Israel puts pressure Palestinian Farmers

on UK to change laws face difficulties with

Olive harvest

Aqsa
Gaza students denied Gaza running out of
the right to education vital supplies

Quarterly Issue 35 January 2008

Israel
For Free Distribution N E W S

Commits
War Crimes
in Gaza
The complete closure of the Gaza Strip from the outside world has resulted in a
humanitarian catastrophe which is being ignored by the international community.
Only a few hundred of the 1.5 New born babies Abdallah El-Yazji had the treated in the besieged Gaza an end to this catastrophe
million residents of the strip necessary permits to enter Strip. Many Palestinians with which threatens the health
have been allowed to leave
are at great risk Israel for treatment for a treatable illnesses now face a sector with total collapse. To
since June 2007. The hospitals as hospitals lack suspected brain tumour. He bleak future as Israel continues make matters worse, the Fatah
no longer have vital medicines, lifesaving equipment. was denied passage through to deny passage of goods and government led by Abbas in
food and essentials are in short the border crossing despite people. Many medicines and the West Bank is calling on
supply and over 80% of the Israel has refused to allow 4 attempts. Amir died in a supplies have been prevented all medical professionals to
population are reliant on food many patients to pass the Gaza hospital after losing from reaching Gaza as Israel go on strike in the Gaza Strip.
hand outs. borders, denying them their consciousness. denies they are humanitarian Those who fail to do so are
right to health and as a result necessities. An assertion than having their wages withheld.
Those suffering the greatest between June and the end of Amir’s death came a week many would disagree with. This has resulted in even
are medical patients who are November, 44 patients had after a 6 month old infant deeper animosity from most
in desperate need of treatment died. Most of these deaths was denied entry to Israel The Gaza Ministry of Palestinians towards President
which is only available in were avoidable. for urgent medical treatment, Health has appealed to the Abbas.
neighbouring countries. and died as a result of kidney International Community to
8 year old Amir Shaher failure which could not be take immediate action to put
 2

IN BRIEF
Amnesty International reiterates Peace talks at Annapolis The obvious deficiencies with the gathering included
Israel’s obligations
the absence of Hamas, who represent a large portion
In a recent statement, Amnesty International of Palestinian people. President Abbas, who is deeply
reiterated the international law position on unpopular with Palestinians, has been intensely criticized
Israel’s obligations over the Gaza Strip.
Israel, as the occupying power, is prohibited
for attempting to curb what little freedoms the Palestinians
from imposing collective punishment or enjoy under occupation, by banning protests against the
reprisals on the Palestinian population. Annapolis gathering. Despite this, wide protests still
Israel is ultimately responsible for ensuring occurred, although they were violently broken up by
the welfare of the 1.5 million Palestinians Abbas’s security forces.
who live in the Gaza Strip where Israel
controls all the land borders, air space and The agreement reached at Annapolis was for further peace
territorial water. Amnesty confirmed that
Israeli officials’ contention that Israel is
talks to take place over the course of 2008. However,
no longer bound by the laws of occupation many doubt whether anything will be achieved due to
since it redeployed its forces to the perimeter the inconsistency between the words being spoken and
of the Gaza Strip is simply a fallacy. On Tuesday 27 November 2007, the US hosted a the events being played out in the occupied territories.
conference in Annapolis, Maryland, bringing together 8 Palestinians were killed while the conference took
the Israelis and the Palestinians in an effort to begin new place, and the entire Gaza community continued to live
Police in Gaza use excessive force peace negotiations. Over 40 states were present for the under siege. Despite inflicting such deep suffering, Israel
against Arafat rally participants pre-negotiations conference, although the one day affair continued to demand recognition of itself as a racist state
was seen by many as little more than time for delivering to the exclusion of all its non-Jewish citizens.
The Gaza police force have been accused a few speeches and a photo opportunity for unpopular
by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights politicians.
of using excessive force and indiscriminate
gun fire against participants at the third year
anniversary rally following the death of
Manchester University students defy racist anti-Palestinian motion
Yasser Arafat. Many Fatah supporters were
injured in the clashes, and 8 people died. On 14 November 2007, the Manchester Students Union last forms of acceptable racism. If we had been twinned
strengthened its commitment to Palestinian rights to with a black university during apartheid in South Africa
education by voting in favour of twinning with An-Najah and they had been given them the ultimatum asking them
Hamas fighting back ‘like an University (ANU) with almost a two-thirds majority. to condemn gun crime there would have been international
army’ outrage, and rightly so.”
This defied the motion titled ‘Peace Through Education’
As the Israeli Occupation Forces continue to which was proposed in order to undermine the twinning, Manchester Students Union continues to support the
bomb and attack Gaza, killing Palestinians and was opposed by many on the grounds that it was a Palestinian right to education which they believe is clearly
indiscriminately, Hamas is reportedly racist motion stereotyping Palestinians as terrorists and being denied by the Israeli occupation policies which
putting up a strong counter-attack. Hamas
is opposing Israel’s almost daily incursions
accusing ANU of actively supporting terrorism. This include shelling educational establishments, shooting at
into the Gaza Strip in an orchestrated way caused great indignation amongst Manchester’s student students, denying students and teachers passage through
and has inflicted damage including the population. The writers of the motion had also cited an checkpoints, and closures which prevent schools and
destruction of military hardware and the unreliable website as a resource which included many universities from opening. This move was intended
killing of Israeli soldiers. Israeli journalist, inaccuracies and racist quotes. to help break the isolation imposed on the Palestinian
Amos Harel, has reported that the IOF are
no longer facing an untrained guerrilla force
people, and follows moves by many UK universities to
One student who attended the meeting said, “The motion twin with Palestinian universities.
but that Hamas is now better equipped and
trained and “fighting like and army”’ shows that the racism against the Palestinians is one of the

