Aqsa News, Issue 54, February 2014 by Friends of Al Aqsa

QUARTERLY

FREE

WWW.FOA.ORG.UK

ISSUE 54

AQSA NEWS

Is aid the solution? The case of Palestine Special Feature • Page 10

Friends of Al-Aqsa newspaper since 1997

Jerusalem crackdown,

Incursions into

FEBRUARY 2014

UK MPs

five year old al-Aqsa arrested reaches 9,000 Page 2

Page 3

demand end to Gaza blockade

Page 3

FOA Launches ‘Jerusalem Paper’ in Parliament • Protecting Palestinian citizenship rights in East Jerusalem • Guest Speaker from Jerusalem highlights ‘quiet deportation of Palestinians’ • Residency revocation, denial of family unification and demolitions

Friends of Al-Aqsa has worked closely with the Coalition for Jerusalem based in Palestine and the Israel Committee Against House Demolitions to produce a detailed report on the silent transfer by Israel of Palestinian Jerusalemites out of their ancestral city. The report, titled ‘Protecting Palestinian Citizenship Rights in East Jerusalem’

was launched in Parliament on 5 February 2014, in an event hosted by Yasmin Qureshi MP. The report highlights the racist and discriminatory policies implemented against Palestinians, including the denial of planning permission for the building of urgently needed homes. Continued on Page 2

TAKE ACTION: Electricity Crisis in Gaza Palestinians face electricity crisis as Israeli siege on Gaza blocks off fuel supply Ask your MP to sign the EDM 1080 in Parliament: That this House calls on the Government to recognise the severe situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza in accessing electricity; notes the call from UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk that the situation in Gaza is at a point near catastrophe due to fuel shortages resulting in daily power cuts for sustained periods of time which have undermined an already precarious infrastructure; further notes that the provision of all basic services including health, water, sanitation and education is being severely disrupted; recognises that specialised health services are being interrupted daily, including kidney dialysis, operating theatres, blood banks and incubators, threatening lives; and further calls on the Government to respond to the call made by Amnesty International to urge Israel to lift the Gaza blockade immediately and urge Eygpt to open the Rafah border crossing. Continued on Page 3

Army ‘selfie squad’

Scarlett Johansson drops role as Oxfam ambassador • Accused of putting profit before human rights Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has stepped down from her role as global ambassador for Oxfam, due to her support and celebrity endorsement of Recipe

the Israeli company SodaStream. SodaStream operates a factory in an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank and has been accused of taking advantage Academics back boycott

of Palestinian labourers who have few employment opportunities. Since Oxfam recognises Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law, they held Review Identity & Exile

Inside...

firm to their policy of opposing all settlement activity. Continued on Page 4

Travel to Palestine

Pilgrimage, the blessed journey 2

Page 5

Page 6

Page 15

FREEDOM WALK 2014

SPONSORED WALK PEAK DISTRICT DERBYSHIRE 08KM / 15KM

SUNDAY 25 MAY

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

INSIDE PALESTINE

Continued from front page The situation is so desperate that at present, over 90 per cent of new homes built by Palestinians now are deemed illegal as they have no planning permission. This highlights the strength of need for new homes. Demolition orders are issued for such ‘illegal’ homes and if demolitions do occur, families are made to pay for the demolition. The resultant misery for hundreds of families left homeless is untold. Children are the worst

affected as they witness their parents’ hopelessness and despair, and face deep psychological trauma. This often remains unaddressed due to a shortage in services to support families. Guest speakers at the launch of the paper included Megan Driscoll who travelled from Jerusalem to attend the event and speak about the Coalition for Jerusalem campaign, which seeks to highlight the policies being implemented by Israel to make life unbearable for Palestinians. Palestinians are not given

Army ‘selfie squad’

The Israeli army has launched a new camera squad, made up of soldiers that are trained in videography, editing and broadcast. This is in response to count-

less Palestinian cameramen and women recording Israeli human rights abuses. Over recent years, Palestinians have used cameras to document the extent of attacks

citizenship rights in Jerusalem despite their long historic heritage in the city. They are instead treated as mere ‘residents’ who are not given the same rights as Israelis who live in Jerusalem. Their residency can be revoked at any time by Israel and they live under constant threat of this. Since 1967, Israel has revoked approximately 14,203 identity cards from Palestinians and expelled them from their own city. Israel also denies automatic residency rights to children of Palestinian Je-

against them by soldiers and extremist settlers. A number of Israeli soldiers have been held to account over treatment of Palestinians and internationals as a result of the use of video footage. For example, a video of Lt Col Shalom Eisner hitting a Danish protestor on the face using a rifle resulted in his suspension from the army. Palestinians are using cameras as a defence mechanism now more than ever. Not only do cameras allow Palestinians to document the reality of Israeli occupation, but IDF soldiers are less likely to act violently towards Palestinians in the presence of cameras. It seems that the possible reputational damage is higher on Israel’s agenda than concern for human life. Haitham Katib, a Palestinian from the village of Bil’in said: “I feel that my camera can stop some of the violence. If the soldiers

rusalemites, and residency cannot be passed to a spouse. Thus, Israel hampers family unification and forces Palestinian families to either live apart or move out of Jerusalem. Israel’s residency policies breach international law, and in the absence of international attention and pressure, Palestinians will continue to be dispossessed on a daily basis. To read the full report, visit www.foa.org.uk/publications/term/reports

see you filming, they stop their violence. Sometimes they broke my camera. They stopped me filming many times. They shoot me sometimes with rubber bullets. But 70% I believe my camera has stopped the violence.” Israel hopes to convey ‘their side of the story’ through this team of trained videographers, who are able to film, edit and broadcast from the battlefield. Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has welcomed the move, however a member of the organisation explained that Israel rarely releases footage, and on the occasions that it does, the footage is usually heavily edited. Israel claims that it is fighting back and conveying its side of the story, however, many are weary of the extent to which such videos will reflect the daily reality on the ground rather than edited footage.

85-year-old Palestinian first victim of occupation in 2014 An elderly Palestinian man has died after a tear gas canister was hurled into his home during clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian protestors. Villagers report that dozens of tear gas canisters were thrown at protestors, one of which entered the 85-yearold’s home, resulting in severe smoke inhalation. Mr Ali’s death marks the first reported Palestinian death of 2014, only two days into the new year, and does not indicate any change in Israel’s dispro-

portionate violence against Palestinians. Supporters of the Fatah party had gathered in the West Bank village of Kufr Qaddoum near Nablus to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the movement before clashes broke out with soldiers. The West Bank has seen increased levels of violence in recent months. Israeli human rights group B’Tselem reports that the number of killings in the West Bank had jumped threefold in 2013, compared with previous years.

Israel has announced that it is to build 1,400 new homes in illegal West Bank settlements. 800 houses are to be built in the West Bank and the remaining 400 will be in East Jerusalem; a move which is likely to ignite further tensions in and around the al Aqsa sanctuary. The move to expand

more settlements highlights the fact that Israel is unwilling to negotiate and abide by its obligations under international law. Palestinian figures have highlighted the fact that such a move proves the true will of Israel and the international community should not be blind to that fact.

