Issue 3 – Tuesday 1 August
Palestinians seek support
Jane Garvani and Nadia Franklin, V14
Yesterday the Palestinian delegation in Village 28 held a meeting about the current situation in Palestine and Lebanon.
For the Palestinian people death and destruction are a daily occurence and the sad thing is that they get used to it – it is normal. They must stop at checkpoints, sometimes for hours at a time, just to go and see their friends in neighbouring towns. They took two days to get to this camp although their flight only took eight hours.
After a day at school, children here in England will relax at home or meet up with their friends. Children in Palestine spend much of their free time helping people whose houses have been bombed by the Israeli Army.
They must go without electricity and water for a lot of the time because these are controlled by the Israeli Government. Their national taxes are also collected by the Israeli Government and for the past six or seven months they have not been handed over to Hamas – the Palestinian Government. Because of this lack of taxes, public sector workers have not been receiving their wages.
The Palestinians who spoke at the meeting insisted that they are not anti-Semitic. They have nothing against ordinary Jews or Israelis, it is the Israeli Army and Government whom they are against.
They are for a one-state solution where Jews, Muslims, Christians, Atheists etc. can live alongside each other with equal rights.
So, all this is going on over there, what can we here do about it?
• The Palestinians are urging people to e-mail their MPs urging them to call for an immediate cease-fire. You should be able to find your M.P.'s e-mail address by googling them.
• Some people are interested in going to a demonstration against the Israeli bombardment of Palestine and Lebanon in London on Saturday. This will be confirmed at a later date but you can see Heather in Village 14, Yellow Parrot Town, for more information.
• Also we may be holding our own demonstration right here on camp. Details of this will also be confirmed at a later date so watch this space!