2,700 Gaza students denied the right to education

Academic Boycott Debate held in Following the complete closure of children. She had travelled to Gaza placing her under threat of losing her
Canada the Gaza Strip on 10th June 2007, with her 3 children to spend the sum- residency in Saudi Arabia and being
Students at Ryerson University in Toronto,
approximately 2,700 students have mer with her family for the first time cut off from her husband.
Canada, were the recent additions to the been denied the right to travel abroad in 4 years. The children missed the
Boycott Israel debate. Their first debate to their universities and colleges and start of their school year on 8th Sep- This miserable situation has been
was held at the university to a packed hall continue their studies. Many of these tember 2007. continuing for months with no end in
of students, academics and community students were in the Gaza Strip during site.
members on November 28. This was the
first time that such a debate was held on a
the summer with their families and In addition, her exit visa from Saudi
Canadian campus with the explicit support are now trapped within the densely Arabia expired in November,
of the university administration, and signals populated area unable to leave.
a major success for the anti-apartheid
movement in Canada. Over 7,500 Gazans are waiting to
leave the Gaza Strip to return to work,
studies or other commitments inter-
Join Friends of Al-Aqsa nationally. Israel is denying them all
Be a part of Friends of Al-Aqsa. Join our the freedom of movement to do this,
mailing list and is effectively holding them pris-
oners with the rest of the residents of
Gaza.

Those trapped include Elham Akram

To receive updates and information about Rajab who usually lives in Jeddah,
our events, log in your email at our website
Saudi Arabia, with her husband and
www.aqsa.org.uk
 3

IN BRIEF
Israel openly Most notably, this move demonstrates that Israel will not Palestinian women held prisoner

