Archive for the 'checkpoints' Category

Life, Birth and Death in the Jordan Valley

Sunday, October 28th, 2007
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. I was expecting to find many stress related health conditions as well as the conditions of poverty and poor access to services.  (more…)

A Tale of Two Worlds

Sunday, October 28th, 2007
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. Although I have read hundreds of accounts of everything I am now experiencing, nothing had quite prepared me for the reality behind the words. (more…)

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

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

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. They have been established now for approximately 18 months and meet in a large purpose built community centre funded by themselves from the sale of honey. (more…)

Palestine Delegation. Oct 2007. Day 2. Jordon Valley

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

In the heart of the Jordon Valley, set on the hillside of Al Jiflik is a small Palestinian community. What was once a peaceful agricultural community is now a picture of devastation.

Since the occupation in 1967 the village has been caged in by settlements and their land stolen. Al Jiflik is situated in area C, which is a no build area and completely surrounded by checkpoints. The land which is still considered by the Israeli government as Palestinian is too dry to farm, as water supplies are minimal. Each individual is allowed only 72 cubic metres per day from the settlement supply; hardly enough to live on, with no hope of sustaining agricultural work. The people are forced to work in Israeli settlements, working long days for only 60 shekels (roughly £10) The complications which arise in being paid are incredible. Palestinians will only receive pay for 30 out of 46 days labour, sometimes without getting paid at all.
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The British are Crossing the Allenby Bridge (again)

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

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. (more…)

Demolitions in the Jordan valley: Steadfastness in the face of destruction

Friday, August 10th, 2007

Credit: Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign. Date: August 8th, 2007.

Occupation forces today went on a spree of demolitions in the Jordan Valley, destroying four homes and two water tanks in Bardala, Sahel Libqeya, Frush Beit Dajan and Jiftlik.

The photographs taken at the scene today, below, vividly illustrate how the Occupation is attacking Palestinian lives and land.

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Al-Hadidiye: Palestinian’s denied access to water in an attempt to force them from their homes

Sunday, July 29th, 2007


Latest News, Palestinian grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, July 29th, 2007

Ahmad Abdallah Hafeth Bani Odeh, from al-Hadidiye, was stopped this morning with his tractor and water tank at the al-Hamra checkpoint, on the orders of the Occupation authorities.

Above: The Occupation is trying to force Ahmad from the land which his family has farmed for generations.

Ahmad has had his tractor confiscated, and told that it will not not been returned until he leaves his land and property in al-Hadidiye.

Ahmad had intended to pass through the al-Hamra checkpoint in order to bring water from al Fare’a, 35 km away from al-Hadidiye.

There are two large water wells in al-Hadidiye, installed by the Occupation administration company, Makarot, with huge water tanks to distribute water to the settlements and settler farms which are located on al-Hadidiye land. However, off-limits to the local Palestinian residents, and these are protected by electric fences.

This morning’s incident is the latest in a series of aggressions from the Occupation in their attempt to push the residents out of the village in order to make way for the settlements.

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Statement from Tubas PGFTU and Brighton Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group in support of the UNISON motion

Tuesday, June 19th, 2007

Boycott Israel, the State of Occupation

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Video - Non Violent activism in Palestine March 2007

Friday, June 15th, 2007

A short film on Non Violent Resitance in Palestine


Click To download the file

or view the file online at http://www.blip.tv/file/264470/

Tree Planting in Biddu

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

Today the people of Biddu marched to the site of the annexation wall to plant trees in a nearby military area. Biddu has been the site of one of the longest struggles against the wall and has been successful in moving the route of the wall through popular struggle

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