15-year-old Wajih Wajdi al-Ramahi was shot in the back by Israeli snipers using live bullets in front of his school in December 2013. He died as a result in alJalazun refugee camp near Ramallah. Human Rights Watch stated that Israeli authorities have provided no evidence to suggest that al-Ramahi posed any threat that would justify his shoot-

ing. Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director stated: “Twice this year, Israeli soldiers hiding near schools, apparently to make arrests, have killed children who posed no apparent threat. If the past is any guide, these boys’ families can look forward to a prolonged, opaque, and fruitless process that does not hold perpetrators to account or deliver justice.”

Israel to build 1,400 new settlement homes

Jerusalem crackdown, five year old arrested

2013 saw a huge crackdown on Jerusalem’s Palestinian residents. In an annual report, the Wadi al-Hilwa and Silwan Information Centre documented over the course of the year that Israel arrested 1,450

Jerusalemite residents, including 25 women and 450 children. 95 shops have been destroyed, 446 people displaced and warrants have been issued to hundreds of home owners who face house demolitions.

The arbitrary arrest of men, women and children in Jerusalem, including the horrifying arrest of a 5-year-old in Silwan who was confined to a military vehicle for an hour; and 20 other children who were

arrested, interrogated and kept in solitary confinement for five days without any legal representation, shows Israel’s employment of fear tactics. By placing the population under such archaic measures, Israel seeks to make Jerusalem uninhabitable for its Palestinian residents. Further to this, countless Palestinians are routinely denied access to the al Aqsa mosque and sanctuary, whilst at the same time another Israeli human rights group reported that the number of Israeli incursions into al Aqsa has soared. Calls from Israel to establish the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem continue to surface, yet the Palestinian population remains firm in their rightful and legal claim to East Jerusalem, as recognised under international law.

Palestinian teen shot by snipers

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

Gaza flooding

Torrential rain and heavy snowfall across the occupied Palestinian Territories caused massive flooding in the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Authorities reported serious flooding after the first snowfall in the region in two decades. Thousands were evacuated from their

AQSA NEWS

INSIDE PALESTINE

homes to temporary shelters and school buildings, as the Health Ministry declared a state of “extreme emergency”. Ordinary Gazans helped with UN relief efforts to evacuate areas and provide emergency supplies to families that had been stranded. The situation was further

exacerbated by the fact that raw sewage had mixed with the floodwaters leading to a greater risk of infection and disease. The Gaza Strip has faced a tough fuel shortage over recent months as the taxes incurred on fuel supplies from Israel have been unaffordable for the Gazan authorities. This has meant that Gazans faced power outages and limited electricity before the flooding occurred - a situation that only intensified following the storm. Some limited supplies entered the beleaguered Strip after the Qatari government stepped in to pay the high taxes on the fuel in order to limit the suffering faced by the Gazan population. Under international law, Israel is considered to be occupying the Gaza Strip and therefore is responsible for the health and welfare of the population. Instead, it is cutting off vital supplies as it continues with its inhumane siege. The atrocious situation has drawn international condemnation.

An Israeli human rights group has found that Israeli prisons are involved in the torture of children held in ‘outdoor cages’ over winter months. These children, the vast majority of whom were arrested for ‘stone throwing’, faced the bitter cold in such outdoor cages, as well as facing threats, acts of sexual violence and military trials with no form of representation. The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), published the report documenting the torture claims in Israeli jails,

and demanded that there be a change in law. Israel has an extremely heavy-handed system of punishment, particularly when it comes to the treatment of Palestinians. The PCATI therefore called on Israel to lower the standard of what is deemed to be an ‘act of abuse’. Charges such as stone throwing are often responded to with harsh and entirely disproportionate prison sentences, as a means to quash and deter any acts of resistance against the Israeli occupation.

From front page Electricity crisis in Gaza An EDM has been tabled in Parliament to bring the issue of the electricity crisis in Gaza to the attention of the British government, asking for intervention. Early Day Motion 1080 calls on the Government to recognise the near catastrophic situation in Gaza and asks the government to urge Israel to lift the blockade immediately as well as urge

Eqypt to open the Rafah border crossing. The humanitarian situation in Gaza at a time of ‘peace’ has never been as appalling as it is today. The entire population of 1.7 million people are imprisoned from the outside world by the Israeli siege and the Egyptian army’s complicity. Gaza is quickly moving to a point where it will become ‘unfit for human habitation’. The lack of electricity is due to the lack of a steady

and reliable fuel supply. Israel allows only a limited supply to enter the besieged strip of land, far below the quantity required by the population, and for the Strip’s only power plant to function to capacity. Previously, the shortfall was met by Palestinians smuggling in tonnes of fuel every day using the tunnels at the Rafah border with Egypt. The Egyptian military has since bombed those tunnels following its military coup.

A letter highlighting the atrocious conditions that 1.7million Gazan survivors have been forced to live under, has been signed by 27 MPs and Lords and published online. The group were speaking out against the oppressive system which Palestinians face. The blockade enforced by Israel and backed by neighbouring Egypt has

led to severe restrictions on accessing vital resources to rebuild broken and destroyed infrastructure. Electricity shortages from the lack of fuel have affected all vital services such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation, and power cuts are frequent. Furthermore, Gazans are restricted in movement and are not permitted to

travel freely in and out of the Strip, effectively causing them to be trapped in their own homes. The letter from the MPs and Lords powerfully conveys the urgency of the situation, and calls on the UK government “to take immediate action to bring an end to the blockade on Gaza.”

A House of Commons debate on the humanitarian situation in Gaza on 5 February led to probably the strongest condemnation of Israel that has ever been heard in Parliament - with three of the House of Commons’ most senior backbenchers leading the charge. The debate was introduced by Sir Tony Baldry, the Conservative MP for Banbury, who recalled returning home after a visit to Gaza and telling his children that he had been to “hell” and he could not imagine a “purgatory” of such total hopelessness as Gaza. He was backed up by Sir Gerald Kaufman, Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, who accused Israelis of sitting in their cafes in Tel Aviv and

not giving a damn about their fellow human beings in Gaza just half an hour away. The international community would have to take action and it would have to be imposed on the Israelis, “otherwise hell will break loose”. But the most telling criticism came from Sir Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, who declared himself a strong supporter of Israel: “By all means, if someone is attacked, they should reply strongly in military terms, but not punish a whole people and reduce them to utter poverty and destitution. “I say this as a strong supporter of the state of Israel, but there is a real

danger that more and more people in the world believe that a people who were formerly oppressed are now becoming the oppressors, and that the state of Israel is thereby losing its soul.” Of 15 speakers the only defence of the Israeli government came from the chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel, James Clappison, who blamed Hamas for the plight of the Gazans. But Sir Tony Baldry told him there would never be an end to the tragedy of Gaza so long as he and others like him remained deaf to the clear advice of international lawyers that collective punishment of the people of Gaza is illegitimate.

UK MP’s demand an end to Gaza blockade

Israel accused of torturing Palestinian minors in Israeli jails

Incursions into al-Aqsa reach 9,000 Israeli human rights group Wadi Hilwah Information Centre published an annual report which documents that over 9,000 Israelis carried out incursions into the al-Aqsa Sanctuary during 2013. Break-ins have escalated exponentially over the course of the year, as Israel seeks to lay claim to the sacred territory which is recognised by the international community as being under the mandate of the Palestinian Waqf Authorities. Israelis view the land as the Temple Mount and in recent years extensive

excavation work has been undertaken under the premise of ‘archaeological’ digs. These have weakened the foundations of buildings within al-Aqsa. The report notes that the incursions have been carried out by soldiers, settlers, ministers and political figures and the high level of incursions is a worrying deterioration in Israeli behaviour and respect for Palestinian rights and heritage. September 2013 saw the highest number of incursions where 1,595 settlers stormed the mosque during the Yom Kippur festival.