‘Judaising’ Jerusalem
allow the Palestinians to have East Jerusalem as the capital
of any future state if a two state solution is negotiated. In
preparation for this, since 1967, Israel has steadily built
a ring of illegal settlements around East Jerusalem, and
these now totally isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of
the West Bank.
There are 240,000 Palestinians living in Jerusalem but
they endure strict regulations, which control the amount
of land they live on, building policies, the denial of the
right to family re-unification, amongst others. There is also
now a deliberate drive to move extremist Israeli settlers
into Arab neighbourhoods. Reports suggest millions of
dollars of US money is being poured into settling Jews
into Arab neighbourhoods in Jerusalem, most notably the
Silwan district.
The Israeli parliament has granted preliminary approval
Amongst these extremist settlers are deeply racist elements
of a bill which seeks to permanently incorporate East
who advocate the Old City being free of all non-Jews and
Jerusalem as part of Israel.
the building of the ‘Temple’ on the site of the Al-Aqsa
This is illegal under international law as the fourth Geneva sanctuary. Thus, while Israeli politicians continue to talk
Convention prohibits a country from annexing any part about a Palestinian state, they are simultaneously acting
of the land which they are occupying militarily. United to make that an impossibility.
Israel continues to detain Palestinian
women as political prisoners, and at present,
approximately 120 women are being detained
and treated as criminals. They are subjected
to regular body searches, sexual harassment,
solitary confinement, being prevented from
going outside regularly, cell searches and
confiscation of personal belongings and
attacks including the use of tear gas in cells
occur regularly.
Disabled Palestinians not spared
oppressive policies
3rd December marked UN International
Day of Disabled Persons (IDoDP) and this
day was used by the Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights to highlight the suffering
of Palestine’s disabled citizens. Israel’s
human rights violations were said to have
caused a deterioration in the conditions of
the wounded, which has raised the number
of disabled Palestinians to high levels. The
services available to the disabled are abysmal
due to the general poverty which now exists
in the occupied territories.

Israel. Israel puts pressure on

Nations Resolutions have also prohibited this move by
Security Chaos in Gaza

Gaza running out of vital UK
Israel’s Public Security Israel has made it clear
supplies Minister
cancelled a planned visit to ‘intolerable’.
1.5 million Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip are
now suffering from acute
shortage of basic supplies.
Hospitals are reporting
zero stock availability
of paediatric drugs and
antibiotics, as well as
a shortage in chronic
disease drugs, cancer
treatment drugs, a range
of kidney dialysis drugs
and IV glucose solution.
In addition, there are also
shortages of kidney dialysis
machine equipment. Thus,
as expected, dozens of
patients with treatable
illnesses have died and
will continue to die in the
coming months unless the
siege ends.
Overall, according to the
United Nations Office
for Coordination for
Humanitarian Affairs in
the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, 91 drugs are
no longer available in
hospitals. The international
blockade of Gaza has also
led to shortages in many
types of foodstuffs, and
soaring prices for what is
available. A bag of flour
used to cost 80 shekels
to change laws The closure of Gaza has led to a precarious
security situation for its civilians. Gun crimes
are now rife and street violence has increased.
Such a situation was widely foreseen by
Avi Dichter that it finds this situation
experts due to the strain being put on the
population by the Israeli closure.
and now costs over 200 the UK over fears that he
would be arrested on war In 2005, an Israeli ex- Iranian Holocaust Drama
shekels.
crimes charges. British law general Doron Almog who
Iranian state television is running a drama
Other goods such as allows private citizens to was also involved in the
series called “Zero Degree Turn” which
building materials are no file complaints for alleged Shehada assassination,
depicts the story of an Iranian who helped
longer available and even war crimes. narrowly avoided arrest in Jews escape Nazism during WWII. It has
fuel supplies are becoming London. He was warned proved to be a huge hit in Iran, challenging
the view that Iran and anti-Semitism are
scarce. The impact of Dichter was one of the of the impending arrest
indistinguishable.
fuel shortages affect planners behind the 2002 by Israeli Diplomats who
every aspect of life, from assassination of Saleh boarded his plane before Lobby of Parliament Day 2007
basic cooking; running Shehada, a Hamas military he had disembarked. He
November 29th marked the UN International
of hospitals and schools; leader. Israel dropped a 1 avoided arrest by returning
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.
purifying, sterilising and tonne bomb on his house to Israel without getting off
Friends of Al-Aqsa worked in conjunction with
pumping water; running killing him, his wife and 3 the plane. numerous Palestine solidarity organisations to
garbage collection trucks children, his bodyguard and make November 28th a Lobby of Parliament
After the Almog incident,
and ambulances, and much other civilians including a day in Britain.
Israeli foreign minister
more. As fuel becomes further 6 children. This was This was an opportunity for members of the
Tzipi Livni asked British
increasingly scarce, the condemned by the world. public to lobby their MPs on the issue of
judicial authorities to
price of fuel is shooting Palestine and bring to their attention the facts
Dichter’s visit was called review laws allowing about the occupation policies. The lobby was
up.
off after the UK government magistrates to issue such intended to change political attitudes and
Gaza’s economy has had been unable to guarantee arrest warrants. This request government policies to make a change for
collapsed following the him immunity against was made once again during Palestine.
mass closure of industries private citizens’ complaints Foreign Secreatary David
The lobby day was also used to putt pressure
including factories in leading to an arrest warrant Millibands recent visit to on MPs to sign up to EDM’s and sign motions
the wood, clothing, for war crimes. Israel. against the Israeli occupation and to show
their support for peace which recognises the
food, construction and
interests of the Palestinians as well as the
agricultural sectors. More Israelis.
than 800,000 Gazan’s,
more than half the The lobby day was successful, attracting
population, have lost their around 600 people who had arranged meetings
with their MPs. This year encouraged the
jobs and their abilities to youngest ever person to lobby parliament – a
provide for their families. nine year old boy representing his primary
This was the direct result of school.
border closures which have
prevented raw materials
passing through.
 4

