APN | Bari – Italy

June 2023

 

APN General Manager, Mariam Al Jaajaa, gave a strong statement of protest and withdrew from the "Regional Training and Study Tour on Optimal Irrigation Management" organized by the European Union (EU) in Bari – Italy.

One of the organizers, an Arab civil society organizations (CSOs) network, nominated Al Jaajaa to attend the region-specific water and irrigation training. However, Al Jaajaa was taken aback by the presence of a delegation from the Zionist occupation entity, along with delegations from Arab countries, some of which condemn normalization with Israel. This training was organized as part of an EU project focusing on water and environmental management.

After consulting with APN and the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS), which comprises 35 CSOs from 13 Arab countries, Al Jaajaa made the decision to publicly express objection before withdrawing. In her objection, she highlighted the contradiction within the EU’s actions by inviting occupiers to these sessions. She emphasized that APN is dedicated to safeguarding the environmental and agricultural sectors in Palestine and Jordan from the oppressive practices of the occupation. Furthermore, she expressed APN's rejection of utilizing the environment to normalize relations with a settler-colonial entity that enforces apartheid against Palestinians. Such actions are considered a form of greenwashing, particularly when associated with a critical issue like water.

In her objection, Al Jaajaa emphasized that if the organizers genuinely aim to bring about a sustainable and just resolution to the conflict, they must address its root causes, including occupation, resource theft, and human rights violations. She insisted that, at the very least, they should adhere to international law, which should serve as a guiding principle for the European Union. Al Jaajaa rejected the organizers' argument that the training was solely technical, asserting that the points she addressed lie at the core of the technical aspect of the issue. Neglecting this crucial aspect, she argued, is a political stance in itself.

The "Water and Environment Support in the ENI Southern Neighbourhood region" project is funded by the European Union since 2019 and has an estimated budget of €7.9 million.