MPs Condemn Israel for Gaza ‘Purgatory’

Update from Palestine Briefing

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

GLOBAL NEWS

Continued from front page Johansson was faced with the choice of continuing her support of Oxfam’s humanitarian work, or profiting from an advertising campaign with SodaStream. She chose the latter. The actress has been involved in public campaigns for political figures such as John Kerry and Barack Obama, and even featured in singer Will.I.Am’s song “Yes We Can”, inspired by an Obama speech. She has in the past expressed her desire to utilise the fame she has acquired in order to benefit and shed the spot-

light on certain issues, but her good intentions have been misplaced in agreeing to support a company that operates on Occupied Palestinian Territory, further entrenching the occupation, and resulting in grave human rights abuses. All settlements are built on stolen Palestinian land and are illegal under international law. SodaStream claims that it has fair employment policies, which Johansson echoed. However, employees speaking off the record state that only Jewish Israelis are in senior roles and Palestinians do not have equal em-

Visitors to Bethlehem plummet

The number of Christians visiting Bethlehem has severely plummeted. Despite the belief that it is the birthplace of Jesus, more and more Christians are now leaving the Holy Land, and those coming from abroad are deciding against travelling to Bethlehem due to the presence of military checkpoints, the separation barrier and a high security presence. This trend threatens

the future of the town, particularly since Bethlehem is of such significance to the Christian faith and the decrease in Christians in the area will result in the loss of the cultural heritage of the city. Vera Baboun, the mayor of Bethlehem wishes to make the town open to all, and is trying to encourage greater numbers of Christian pilgrims to travel to the Holy Lands.

The UK government has issued an explicit warning to British businesses regarding the risks of doing business with companies operating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The statement has come amid a recent toughening of the British position on illegal settlements on Occupied Palestinian Territory and indicates frustration at the current Israeli government’s complete disregard for international law and their obligations as an occupying power. The government issued a statement warning of the associated reputational

implications of operating in illegal settlements and advised companies “contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements [to] seek appropriate legal advice”. The announcement was well received from members of the global boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, who continue to campaign for individual consumers, businesses and organisations to vocalise their dissatisfaction with Israeli abuses of human rights by refraining from activities occurring in the illegal Israeli settlements of the West Bank.

ployment rights. Many are afraid to speak out as they need jobs desperately, even if those jobs are underpaid and exploitative. SodaStream is profiting from the fact that there is little in the way of employment for most Palestinians in the area and as such, they have little choice in where they work. Furthermore, Palestinian employees usually earn lower wages than their Israeli counterparts and are more at risk of job loss. This lack of employment and poor job security is caused primarily by Israeli occupation. Whilst Oxfam has not

endorsed boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS), they did state that the promotion of SodaStream which operates in illegal Israeli settlements is at odds with the ethics of Oxfam. The charity states: “Oxfam believes that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support. Oxfam is opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.”

Ariel Sharon dies

In January, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died at the age of 85 years following 8 years in a coma after a major stroke in 2006. During his political and military career, Sharon was responsible for the death and suffering of thousands of Palestinians. His death drew mixed emotions, as voices within Israel tried desperately to highlight his strength of character and fervent belief in the ‘idea of Israel’ in a bid to redeem his reputation, whilst other voices within Palestine and globally questioned the sort of legacy left by the former

Prime Minister. Sharon is known most significantly for his role in triggering the Second Intifada in 2000, during which 141 Palestinians were killed and 5,984 others were injured in the first month alone. Between 2000-2006, 4,000 Palestinians were killed of whom 759 were children, 141 women, 25 medical personnel and 10 journalists. Israeli forces also destroyed over 4,500 homes and injured tens of thousands more people. Much of this could have been averted.

When Ariel Sharon was Defence Minister in 1982, he was responsible for the massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. 800 people were killed when Sharon ordered that Israeli tanks and soldiers surround the camps, whilst Lebanese militiamen committed the

massacre within. The Kahn Inquiry found Sharon to be partially responsible for the massacre and he was forced to resign from his post as a result. Human rights groups called for Sharon to be tried for war crimes, but he was never brought to justice.

Dutch company divests from Israeli banks Dutch pension fund management company PGGM decided to withdraw all investments from five major Israeli banks. The decision, which came on 1 January 2014, was influenced by the European Union’s boycott of Israeli settlements which are considered illegal under international law. The PLO responded positively, saying that this move will indicate to Israel that it is not above the law. Hanan Ashrawi from the PLO was delighted that civil soci-

ety and political institutions within Europe had begun to take more practical steps as opposed to solely offering verbal condemnation of Israel’s settlement activities in the Occupied Territories. It was reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz that the divestment by PGGM would amount to “a few tens of millions of dollars” and that the move will be more damaging for Israel’s public image as other organisations may be encouraged to follow suit.

A new project to replenish levels of water in the rapidly declining Dead Sea, has resurfaced decades after the initial proposal was put forward. The World Bank sponsored Red Sea Dead Sea Conveyance (RSDSC) Program aims to replenish water levels in the Dead Sea by transporting water across from the Red Sea. The initial plan was met with harsh criticism when it first emerged, yet decades later in 2013, Israel along with the government of Jordan and representatives from the Palestinian Authority have signed an agreement to start work building the 110 mile pipeline. Unsurprisingly, Palestinians are outraged by this latest plan to allow Israel to further tighten their stranglehold on water supplies

in the region with Jordanian complicity. This also results in further dispossession of Palestinians from their own natural resources. A coalition of Palestinian groups is urging the Palestinian Authority to reconsider their acceptance of the proposal which will further limit water access for Palestinians. The coalition, which includes The Palestinian Environment NGO Network (PENGON), The Maan Development Centre, Applied Research Institute Jerusalem, The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Palestine Hydrology Group (PHG) (EWASH, 2013), criticised the lack of attention in addressing Israel’s water theft of the Jordan River which has led to falling sea levels in the Dead Sea.

Dead Sea/Red Sea project

Sabra and Shatilla

British government warns over business with Israeli settlements

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

Israel in a “bubble”

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni has criticised Israel for being “disconnected from the international reality” in comments which appear to highlight the pinch that Israel is feeling from the international community over its treatment of

Palestinians. She stated that Israel remains in a “bubble” and fails to recognise and address the issue of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Palestinian population. Interestingly, she describes the failure to address the

Around 10,000 refugees, mainly from Eritrea and Sudan have taken to the streets in Israel in protest over the treatment of African refugees. The demonstrators are calling on Israel to end the harsh detention laws and to demand that Israel considers their asylum claims. Following the increase in immigration, Israel has built a 130-mile fence along the Egyptian border (a tactic that Israel has before resorted to) and constructed

a detention facility in a remote part of the Southern desert where migrants are held. Former Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai advised the government, “to put every single one of the infiltrators in detention facilities, take their work permits, put them on aeroplanes and send them packing to their countries or a third country”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the ‘threat’ that immigrants pose to the

AQSA NEWS

GLOBAL NEWS ‘issue’ with Palestine, as placing a “glass ceiling” over Israel. Of course, her priority as an Israeli minister is to ensure the future wellbeing of the Israeli state and as such, the failure to address the treatment of Palestinians will result in difficulties for Israel. She mentioned particularly the economic and financial boycott of Israel which she states may have started in the West Bank but is likely to extend to the whole of Israel for its role in Palestinian occupation. Her comments ended with a powerful statement in which she argued that Israel’s desire to annex the West Bank will only result in Israel becoming a lone settlement in the world, isolated from the international community.

