Solidarity with Palestine
Two people from Brighton have just returned from a fact finding tour of the Jordan Valley in Palestine . We travelled over the mountains to the most fertile region in Palestine , to find that 95% of the land there has been stolen from the local Palestinian people and is now controlled by the Israeli Army and Israeli settlers. There is very little health care in the area, education is limited, there are no phone lines or public transport, and often there is no electricity. There are definitely no Universities. If anyone moves out of the Jordan Valley so they can access these services more easily for their family they will lose their Jordan Valley ID and their right to be here - every time somebody does this it is a small victory for Israel in its aim to remove all Palestinians from this area – in any other part of the world this would be called ethnic cleansing. We met with school and university students and teachers, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (who provide healthcare and ambulances), farmer's cooperatives, a women's committee, a prisoner's society, and numerous people who have lost their land and livelihoods. Everywhere we were greeted with immense hospitality by people who are determined that the occupation of their towns, villages, land and country by Israel will not be forgotten, and will not continue indefinitely whilst the rest of the world fails to act. Our visit was supported by Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and we have returned with the aim of establishing friendship and solidarity links with the Toubas region in the Northern Jordan Valley . This could have a real impact on the people of Toubas and help to break down the isolation that Israel is so keen to inflict on the Palestinian people. We will be launching the Brighton-Toubas Friendship and Solidarity Group with a visit by Fatih from Toubas, on 17th-19th May 2006. To make this a success we would like to arrange for Fatih to meet with a wide range of people and organisations in the city, e.g members of Trade Unions, Students Groups, or other community organisations. If you would like to meet with Fatih please let us know as soon as possible. If you can't make the 17th-19th but would like those of us from Brighton who went to the Jordan Valley to come and speak to your group please get in touch. We hope to also organise an open meeting and a Press conference. Details of these will be on this website as soon as they are available. If you want to read more about our visit to the Jordan Valley you can read our blogs. If you would like to get involved in, or support, the Brighton-Toubas Friendship and Solidarity Group please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Remember: Brighton & Hove is a UN Peace Messenger City.