Checkpoints

Campaign launched to free Al Masra’ villagers.

A complaint is being made against Israeli police after the lives of three British women were threatened by armed Israeli settlers. One of the settlers was identified by Israeli police at the scene as a security guard for the illegal settlement of Talmon B. No action has been taken against this man. The three members of the Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group were subsequently arrested, held for 33 hours in an Israeli gaol and released without charge.

Life, Birth and Death in the Jordan Valley

I have come to Palestine with a particular focus on women and women’s health. I am a midwife who has lived in Brighton for ten years. I work at the Royal Sussex County hospital. I joined the delegation to find out first hand the effect of the Israeli occupation on the women and their choices in childbirth. The quiet grinding everyday stress of living under occupation is a story not always told. The big incursions, the land seizures the dead children, shot for throwing stones make the headlines, the everyday problems of living under a power that wants to destroy you is not so newsworthy.

A Tale of Two Worlds

Edward Said used to say that Western support for the Palestinian cause could only be built through the creation of a national narrative strong enough to challenge Israel’s, and to do this the same story would have to be re-told over and over again until the world starts listening. Writing about a first visit to Palestine feels a bit like becoming a part of that essential retelling.

Education in Violence

One of the things that have stood out during our stay in Palestine is the violent, intimidatory tactics of the Israeli army are commonplace and patently not restricted to those that even the most paranoid soldier could see as a threat.

Ein Al Beide women’s group: ‘To exist in this region is resistance!’

To the north of the Jordan Valley is a remote town called Ein Al Beide, a picture of devastation and destruction surrounded by Israeli opulance created from stolen Palestinian lands. Where once they had thousands of dunums of land only 100 dunums remain. It was in this town where we met with the Womens Cooperative Group who meet weekly or, they say, up to three times a week in emergency situations, to discuss general womens issues and undergo training for cultivation of produce.

The British are Crossing the Allenby Bridge (again)

The Allenby bridge- so named after the British general who did so much to make the Middle East what it is today. Exactly 90 years ago the bridge resounded with the sound of hooves and footsteps of the British empire crossing the Jordan river, marching to Jerusalem, bringing the British and the zionists to Palestine. General Allenby defeated the Ottomans and replaced their empire with a British one in 1917. The Allenby once again felt the footsteps of and witnessed the presence of the British, this time in a more humble fashion.

What is Behind Allenby Bridge

by: Feras SSA, ISM Allenby Bridge a strange and unknown name for a lot of people around the world but for Palestinians it is a well known name. It is the name of the bridge which connects the West Bank with the outside world. It is located between Palestine and Jordan on the Jordan River. The important thing is that it is the only road that we know to travel outside Palestine from the West Bank side. But what are the Violations behind This Bridge? Only few kilometers between Palestine and Jordan need 10 hours at least to be crossed.