African refugees in Israel face discrimination and detention

“Jewish character of Israel”. The statements from political figures and the response of the Israeli judicial system towards the migrants has been criticised for reflecting a deeply entrenched racism and discrimination against minority communities. The strike by refugees has affected hotels, restaurants, and other establishments where they provide manual labour, often for menial pay.

Academics back boycott

The US-based American Studies Association (ASA) has voted in favour of a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. The move comes at a point when the international community is becoming more and more aware of the implications of their cooperation with the Israeli state, and an increasing number of organisations are now distancing themselves via boycott and divestment. The vote was carried by a two third majority and the ASA resolution expressed its solidarity with scholars and students that have been deprived of their academic freedom in the Occupied Palestinian

Territories. The resolution mentioned “Israel’s violation of international law and UN resolutions; the documented impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian scholars and students; [and] the extent to which Israeli institutions of higher education are a party to state policies that violate human rights.” The result of the resolution is that formal collaboration with Israeli academic institutions will be banned as well as collaboration with scholars that represent those institutions. Whilst the ASA has faced criticism for supporting such a boycott from

various Israeli political figures who are evidently feeling the pinch from the boycott and divestment movement, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel praised the ASA for their refusal to be intimidated by the criticisms. The Jewish Voice for Peace, based in the US also hailed the ASA’s move as it represents a growing boycott movement in the US. Earlier in the year, world renowned scientist Stephen Hawking pulled out of a conference that was being held in Israel in protest over its treatment of Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has commended the actions of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet in allowing Irish hunger strikers to commit suicide in 1981. The controversial statement comes amid a greater number of Palestinian prisoners who are going on hunger strike in order to protest their unfair and often unlawful detention in Israeli jails. Liberman made the statements following the recent release of Samer Issawi who was on hunger strike for 266 days. Israel continues to use arbitrary arrest and detention of Palestinian minors and men as a tool to quell and quash any resistance to Israel’s harsh and degrading occupation. As a result, Palestinians have faced one

of the highest rates of incarceration globally. 750,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned from 1967-2011, the majority of whom were political prisoners. Palestinians prisoners are frequently abducted in dawn raids

and often are not charged or given a fair trial. Hunger strikes are therefore one means through which Palestinian prisoners can resist the illegal treatment they face.

Security firm G4S under Lieberman dismisses death of hunger-strike prisoners the spotlight, again

The global security firm G4S is facing another round of investigations and public scrutiny as international authorities look into its operations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. G4S is accused of supplying Israel with surveillance equipment used at checkpoints and therefore may be aiding the occupation of Palestine. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD) will investigate whether G4S has contravened guidelines for multinational enterprises. These guidelines have been backed by government and indicate a set of principles for “responsible business conduct” overseas. Israel’s settlements are considered to be illegal under international law as they are built on stolen Palestinian land and have resulted in the appropria-

tion of greater swathes of occupied territory. If G4S is found to be complicit then it too will be seen as aiding Israel’s occupation of Palestine. This is not the first time that the security company has faced massive criticisms. In October 2013, the company was again in the news after it emerged that G4S officials were complicit in the torture of prisoners in a G4S controlled prison. The South African government were forced to step in and take control of a prison after G4S personnel stated that they could not control inmates. Inmates were forcefully injected with anti-psychotic drugs even though their medical records showed no signs of psychotic illness.

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Review

Identity and Exile

Identity and Exile An American’s struggle with Zionism By: Matthew Cassel

Reviewed by: Aatikha Yusuf

Al Jazeera correspondent Matthew Cassel examines the phenomenon of American Jewish support and defense of Israeli policies regardless of the issue or the cost.

The documentary on Judaism and Zionism provides a personal insight into how a political ideology has become confused with a religious faith. As a follower of the Jewish faith himself, Cassel discusses his struggle from his early 20’s up until the present day. He describes his first visit to Israel/ Palestine and the impact of his decision to support the Palestinian struggle on his ties with his family, particularly with his mother.

He recalls how the divergent beliefs between him and his family have meant that there has been little contact with his mother for several years due to feelings of anger and frustration – a feeling that was intensified when his mother saw him waving a Palestinian flag at a demonstration. The documentary explains that this is not just a singular issue for Cassel himself as he meets a friend, Kevin Caval, who has experienced a similar breakdown of family ties.

Remnants of the Nakba A particularly heart rendering moment during the documentary comes in part two when Cassel meets with his ‘adopted’ Palestinian family, that of Ziad Ishtawi. Ziad recalls the story of his father and his sister who were separated during the Nakba of 1948. His father was reunited in person with his sister after nearly 52 years. Prior to this, their contact was solely via a small number of telephone calls and letters. It was extremely disheartening to see that this too was only via a security fence. Ziad’s father and his family live in Naher al Bared, a refugee camp in Lebanon, whilst his aunt remained in Israel after the

The Jewish Identity Cassel describes how those who support Israel often link this to their identities as Jews, and to the need for security for Jewish people after the horrors of the Holocaust. They therefore see Israel as the realization of a dream; despite that dream being fulfilled at the expense of the Palestinian people. Christian Zionists too view Israel as the chosen land for followers of the Jewish faith. Cassel highlights how this is a consistent narrative that is often part of Jewish upbringing or part of the

Christian Zionist beliefs. To change this unquestioning view, he believes that they need to see the perspective of the Palestinian people and begin to critically consider their position. Cassel highlights how within the Jewish community, there are some small divergences in opinion. For example, the Neturei Karta, followers of Jewish Reconstructionism, as well as some younger members of the Jewish faith who are disenchanted with Israel and its actions and who do oppose Zionism.

Nakba. As Ziad’s father was not able to travel into Israel, their only chance of meeting was at the border between Lebanon and Israel. Ziad recalls how his father and extended family held onto the fence with their hands outstretched and cried for half an hour upon seeing each other. His father at the time questioned what he had left in Naher al Bared; a harsh reminder of the long standing struggle faced by Palestinians in their quest for a right to return to their homeland. The documentary shows there is a deep and strong connection to Palestine as a homeland for Palestinians in exile. It is something those who

have migrated to Israel also argue, but which seems to be conveniently dismissed by some Israelis when questioned about Palestinians. Tragically, Ziad’s father and sister were never reunited, as he later passed away in exile. Cassel’s documentary provides a personal insight into why there is such a strong support base for Israel in the USA and where this unfettered support for Israel arises from. As he mentions, the key is to challenge the existing and dominant narrative and to provide a new narrative that takes into consideration Palestine and its people, and views them on an equal footing.