Message from Friends of Al-Aqsa

November 29th marked the United FoA Activities
Nations’ International Day of Solidarity FoA has been busy raising awareness of LEAFLETS
with the Palestinian People. This was the worsening humanitarian situation
commemorated all over the world in Gaza and the West Bank over recent FLAG LAPEL BADGE

by people seeking to show solidarity months. A number of talks have been

with the Palestinians in their darkest held in order to boost the boycott
hour. Gaza has become a humanitarian campaign, and ensure the Palestinians
catastrophe, but the deepest despair are not forgotten. £1.50 Qty:
of all comes from the world’s apathy In addition, FoA is producing a number MASJID LAPEL BADGE
to Israel’s war crimes in this strip of of new bite-size information leaflets
land. including ‘The Right of Return’,
‘Israel’s War Crimes’ and ‘Israel’s
Gaza’s 1.5 million people are being Weapons of Mass Destruction’. These
£1.50 Qty:
starved of all necessities of life, yet in will be available for free distribution.
the epitome of cruelty, just enough aid AL-AQSA KEY RING

and equipment is being allowed to filter

through to its people so that they are not FoA Volunteers (branches)
actually dying in large numbers. This Friends of Al-Aqsa branches now
ensures that international attention is operate in Leicester (head office), £1.50 Qty:
not drawn to Israel’s inhumane actions London, Walsall and Bradford. All PALESTINE WRIST BAND
yet life is made unbearable for the branches welcome new volunteers
civilians. to participate in the campaign work.
We are particularly looking for
While babies and children die of people to take part in research work, Complete set of
information leaflets on
treatable diseases, world leaders met selling merchandise and distributing £1.00 Qty:
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in Annapolis to talk about peace. The information leaflets. Please contact FRIDGE MAGNET Qty:

hypocrisy of the words spoken when info@aqsa.org.uk or call 0116 2125441

compared with the actions being played if you wish to participate. VIDEOS
out on the ground in the occupied
territories was plain for all to see. 8 £1.50 Qty:
Palestinians were killed while the one FoA talks and workshops
OLIVE OIL
day conference took place. If you think people in your locality, BOXOF 6
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school, university or other place can

