECI).
Our special guest speaker at the Symposium on Israel was the lawyer Dr Jacques Gauthier, who gave a presentation outlining why he believes that the Jewish people have a legal case for sovereignty over the Holy City of Jerusalem. Having carried almost 20 years of exhaustive research into the subject, his presentation examined the legal rights to land given under International Law, beginning with the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the San Remo Conference of 1920 which culminated in the Covenant of the League of Nations and the Mandate for Palestine. These acts enabled the restoration of the Jewish People to their ancient lands and validated the existence of historical facts and events linking the Jewish People to Palestine.
What was interesting about the Symposium was that whilst this is a very difficult subject politically, and whilst the build up to crucial events in September continue, the speaker was keen to only deal in facts that could be verified under international law. It gave those who attended the event a very different (and un-politicised) perspective on the issue of sovereignty over Jerusalem.
In my speech I said:
"Jerusalem Day is a chance both to take stock and to look forward. It is a chance for us to see Jerusalem as we want it to be: a place of peace, where people of all faiths can come to worship freely.
"I welcome this opportunity to examine the conflicting claims to Jerusalem under International Law. We must debate the issue soberly, responsibly and rationally.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu says that "with creativity and goodwill a solution can be found". I would go further - it must be found: because Jerusalem is a symbol of religious diversity and because only a solution that protects that religious freedom would be acceptable.
"Given the current climate of instability in the Middle East I believe the European Parliament has a role to play. We must urge our Israeli friends to act with restraint in the face of mounting pressure from their neighbours. We must try to broker peace and make sure that any Palestinian state is viable and can prosper. We must speak out against the provocative elements on both sides."