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

AQSA NEWS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Palestinian film receives Oscar nomination A new Palestinian film, titled ‘Omar’ has become the second Palestinian film to be nominated for an Oscar by the prestigious film awards. The story tells the tale of a Palestinian man who is implicated in the killing of an Israeli soldier and subsequently arrested and threatened by Israeli guards to become a collaborator, or else face threats on his life and on the lives of his loved ones. The story shows the true reality of the challenges faced by Palestinians – of love, oppression and betrayal and the film director Hany Abu-Assad explains that the work will help the world to understand Palestine. The film was listed under ‘Palestine’ at the awards ceremony.

First Palestinian to win an Emmy – Five Broken Cameras

Palestinian filmmaker Emad Burnat has become the first Palestinian to have been awarded an Emmy for his documentary, titled “Five Broken Cameras”. The film documents the struggles faced by Burnat and his family and neighbours in the Palestinian village of Bil’in, which is being taken

by Israel and built upon. Being a filmmaker, Burnat uses his camera to convey the meaning of Israeli occupation to the world. The film begins with a shot of the five cameras used to film the footage which forms the bulk of the documentary, and over the course of the documentary, viewers

see the destruction of each of those five cameras. The Oscar-nominated and now Emmy award winning film has been screened at numerous film festivals and cinemas across the world and presents raw, uncut footage of the reality of living under occupation.

New drama series attempts to claim Jerusalem The US NBC network is set to produce a new drama, set entirely in Israel. The action-adventure series was developed by the Keshet Media Group, an Israeli media company, and is set to be aired in 2014. The response so far has been one of worry, since the drama series appears to be an attempt to claim occupied Jerusalem as belonging to Israel.

Review

Hanan Ashrawi from the PLO has called on NBC to halt production, saying, “Such a production will legitimize the annexation of Jerusalem and the destruction of the authenticity and character of the occupied city.” Much of the filming is due to take place in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan in occupied East

Jerusalem and will normalise the occupation and will attempt to erase the long standing Palestinian cultural heritage in the area. “It is of the utmost importance that we act now to preserve Jerusalem’s Palestinian historical and cultural identity and heritage before it is too late,” said Ashrawi.

Leila Khaled: Icon of Palestinian Liberation

Leila Khaled: Icon of Palestinian Liberation (Revolutionary Lives) Author: Sarah Irving

Pluto Press (2012) £12.99

She was, as the book title proclaims, an ‘icon of Palestinian liberation’, the modest and attractive young woman, most famously pictured holding a machine gun. Leila Khaled embodied an early form of Palestinian resistance at a time when individuals could board airliners carrying an assortment of offensive weapons. The primary objective of Khaled and her PFLP comrades, through their ‘grand theatrical stunts’, was to bring the unjust and unresolved plight of the Palestinian people to international attention and, in that respect, they were successful. But their ‘success’, rather than generating widespread sympathy, transformed the hitherto obscure Palestinians into ‘terrorists’. Leila Khaled’s life story raises many

questions: how has Palestinian resistance changed since the early, ‘innocent’ days of hijackings and the destruction of planes? What has been the role of women in the resistance? How did Khaled herself, as a charismatic individual, affect the image of Palestinians? Sarah Irving’s short and highly readable book addresses all these questions, and more; it is based on interviews with Khaled and some of the people who know her, contextualized within a broader discussion of Palestinian struggle and the gender dimensions of that struggle. There is no doubt that Leila Khaled was highly unusual. In a relatively conservative society, she embraced a non-traditional female role and, in the process, became one of the

most recognizable faces of the Palestinian struggle. Yet she was also controversial; while some saw her as a courageous freedom fighter, others regarded her as a notorious ‘terrorist’. In her autobiography, My People Shall Live, published in 1973, Khaled writes movingly of her early childhood in the northern Palestinian city of Haifa and her family’s traumatic flight into exile in 1948. From all accounts, her revolutionary career started early, as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and she quickly gained acceptance in the party’s military wing, adopting, in Irving’s words, ‘male’ methods of violence. The high-profile hijackings of the late 1960s and 1970, including a brief stay at Ealing police station

in London, catapulted her to world attention; but the attention on her as an individual was unwelcome and she underwent a series of operations to change her appearance. However, this very public role, as Irving observes, threatened to ‘turn the Palestinian struggle into something glamorous, thereby obscuring ‘the everyday resistance of ordinary people’. Khaled was acutely aware of the dangers of becoming a celebrity and tried to avoid it. Reviewed by Dr Maria Holt University of Westminster

Full review available at www.foa.org.uk/publications/term/book-reviews

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

UPDATES FROM FRIENDS OF AL-AQSA

Said one who had knowledge of the Book: “I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of an eye!” Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: “This is by the Grace of my Lord! To test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (again) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !” Jerusalem is a city which occupies billions of hearts and minds as it was blessed by God for the whole of the creation. Its history is sacrosanct and each of us Muslim, Jew and Christian cannot travel to that holy place and not be captivated by its beauty and unspoken sanctity. When we launched the Jerusalem Paper in Parliament in early February, it was touching to see how many people made the journey to the event despite the tube strikes, which happened to fall on the same day. We did not expect such a large turnout due to this, but we underestimated peoples’ attachment to the cause. The silent removal of Palestinians from Jerusalem is an issue for us all to champion, as it is something we can all empathise

Branch updates London

with. A Palestinian home being demolished is no less than our homes being demolished. A Palestinian family being forced to live apart is no different to us being denied family unification. And the steady encroachment on Palestinian history and heritage is no different to our history and heritage being erased. We all share a fundamental common ambition in life, and that is to prosper in peace and security; the very ambition being strategically denied to Palestinian Jerusalemites since 1967. Ismail Patel

Follow on Twitter: @Ismailadampatel

FOA deeply grateful to Nelson Mandela

December 2013 saw the passing of world-renowned anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. Mandela was an advocate for social justice, and spoke out against human right abuses and poverty, as well as many other social ills faced by so-

cieties across the globe. He was vocal about the injustices faced by Palestinians living under occupation and famously stated that “..our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” Palestinian Author-

ity leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal both paid tribute to Mandela and expressed their respect for a leader that was such an inspiration and strong force for justice and change. Mandela fought hard against apartheid and was critical of Israel’s links to the apartheid regime in South Africa. Countless world leaders flocked to South Africa to pay tribute to Mandela including UK Prime Minister David Cameron and other UK MPs and leaders. However, neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Israeli President Shimon Peres attended the funeral. “Mandela never forgot the Palestinians, and for that we are truly grateful to him”, said Ismail Patel.

FOA London have had a busy few months with major events and speaker tours! We were at the massive annual Global Peace and Unity event at the London Excel Centre for a weekend, engaging hundreds of people.

Water Briefing in Parliament

South African Speaker

Events and Vigils A vigil was held in London to mark 5 years since Operation Cast Lead during which Israel killed 1,419 Palestinians and destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure. Taking place opposite the Israeli embassy, it was an opportunity for ordinary people to show that they had not forgotten the dreadful attack, and that Gaza had still not recovered.

Join the branch! FOA organised a hugely successful briefing for MPs on the water situation in Palestine. Building on the work already done engaging MPs and policy makers, the briefing was well attended, taking the Parliamentary venue beyond capacity.

Shaykh Ebrahim Bham visited from South Africa and toured Britain including speaking at Palestine Society events at London School of Economics and Cambridge University. Students welcomed the opportunity to engage with Shaykh Bham.