In the 40 years since Israel’s occupation benefit from lectures or workshops Blood in the Ibrahimi Mosque
of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, it has on Palestine, contact FoA to make The Return
Jerusalem - The Promise of
become clear that peace will only be arrangements for a speaker to attend. £30.00 Qty: Heaven

achieved if both sides feel international Workshops aimed at school children £3.00 each inc P&P
pressure. While Palestinians face daily between the ages of 5-16 are also an
scrutiny, the actions of Israel have option, in order to educate them on
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 5

The One religion, ethnicity, national origin

or current citizenship status;
State
- Any system of government must
be founded on the principle of
equality in civil, political, social
Amnesty International
Gaza As A Hostile
Entity: A Self-Fulfilling
imposed by Israel on the cross-
ing points to the outside world has
effectively trapped the 1.5 million
Palestinian inhabitants and fur-

Declaration and cultural rights for all citizens.

For decades, efforts to bring
about a two-state solution in
historic Palestine have failed to
provide justice and peace for the
Palestinian and Israeli Jewish
peoples, or to offer a genuine
process leading towards them.
The two-state solution ignores
the physical and political realities
on the ground, and presumes a
false parity in power and moral
claims between a colonized
and occupied people on the one
hand and a colonizing state and
military occupier on the other. It is
predicated on the unjust premise
that peace can be achieved by
granting limited national rights
to Palestinians living in the areas
occupied in 1967, while denying
the rights of Palestinians inside the
1948 borders and in the Diaspora.
Thus, the two-state solution
condemns Palestinian citizens of
Israel to permanent second-class
status within their homeland, in a
racist state that denies their rights
by enacting laws that privilege
Jews constitutionally, legally,
politically, socially and culturally.
Moreover, the two-state solution
denies Palestinian refugees their
internationally recognized right of
return.
The two-state solution entrenches
and formalizes a policy of unequal
separation on a land that has
become ever more integrated
territorially and economically.
All the international efforts to
implement a two-state solution
cannot conceal the fact that a
Palestinian state is not viable,
and that Palestinian and Israeli
Jewish independence in separate
states cannot resolve fundamental
injustices, the acknowledgment
and redress of which are at the
core of any just solution.
In light of these stark realities,
we affirm our commitment to a
democratic solution that will offer
a just, and thus enduring, peace
in a single state based on the
following principles:
- The historic land of Palestine
belongs to all who live in it and to
those who were expelled or exiled
from it since 1948, regardless of
Power must be exercised with
Prophecy? ther undermined the beleaguered
economy – with devastating social
rigorous impartiality on behalf of and economic consequences for a
John Ging manages a programme
all people in the diversity of their population most of whom already
valued at $350 million and over
identities; live below the poverty line.
10,000 staff, delivering education,
- There must be just redress for the health care, social services and
devastating effects of decades of Under international law, Israel, as
micro finance and micro enterprise
Zionist colonization in the pre- and the occupying power, is prohibited
support to over one million refu-
post-state period, including the from imposing collective punish-
gees. To mitigate the worst effects
abrogation of all laws, and ending ment or reprisals on the Palestinian
of the current economic and hu-
all policies, practices and systems population. Israel is ultimately re-
manitarian crisis in Gaza, the Gaza
of military and civil control that sponsible for ensuring the welfare
Operation also includes an Emer-
oppress and discriminate on the of the 1.5 million Palestinians who
gency Program, of Job Creation
basis of ethnicity, religion or live in the Gaza Strip where Israel
(11,000 positions), Food Assistance
national origin; controls all the land borders, air
(860,000 beneficiaries), Cash As-
- The recognition of the diverse space and territorial water. Israeli
sistance and a range of other relief
