On Friday, July 14, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Labiba, in collaboration with several members of the progressive minority, will host a debate at the Palazzo delle Torrette, RossoVerde Group. The focus of the discussion will be on the right to water.

This initiative follows the January 10, 2023 agreement concerning the exchange of knowledge on water resource management between the Israeli company Mekorot and Iren, an Italian company of which the City of Genoa holds a stake. Mekorot has faced allegations from various organizations, including Amnesty International in 2017, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2021, and B’tselem and Al Haq in 2022, due to its unauthorized appropriation of water in Palestinian territories.

In March 2023, Labiba filed a petition urging the City of Genoa to disclose whether the decision to adopt the Protocol with Mekorot received approval from IREN Board members appointed by the City itself. Additionally, they inquired whether the commercial collaboration between IREN and Mekorot was deemed appropriate, considering the severe human rights violations committed by the latter against the Palestinian population.

Since the Municipality did not respond to the inquiry, it was decided to engage the public by organizing a debate and discussion at Palazzo Tursi. The event will feature participation from Amnesty International’s Liguria section and Vento di Terra Onlus. The discussion will encompass topics such as apartheid and water appropriation in occupied territories. Moreover, the technical aspects of the agreement between IREN and Mekorot will also be examined.

Although a change of venue became necessary due to objections raised by certain municipal members regarding the term “apartheid” used in the event’s poster, we firmly believe that this term, also featured in the recent Amnesty International report, is crucial for comprehending the ongoing situation in Palestine. Hence, the decision to maintain the program and the poster as originally planned was promptly reached.

We are resolute in our commitment to maintain a clear and unequivocal stance, without taking a step backward.

Join us on July 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Palazzo delle Torrette, RossoVerde Group (third floor).