The London team has welcomed new volunteers to the team who have already brought energy and new ideas forward. To join us, email arif@foa.org.uk

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

AQSA NEWS

UPDATES FROM FRIENDS OF AL-AQSA

Glasgow Another year has flown by! We are left reflecting on what we achieved through the year. So what has FOA Glasgow been up to? We organised an exciting and very wet fundraising sponsored walk, Quiz & Dinner night and we’re currently working on a boycott project.

Manchester Scottish Sponsored Walk

Our sponsored walk this year, ‘Walk to Freedom 2’, took place at Ben Ledi. This is always a challenging and adventurous event and coupled with the heavy rain, mud and midges, it really was a memorable day. After the highs and lows of the walk, the tired walkers were treated to the warmth and comfort of a nearby café, samosas and tea. A great combination! We are thankful to all those that took part and helped us raise over £4500.

Dinner and Quiz Night The branch ladies hosted a wonderfully successful Dinner and Quiz night called ‘I Love My Ummah’. With the troubles in Syria in the forefront of our minds, we decided to hold an event to educate everyday women of the increasing problems occurring in the region of Sham.

FOA’s 11th branch was formed in November 2013. FOA Manchester has already drawn a strong support base with a great turn out for our maiden event! The branch will focus on educating local residents about the importance of al-Aqsa and Jerusalem while supporting national campaigns.

It was a great event, offering a mixture of hard hitting talks, a delicious dinner and a fun light hearted quiz which also served the purpose of raising awareness. We hope to reproduce these two events every year.

To join the branch and for more information, contact manchester@foa.org.uk

‘Take-away Coca Cola’ Our current project is ‘Take-away Coca Cola’. A concept designed on the back of the successful Boycott Israeli Dates campaign. We hope to target and support our local takeaways in boycotting Coca Cola. With the start of the New Year, we are refocusing our efforts, ready to make 2014 the year of boycott and raising awareness of Masjid al-Aqsa.

Become a member - Join today! For just £10 a year, support the Free Palestine campaign. Send an email to info@aqsa.org.uk and we will send you a direct debit form to set up your membership.

Donate

You can make one-off donations:

1. Online - through Paypal to payments@aqsa.org.uk (via our web-site) 2. By cheque, made payable to ‘Friends of Al-Aqsa’, to PO BOX 5127, Leicester, LE2 0DT 3. By direct bank transfer: Friends of Al-Aqsa, Sort Code 08-92-99, Account No. 65158078, The Cooperative Bank, Southway, WN8 6VT

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

SPECIAL FEATURE

Is aid the solution? The case of Palestine 2013 marked 20 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords and the start of a push by the international donor community to invest in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to pave the way for a future Palestinian state. This edition of Aqsa News looks at the impact of aid and its negative consequences in the quest for peace by the Palestinian people.

Israeli occupation is the underlying reason for why Palestinians need aid in the first place

• The overall amount of aid invested by the international donor community between 1993 and 2011 totalled almost $20.4 billion. This includes aid invested in the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. • Aid nearly doubled from an average of $614 million between 1993 and 2003 to over $1.7 billion dollars from 2004 to 2012.

By Aatikha Yusuf

Aid used to relieve Israel of responsibility Under international law, Israel has a number of responsibilities for those living under its occupation. These can vary from basic humanitarian needs towards the citizens of Gaza and the West Bank, to repairing damage to infrastructure caused by incursions and operations. In the case of Palestine, the unintended consequences of aid are far-reaching. One of these consequences is that aid helps to relieve Israel of its responsibilities. In relation to damage caused to infrastructure, donors continue to provide aid to help rebuild houses which Israel has destroyed or damaged. One such example is a 2004 EuroMed report which highlighted how the European Commission provided €1.35million to UNRWA to help rebuild houses in Gaza caused by

Israeli military activities, in addition to previous grants during the same year totalling €1million. Homes in Rafah and along the borders on the west of Gaza have been demolished to create buffer zones between Gaza and Israeli borders. Israel has previously used this as part of a wider policy of collective punishment, whereby demolitions on houses were issued where an individual was suspected of having committed an offence, regardless of whether the person was innocent or even was no longer resident in that home. The demolitions also constitute part of a wider policy which seeks to reduce the number of Palestinians and increase the number of Israeli and Jewish people to help achieve Israel’s goal of being an exclusively Jewish state.

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

AQSA NEWS

SPECIAL FEATURE

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is a British charity that works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees

Demolitions unlawful It is very clear that these house demolitions are illegal under international law, specifically contravening the Fourth Geneva Convention which Israel is bound by as the occupying power in Palestine. There are a number of rights in the Geneva Convention which are breached by house demolitions, however Article 53 is the principle right which prohibits the destruction of property except on the grounds of military necessity. Israeli law contravenes this by extending its law to allow demolitions for security reasons. It also breaches Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits collective punishment against any occupied population. These demolitions are often indiscriminately applied and cause severe damage and harm to families and children. Families are often torn apart, left without homes, food and access to water whilst children suffer mental trauma after witnessing these demolitions and the helplessness of their parents and other family members. In this instance because Israel is the occupying power, the responsibility falls on them to rectify the situation i.e. rebuild the houses where it has illegally caused damage. However, since the international donor community funds these repairs, Israel does not need to. This situation can be compared with a destructive child whose behaviour causes havoc and the situation is then rectified by the parents without any consequence for the child. Although on the one hand, aid helps those residents in need of assistance in rebuilding their homes, the long term consequences are far more damaging. The aid provided masks the true extent and impact of Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military operations and incursions. Secondly, by the continuing aid contributions of the donor community, Israel is able to continue its occupation and its demolition of Palestinian homes without any concern for its international obligations. Finally by not challenging the underlying reasons for Israeli demolitions, aid is squandered as there is no guarantee that Israel will not demolish these houses again.

Is aid the solution?

The international donor community must now take a firm stand to ensure that aid is not regarded as the solution to peace in Palestine. It is time for donors to pressure Israel to abide by international law, in addition to providing compensation to those affected or to recompense

the international donors who are rebuilding houses. By taking this stand, the donor community will provide the crucial step to ending the cycle of displacement faced by Palestinians and addressing the misuse of donor funds in the quest for peace in Palestine by the international community.

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

FUN AND GAMES

COMPETITION Enter now for your chance to win a £20 high street gift voucher! UNDER 12’s The word search on the right is based on the story of story of Isa (AS) below, but watch out, this edition’s wordsearch is a tough one! Be sure to check for words that have been written backwards and diagonally…

13 – 18 YEAR OLDS Test your knowledge! Do you know the answer to these questions? All answers can be found in the last edition of Aqsa News (available online www.foa.org.uk/publications/term/newspaper) 1) Explain briefly what happened during the Yom Kippur War? 2) Last time, we reviewed a brilliant documentary called ‘The Gatekeepers’. The film features the stories of six members of the notorious Israeli security agency – what is this agency called? 3) In the previous edition of the paper, we told you that we had written an important letter to officials in Saudi Arabia to advise them not to work with a certain company that promotes Israel’s occupation. What is the name of the company and why were we asking them not to work with them? 4) Israel has been accused of slowly erasing Palestinian culture and heritage. What have they done recently in schools that they were widely criticised for? 5) Palestinians usually face great difficulty in being allowed to gain access to masjid al Aqsa. In the last edition of Aqsa News we reported that this Ramadan a huge number of Muslims gathered for Friday prayers at the end of Ramadan. Approximately how many worshippers were in attendance?

