Hussein Al-alak: Solidarity on the Streets of Sheffield
Hundreds of people thronged the streets of Sheffield on Saturday the 12th of May, as participants joined in the “Northern Rally”, the first major Palestinian Rally outside London which had been organised by the North of England branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Joined by Coach-loads of supporters from other cities, those in attendance were treated to a spectacular display of photo exhibitions, which had been put together by Palestinian students who had documented their own experiences, whilst living under the brutality of Israeli occupation.
Another exhibition documented the lives of younger (fourth and fifth generation) Palestinian’s, which illustrated the struggles and obstacles being faced in light of the highly controversial “Apartheid Wall” and the complications that the continuing occupation, has caused to young people’s educational needs, welfare and development.
According to reports, before marching around the city, demonstrators were entertained by a traditional Palestinian dance troupe called Al-Zaytouna, which was made up of a student group from the University of Nottingham.
Leading the protest was a group of cyclists, including a four-person bicycle which apparently had found its way to Sheffield from Nottingham and behind them came a lively samba band.
Speaking at the rally, shortly afterwards, former UK cabinet minister Clare Short MP, shared her experiences of her recent visit to Palestine, where according to some protesters, Ms. Short was “surprisingly forthright” and described the Israeli House Demolitions as “War Crimes” and denounced the present situation in the occupied territories as being a “new form of Apartheid”.
Other speakers addressing the rally included the British based Friends of Al-Aqsa, Betty Hunter of the National Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and long-time Palestine supporter Ms. Linda Clair, from the PSC in Manchester.
Before a gathered crowd, Ms Clair announced “AFTER THE 1st ZIONIST CONGRESS IN BASLE in 1897, A FORMAL PROGRAMME TO ESTABLISH A JEWISH HOMELAND IN PALESTINE WAS ADOPTED.”
“ON SEPTEMBER 3rd 1898, THOEDORE HERTZL, the FOUNDING FATHER OF ZIONISM WROTE: “AT BASLE I FOUNDED THE JEWISH STATE.. IF I SAID THIS OUT LOUD TODAY I WOULD BE ANSWERED WITH UNIVERSAL LAUGHTER. PERHAPS IN 5 YEARS CERTAINLY, IN 50 EVERYONE WILL KNOW IT.”
Having previously experienced the situation inside of the Occupied Territories, Linda Clair claimed, “THE PROGRAMME OF ETHNIC CLEANSING WAS PUT INTO OPERATION THE DAY AFTER RESOLUTION 181 ON PARTITION WAS ADOPTED BY THE U.N”.
“WHEN (The British) DECIDED TO PULL OUT OF PALESTINE ON MAY 15TH 1948, APPROXIMATELY 300 PALESTINIAN VILLAGES HAD ALREADY BEEN ETHNICALLY CLEANSED.”
Ms. Clair reminded the audience that “BEN GURION LEADER OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT SAID TO THE JEWISH AGENCY EXECUTIVE IN JUNE 1938 " I AM FOR COMPULSORY TRANSFER, I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING IMMORAL IN IT.”
Buoyed by the success of the Northern Rally, there are discussions currently taking place to organise another event within the North of England. Members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign are now looking into the possibilities that maybe next year, 2008, the next “Northern Rally” could possibly be held within the City of Manchester, which played host to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Hussein Al-alak
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign
http://www.iraqsolidaritycampaign.blogspot.com
Please also see:
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)
http://www.palestinecampaign.org
Hussein Al-alak: Palestinians in Sheffield
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3494&blz=1
Paul V. Rafferty: The Fifth Conference of Palestinians in Europe + ADDENDUM http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3481&blz=1
Hundreds of people thronged the streets of Sheffield on Saturday the 12th of May, as participants joined in the “Northern Rally”, the first major Palestinian Rally outside London which had been organised by the North of England branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Joined by Coach-loads of supporters from other cities, those in attendance were treated to a spectacular display of photo exhibitions, which had been put together by Palestinian students who had documented their own experiences, whilst living under the brutality of Israeli occupation.
Another exhibition documented the lives of younger (fourth and fifth generation) Palestinian’s, which illustrated the struggles and obstacles being faced in light of the highly controversial “Apartheid Wall” and the complications that the continuing occupation, has caused to young people’s educational needs, welfare and development.
According to reports, before marching around the city, demonstrators were entertained by a traditional Palestinian dance troupe called Al-Zaytouna, which was made up of a student group from the University of Nottingham.
Leading the protest was a group of cyclists, including a four-person bicycle which apparently had found its way to Sheffield from Nottingham and behind them came a lively samba band.
Speaking at the rally, shortly afterwards, former UK cabinet minister Clare Short MP, shared her experiences of her recent visit to Palestine, where according to some protesters, Ms. Short was “surprisingly forthright” and described the Israeli House Demolitions as “War Crimes” and denounced the present situation in the occupied territories as being a “new form of Apartheid”.
Other speakers addressing the rally included the British based Friends of Al-Aqsa, Betty Hunter of the National Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and long-time Palestine supporter Ms. Linda Clair, from the PSC in Manchester.
Before a gathered crowd, Ms Clair announced “AFTER THE 1st ZIONIST CONGRESS IN BASLE in 1897, A FORMAL PROGRAMME TO ESTABLISH A JEWISH HOMELAND IN PALESTINE WAS ADOPTED.”
“ON SEPTEMBER 3rd 1898, THOEDORE HERTZL, the FOUNDING FATHER OF ZIONISM WROTE: “AT BASLE I FOUNDED THE JEWISH STATE.. IF I SAID THIS OUT LOUD TODAY I WOULD BE ANSWERED WITH UNIVERSAL LAUGHTER. PERHAPS IN 5 YEARS CERTAINLY, IN 50 EVERYONE WILL KNOW IT.”
Having previously experienced the situation inside of the Occupied Territories, Linda Clair claimed, “THE PROGRAMME OF ETHNIC CLEANSING WAS PUT INTO OPERATION THE DAY AFTER RESOLUTION 181 ON PARTITION WAS ADOPTED BY THE U.N”.
“WHEN (The British) DECIDED TO PULL OUT OF PALESTINE ON MAY 15TH 1948, APPROXIMATELY 300 PALESTINIAN VILLAGES HAD ALREADY BEEN ETHNICALLY CLEANSED.”
Ms. Clair reminded the audience that “BEN GURION LEADER OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT SAID TO THE JEWISH AGENCY EXECUTIVE IN JUNE 1938 " I AM FOR COMPULSORY TRANSFER, I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING IMMORAL IN IT.”
Buoyed by the success of the Northern Rally, there are discussions currently taking place to organise another event within the North of England. Members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign are now looking into the possibilities that maybe next year, 2008, the next “Northern Rally” could possibly be held within the City of Manchester, which played host to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Hussein Al-alak
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign
http://www.iraqsolidaritycampaign.blogspot.com
Please also see:
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)
http://www.palestinecampaign.org
Hussein Al-alak: Palestinians in Sheffield
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3494&blz=1
Paul V. Rafferty: The Fifth Conference of Palestinians in Europe + ADDENDUM http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3481&blz=1