character of the society, officials’ contention that Israel is no
measures. In addition the Gaza Op-
encompassing distinct religious, longer bound by the laws of occu-
eration also includes reconstruction
linguistic and cultural traditions, pation since it redeployed its forces
and infrastructure projects valued
and national experiences; to the perimeter of the Gaza Strip is
at over USD $93 million.
- The creation of a non-sectarian simply a fallacy.
state that does not privilege the In the Gaza Strip, the blockade
rights of one ethnic or religious
group over another and that
respects the separation of state
from all organized religion;
- The implementation of the Right
of Return for Palestinian refugees
in accordance with UN Resolution
194 is a fundamental requirement
for justice, and a benchmark of the
respect for equality.
- The creation of a transparent and
non-discriminatory immigration
policy;
- The recognition of the historic
connections between the diverse
communities inside the new,
democratic state and their
respective fellow communities
outside;
- In articulating the specific
contours of such a solution,
those who have been historically
excluded from decision-making --
especially the Palestinian Diaspora
and its refugees, and Palestinians
inside Israel -- must play a central
role;
- The establishment of legal and
institutional frameworks for justice
and reconciliation.
The struggle for justice and
liberation must be accompanied
by a clear, compelling and moral
vision of the destination ¬ a
solution in which all people who
share a belief in equality can see a
future for themselves and others.
We call for the widest possible
discussion, research and action
to advance a unitary, democratic
solution and bring it to fruition.
Madrid and London, 2007
6
Fun & Games
COMPETITION
Win a £20 Argos voucher and a
Friends of Al-Aqsa goody bag!!!
13 years old or under???
Using the story of Musa (as)
above and your own knowledge,
answer the following questions:
1. What did Musa (as) do
to convince Pharaoh that his
message was true?
2. Why did the magicians
believe Musa (as)?
3. What was the difference
between Musa’s (as) snake and
the magicians’ snakes?
4. How did the children of
Israel reach safety?
5. What happened to
Pharaoh and his army?
Prophet Musa (as) and the Children of Israel
Prophet Musa (as) was commanded by Allah (swt)
to go to the pharaoh in Egypt and tell him about the
signs of Allah (swt) so that he would believe and stop
being a tyrant. When Musa (as) went to the palace,
Pharaoh rejected him and his message. To convince
him, Musa (as) threw down his staff (walking stick) on
the floor and by Allah’s (swt) miracle it turned into a
big snake.
Pharaoh called his own magicians who challenged
Musa (as). They threw down their ropes and sticks
and made them look like snakes using illusions. But the
snake of Musa (as) ate them all up! The magicians all
saw this as being a real miracle and not magic, and so
they believed the message of Musa (as).
Pharaoh still refused to believe and became even
crueller to the Children of Israel who were slaves. Musa
(as) was then commanded by Allah (swt) to leave
Egypt with the Children of Israel.
There are two paths in this maze, one of which
leads the Children of Israel to safety. Can you find
the right path?
knives ended up cutting
14-18 years old??? their fingers in distraction.
3. He was given command of
Use the following clues to
the wind by Allah swt, and
was able to talk to animals.
identify names of each
4. He is in Jannah, but his life
Prophet that they refer to.
on this earth is not over yet.
Send us your answers for the
5. He is the imam of all the
chance to win!
Prophets.
1. He was impatient with his
people and left them. He Deadline for both
was then punished by Allah competitions:
20 February 2008
(swt) when he went out
to sea. He was swallowed
Send your answers with your
name, age and address to:
by a big fish. He repented Friends of Al-Aqsa, PO Box
5127, Leicester, LE2 0WU.
to Allah (swt) while in the Or email us on
stomach of the fish.
info@aqsa.org
2. He was so handsome that
Winners of the last
competition:
at one time, a group of Saaqib Abdul-Hameed,
age 12 from Sheffield
women who saw him while Fatima Kathoria,
age 18 from Leicester.
they were cutting fruit with
Comic strip
 7

Children in Palestine
As with most conflict areas around
the world, one of the most vulnera-
ble groups of people in the occupied
territories are children.

