Britain’s Arabs issue a call for unity and the formation of a strong, influential Arab lobby.
The first session of the Arab Community Conference concluded in London under the theme “Loyalty to Palestine’s Friends,” with wide participation from Arab and British figures supporting the Palestinian cause.
The conference called for the formation of an influential Arab lobby in British politics to serve the Palestinian cause and other Arab issues, in addition to establishing a unified Arab institution to act as a coordinating umbrella for the community and its associations, and to enhance the involvement of second- and third-generation Arabs in volunteer, student, and political work.
Recommendations also included launching an Arabic radio station addressing the community’s concerns and translating popular solidarity with Palestine into political action within the British Parliament through an electoral strategy supporting Arab MPs, without compromising identity or assimilation into society.
In his opening speech, Mohamed Amin, Editor-in-Chief of the “Arab London” platform organizing the conference, explained that the session’s name honors Britain’s friends of Palestine, notably doctors Graeme Groom and Victoria Rose, who documented the atrocities in Gaza and were honored at the conference. Amin also highlighted multiple challenges facing the Arab community, including the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, the rise of right-wing anti-immigrant rhetoric, and economic and cultural challenges affecting Arabs’ integration into British society.
Palestinian Ambassador to Britain, Dr. Hossam Zamlout, emphasized revitalizing and coordinating Arab associations to leverage the community’s electoral weight, noting the positive shift in British public opinion toward Palestine as a direct result of diaspora efforts and advocacy.
Conference guest of honor, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, stressed the importance of unifying community efforts in shaping the narrative and influencing decision-makers, describing London demonstrations as “shaking the foundations of the occupation and exposing the falsity of its discourse,” and affirmed that supporting Palestinians’ resilience is a collective responsibility both locally and internationally.
Sabah Al-Mukhtar, President of the Arab Lawyers Association and honorary president of the conference, highlighted the need for the community to come together to craft solutions to its challenges, particularly preserving the identity of younger generations, calling for balanced integration without assimilation.
In his speech, British doctor Graeme Groom described his visit to Gaza as “the most important achievement of his life,” calling for an end to the war, while Dr. Victoria Rose delivered a video message thanking the community and pledging continued support for Palestine.
The conference also honored several figures supporting the Palestinian cause, including Dr. Graeme Groom, Dr. Victoria Rose, British journalist and activist Miriam Franco, Professor Amin Al-Habaybeh, late Moroccan journalist Ayoub Al-Rimi (whose wife accepted the award in his memory), Bin Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and international chess champion Jalal Shaheen.
The conference was divided into three main sessions: the first focused on ways to support the Palestinian cause politically; the second discussed building an effective Arab lobby in Britain; and the third addressed social and cultural challenges facing Arab families, especially regarding identity preservation among second- and third-generation members.
It is worth noting that the Arab Community Conference was established in London in 2023 by the “Arab London” platform and has since succeeded in bringing together Arab elites from the fields of culture, journalism, and academia, serving as a unified umbrella for the Arab community in Britain.
Source: Arab London (link)