"We need your help and support so we can achieve justice and equality and live with dignity." That was the request Haneen Zoabi, a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, made to the 150 supporters who came to hear her speak in Richmond on 22 January.

Zoabi’s short visit to the UK included speaking in central London to a conference organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and meetings with politicians, including with Twickenham MP Dr Tania Mathias.

Dr Mathias is on the All Party Parliamentary Group for Palestine and has worked for the UN in Gaza. Zoabi also spoke on Radio 4’s Today programme to condemn an Israeli proposal to build a further 600 homes for settlers on Palestinian land.

Such settlements are against international law and have been strongly condemned by practically every country in the world. Though hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced from their homes when the state of Israel was created in 1948 some remained in their family homes and are now citizens of Israel.

Israel has a total population of around 8.6 million with about 80% Jews and 20% Palestinians. Zoabi explained how the lives of the Palestinians who live in Israel were constrained by a large number of special laws relating to housing, education, cultural activities and many other aspects of life.

Palestinians have been made second class citizens, although this is the land where their families have lived for generations. Zoabi continues to speak out courageously on these issues in spite of harassment and death threats. She wants to reach more people and asked members of the local Richmond & Kingston Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which organised the meeting on Sunday, to spread her message.

Equality and justice seemed a pretty reasonable request to members of her audience. Anyone interested in joining the Richmond and Kingston group could contact Harald Molgaard E: RKPSC@gmx.co.uk. There’s a busy year ahead as the group marks 100 years since the Balfour Declaration was signed with such disastrous consequences for the Palestinian people who lost their homes and became refugees as a result. It was a privilege for the local group to start the year by hosting such a star speaker.

Based on information supplied by Mary Holmes.