WORDS Maryam Isa Zakariah Al Aqsa Palestine Teaching Prophet Promise Child Dedicate Fruit Season Angel

The year 2014 has been declared the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, by the United Nations (UN)! Israel has, for many many years been treating Palestinians badly. The UN, is very large and influential organisation. They have stated that 2014 will be a year to stand hand in hand with Palestinian people and support them. This cartoon by Carlos Latuff shows the world embracing Palestine, and suggests that 2014 will be a much happier, positive year for Palestinians. We pray that hard that this is true and that Palestinians will no longer be treated unfairly.

Enter the competitions by emailing the answers to info@foa.org.uk. Don’t forget to include your name and address! Deadline: 31 March 2014

Prophets IN Palestine Prophet ISA (AS)

The angel explained that this was Allah’s wish and that Allah can do anything. As the angel has promised, Maryam had a baby boy, called Isa (AS), also known as Jesus. Isa (AS) was a Prophet of Allah and spent his days teaching people about Allah and about worshipping him alone. Like his mother Maryam, he too spent much of his time in Palestine and around masjid al Aqsa.

Maryam (AS) is known as one of the four great women of Islam – the others are Khadijah, wife of the Prophet (SAW), Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet (SAW), and Aasiya, wife of Pharaoh. There is an entire chapter in the Quran about the story of Maryam (AS).

There was once a righteous man named Imran. He and his wife did not have any children and this made them very sad. One day, the wife of Imran saw a bird feeding her chicks and this made her want to have her own children. She was also a righteous lady and so decided to pray to Allah to grant her a child. She made a promise to Allah that she would dedicate her child to Masjid al Aqsa, and soon after, she had a baby girl, called Maryam.

Maryam stayed in a room next to the masjid, which her uncle Zakariah (AS) had built for her. What was miraculous was that every time he would visit her, he would find fresh fruit in front of her that was out of season! When he would ask where the fruit had come from, she replied, “This is from Allah, He provides for whoever He wants to.” Maryam spent much of her time praying in the masjid, and was loved dearly by Allah. One day, a strange man entered her room. Maryam became very scared and tried to run away, but the man explained that he was an angel that had come with good news that she was going to have a child! Maryam was very confused – how could she have a child when she didn’t have a husband?

Many righteous people and prophets have passed through and lived in Palestine, and the grounds of Palestine are very special for all Muslims. It is important that we remember the importance of this blessed land, and tell others about all the amazing things that happened there! You can learn more about the story of Isa (AS) and other Prophets through our Prophets in Palestine series. Just visit our website at: www.foa.org.uk and click ‘SHOP’.

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

AQSA NEWS

MERCHANDISE

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

RECIPES

Falafel | INGREDIENTS Chickpeas (tinned): 1 cup Garlic (crushed): 3 cloves Parsley (minced): ¼ cup Flour: 2 tbsp Salt: ½ tspn Baking Powder: 1 tspn Ground Coriander: 1 tspn Ground Cumin: 1 tspn Turmeric (optional): ½ tspn Black Pepper: 1 tspn Cayenne Pepper: ½ tspn Green Chillies: 3 (or to taste) Coriander/Cilantro: ¾ cup Oil (for deep frying)

try this delicious Palestinian recipe METHOD ● Drain and rinse chickpeas in fresh water. ● Place the chickpeas and garlic in a food processor, pulse until the chickpeas break down into the size of breadcrumbs. Do not over process to a puree. ● Remove the chickpea mixture into a large bowl, add the rest of the ingredients except for the oil and mix well. ● The mixture should be a fairly dry crumbly texture. Add a little water if you think it is too dry to form into balls. ● Set aside for 30/45 minutes. ● Adjust seasoning to taste. ● Form into small patties. ● Heat a deep fryer or a frying pan with oil till it is hot enough to fry. ● Drop the patties into the fryer/pan – brown well on both sides, for approximately 4-5 minutes.

● Drain on a plate lined with paper towels. SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Taboon (Lafah) bread with humus, salad and parsnip chips. (Pitta/Wraps may also be used as an alternative to Taboon) (See FOA website for recipes used for Humus and Taboon)

AL-AQSA & UMRAH 2014 AL-AQSA PACKAGE DEPART: 12 APRIL RETURN: 27 APRIL

UMRAH PACKAGE

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Visits to Hebron, Bethlehem, Mount Olive, Dead Sea, and more...

DEPART: 12 APRIL RETURN: 27 APRIL

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Ziarats, Bed And Breakfast, Complimentry Laundry, 7 Nights Makkah, 7 Nights Madinah

Please note: All our packages include visas, transfers and accomodation Contact our offices for full details for the above package, dates & flights

WORLDWIDE FLIGHTS AND PACKAGE TOURS

Flywell Travel Ltd 396 East Park Road, Leicester, LE5 5HH 0116 273 8999 / 0116 273 9666 flywelltravel.co.uk / info@flywelltravel.co.uk

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

AQSA NEWS

TRAVEL TO PALESTINE

Pilgrimage, the blessed journey Prophet Ibrahim

For this edition of Aqsa News, Anisa Patel talks about her family trip to al Aqsa from where she then departed for Hajj. Few people today have the opportunity to put on their ihram and begin their Hajj from al-Aqsa.

The most heartfelt moment, however, was when our tour guide took us to see the grave of Ibrahim AS and he talked about how it was Ibrahim AS that had rebuilt the Kabah along with his son, and it was Ibrahim AS that was instructed by Allah to call people to Hajj. It was only now that the importance of where I was standing, struck me. Our tour guide usually made the prayers at the graves of the prophets but on this occasion, he asked my brother to make the dua. I could see he was taken aback by it, as he was not prepared and possibly a little nervous but he stepped forward and made a dua.

At the time when we travelled, my knowledge of Masjid alAqsa, was limited to knowing of the Dome of the Rock and of the issues faced by Palestinians due to the occupation. Embarrassingly, I set off with little knowledge of the history of Islam, let alone the history of Palestine. We landed in Jordan late in the day and decided to spend the night in Jordan since the Israeli border would have been closed.

I realised that the call of Ibrahim AS to Hajj, was precisely what we were doing, and at that point, tears flowed out from my eyes uncontrollably, just as they are while I write this, reminiscing this moment. I remembered why I was here and where I was going to go after this. I pray that everyone gets the opportunity to begin their Hajj from Palestine inshaAllah. The touring had been completed and for the last few days left in Palestine we walked through the markets, prayed in the mosques and relaxed in the grounds of al-Aqsa.

The Border

I was a little nervous about the kind of experience we would have at the border and I had heard about the troubles that people often face – the refusals, the questions and the waiting. My brother had travelled to Palestine a few times before so he warned us beforehand about the long wait ahead, and he was right in saying it will be a great test of our patience. After a good night’s rest in Jordan, we set off to the border. We were on and off several buses that took us from one checkpoint to another in between Jordan and Israel, which was a little scary, especially since I was expecting the worst. At the checkpoints our passports were examined, and after a short wait we were off again. We arrived at the Israeli border and at this point, I was quite relieved at how relatively smooth the process had been up until now. Surely waiting a few minutes here and there wasn’t too bad! Maybe I was a very patient person after all... It was at the Israeli border that our passports were taken away from us in order for our visas to be processed. I sat with my parents and my aunt, who were given back their visas soon after, but the Israeli authorities held both of my brothers’ visas and my visa back for a while longer.