Palestinian children are

faced with challenges in
every facet of their lives
ranging from obtaining
basic food and nutri-
tion, to personal safety
and well-being.
There are approximately 4 million
Palestinians living in the West Bank
and Gaza strip. About 52% or 2.1
million of them are children below
the age of 18. They have not been
spared the violence of the occu-
pation, and between January and
September 2007 alone, 39 children
were killed and 209 injured as a
direct result of Israeli military and
settler violence. A further 29 died as A new born baby in an under-equipped Gaza hospital
a result of Palestinian inter-factional 2005. Comparatively, Israel’s infant
fighting. mortality rate in 2005 was 5/1000.
Health is a major factor for Pales-
Children also face ar- tinians and 10% of Palestinian chil-
dren under the age of 5 are stunted.
rest and incarceration Furthermore, over 70% of 9-month-
in adult Israeli pris- old children in Gaza and 50% in the
West Bank are anaemic.
ons and in September
2007, 335 children were The educational opportunities for
Palestinian children are affected by
known to be in deten- many factors, including Israel’s wall
tion. which has separated many children
from their schools in the West Bank.
If these children are brought to trial,
they will be tried as adults if they
are aged 12 or over. This is contrary Checkpoints make at-
to international laws relating to tendance at school un-
children and Israel has no mecha-
nism in place for dealing with these
predictable as both stu-
children in Juvenile courts. For dents and teachers are
many of these children, their crime, easily prevented from
if any, was throwing stones.
reaching their schools.
Palestinian children are also being
hit hard by the economic collapse Further to this, achievements are
being faced by Palestinian society low amongst children in certain
due to the harsh occupation poli- areas. UNWRA puts this down to
cies. 58% of all Palestinians (2.3 violence, overcrowding and poverty
million) live below the poverty line which all reduce the chances of a
and 42% of households in Gaza are successful education for most Pales-
now faced with extreme poverty, tinian children.
with over 80% totally reliant on
aide for their daily needs.

The infant mortality rate was at a

high of 25.3/1000 during 2004-
 8

Palestinian Their mission was to help Palestinian

farmers who face intense difficulties with
their olive harvest. The volunteers found
farmers face that this year was worse than previous
years and confirmed the desperation of

difficulties with the farmers they went to support.

Most of the farmers whom they helped

Olive harvest pleaded for more people to go out to
Palestine, and to return home and tell the
stories of what they have seen there.
Each year, during the olive harvest
period, Palestinian farmers face intense
Visit www.zaytoun.org for details about
difficulties with Israeli soldiers and
the trips.
violent extremist settlers attempting
to disrupt the harvest. Restrictions are
placed on when farmers can access
their land when they are close to illegal
settlements, and this makes the harvest
unpredictable and often impossible.

In many places farmers are

intimidated and threatened by
settlers who have in the past
stolen olive groves, chopped
down or burnt trees, prevented
farmers from visiting their
land, and stolen the harvest
once the olives were picked.
In villages that have been divided by
the wall, farmers were forced to apply
for permits in order to access their own
land. These permits were then denied or
withdrawn at will by the Israeli Army.

For many Palestinian families, the

olive harvest provides much needed
income to counter their increasingly
desperate situations. Each year, the
harvest becomes more difficult and
the situation gets worse for Palestinian
farmers and their families. Israel’s
occupation policies mean poverty and
unemployment are rife. The situation
is so poor now that in places, such
as the village of Kufr Qudum which
relies on a generator for electricity, the
village council was forced to reduce the
numbers of hours electricity is available
because villagers cannot afford to pay
for the diesel required.

The UK based ethical business

‘Zaytoun’ was established to
support marginalized farming
communities in Palestine.
Every year Zaytoun organizes
an olive picking group and a
tour over the olive harvest
period.
This year, 16 people travelled with
Zaytoun as olive picking volunteers and
international observers.

Published by Friends of Al-Aqsa, P.O.Box 5127, Leicester, LE2 0WU, Tel 07711 823 524, (0116) 2125441, Email: info@aqsa.org.uk, www.aqsa.org.uk