Farewell Palestine

By Anisa Patel Al-Aqsa We arrived at our hotel in Palestine, full of excitement knowing that we were so close to seeing Masjid al-Aqsa. My brother suggested we rest for a little while and head off to Masjid al-Aqsa in time for Maghrib prayer. Equipped with a Quran, camera and importantly, passports, we set off. We had to keep our passports with us at all times in case we got stopped and had to show our visas and identity. We crossed the busy street from our hotel and straight into the hustle and bustle of the markets, and down the stone steps leading to the Masjid. The excitement and nerves were all too much. At the Masjid, we found police guarding the al-Aqsa grounds, asking where we were from. We answered “London” while showing them our passports, to which they replied “Mashallah” and we entered the gates to the grounds.

The time had come for us to leave Palestine to continue our journey to Hajj. We woke up very early that morning to prepare and get changed into our ihram. Once we were ready we made our way to Masjid al-Aqsa. We walked through the street market and down the stony steps back into the grounds. We got a few wide-eyed looks from the locals followed by the whispers of “mashaAllah” as perhaps it is not often that there is the opportunity to begin the Hajj from Palestine. We prayed our salah in the al-Aqsa mosque and agreed to meet outside. We had one last family hug and in the state of ihram we made our way out from the grounds. As we were leaving, one man said encouragingly to us, “Labbayk Allah Humma Labbayk”, and another called out to us and asked us to remember the ummah and Masjid al-Aqsa. We had arrived just one week earlier, yet we were now making our way out of this blessed place and each of us was so very sad to be leaving. We made our way to the gate, turned around for one last look and stepped out of the grounds. Soon we would be out of Palestine. From this moment onwards every time I make dua I remember Masjid al-Aqsa and the people that spend their time there looking after it. May Allah reward them, Ameen.

My eyes were fixated on the Dome of the Rock and I found that the closer I walked towards the Masjid, the more beautiful it appeared – its colour, its windows, its dome, and its glow. My mother, aunt and I headed straight in for prayers and my brothers and father went further to the al-Aqsa mosque. The Palestinian sisters were lovely, some tried to communicate with us despite the language barrier. For those that were able to speak English, they were interested in where we had come from and had asked us to pray for Masjid al-Aqsa and Palestine – a selfless dua.

Two hours passed and it seemed like we were going nowhere. There was not a huge amount we could do, so we sat reading Quran and learning the duas that we would need for Hajj. An hour later, a man approached us wanting to take the younger of my two brothers to ask him a few questions. Without him returning they took my eldest brother for questioning too. In our fourth hour of waiting, I was failing this test of patience. I couldn’t calm myself at this time, and I wondering what was taking so long. Finally, after five hours of waiting, both of my brothers had returned to us. The guards had asked them dozens of questions: why we were travelling, how long for, what we do for a living and where we were planning on staying. Finally our passports and visas were returned to us after hours of stress and frustration.

We prayed there as much as we could and the climax was Friday prayer – I have never seen so many people! We managed to find a space in the Dome of the Rock, and while we were waiting for the imam, a lady approached me and handed me a tasbeeh. Before I could try and tell her I had no money on me, she said it was a gift from Masjid al-Aqsa and asked that I use it to pray for Masjid al-Aqsa. This was really the best gift I had ever received.

We spent some time visiting the sites in the al-Aqsa Sanctuary, with the help of our tour guide. We visited the Mount of Olives, where we were able to get a panoramic view of Jerusalem, then moved on to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity, and were even lucky enough to visit Salahuddin’s house and Masjid Umar! Visiting the graves of our prophets and learning the history of Islam was by far one of the best parts of the trip.

When I got back to London, I was asked questions such as ‘Did you get any grief at the border?’, ‘Did you see the Israeli army hanging around?’, ‘What was it like travelling?’, ‘Did you get into any bother?’, all of which were asked with genuine concern. In all honesty, these are questions which would have also been on my mind. Yet the trip, right from the beginning to the end went very smoothly Alhamdulillah, with a patient, positive and calm attitude. Everyday I was there I felt more and more safe and at peace. I had a fantastic time, and I pray that more people visit Palestine and spread the word.

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

Charity Reg. No. 1000851

THEY NEED YOU

SYRIA EMERGENCY APPEAL

The oppression in Syria continues. Men, women and children continue to be murdered. Homes, clinics, hospitals and schools continue to be bombed. The sanctity and honour of Muslims continue to be violated. Amid the insecurity, Ummah Welfare Trust is on the ground inside Syria implementing a large-scale relief programme supporting thousands of families who continue to suffer from war.

Please donate and support our brothers and sisters in Syria. Donation Line

0800 4 0800 11 01204 661 030

Read our latest Syria feedback report online at

www.uwt.org

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

AQSA NEWS

In history... Settlements are illegal

Israel threatens arrest of former UK MP

For this edition of In History, we take a look at why settlement building is illegal under international law.

On the 22nd March 1979, 35 years ago, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 446 which confirmed that establishing settlements in Palestinian or other Arab territories has no legal validity and presents a real obstacle to achieving piece. The Resolution also demands that Israel stop transferring its population onto Palestinian land. The Resolution was passed by 12 votes to 0. Israel built its first settlement called Kfar Etzion, just 6 months after it began its occupation of Palestinian territory in 1967. Since then, 235 settlements have been built and Israel continues to encourage more and more Israelis to live as illegal settlers in the West Bank. Israel goes as far as offering tax incentives and mortgage grants to encourage families to move to settlements built on stolen Palestinian land.

Palestinians living in the West Bank face immense discrimination, threat and intimidation from settlers. Settlers violence is well-documented and videos of settler attacks on Palestinian farmers can be found all over YouTube. Extremist settler attacks have included the massacre at al-Khalil where 52 Palestinians were killed as they prostrated in the dawn prayer. Palestinians are denied justice when they face attacks, since Palestinians and settlers live in an apartheid-like system where settlers are tried under Israeli law, despite not living in Israel. This means that settlers are treated leniently and rarely face adequate punishment or prosecution for the crimes committed against Palestinians.

The illegality of settlements is recognised via UN Resolution 446, as well as subsequent Resolutions 452, 465, 471 and 476. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) state that settlement building breaches the Geneva Conventions and is therefore illegal. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also class these settlements as illegal. There is no room for doubt despite Israeli protestations.

ITIKAAF IN MASJID AL-AQSA DURING THE LAST 10 DAYS OF RAMADHAN

DEPART: 11 JULY (FROM LONDON) RETURN: 29 JULY (TO LONDON) 4 NIGHTS IN JORDAN 14 NIGHTS IN PALESTINE (10 NIGHTS - NAFIL ITIKAAF) Al-Omary Hajj & Umrah Tours UK 84 Lumb Lane, Bradford BD8 7QZ uk 07735627544 saudi 565870550 email alomary @ hotmail.co.uk www.alomaryhajjandumrah.co.uk

Email us to book your place

£1150pp

Ticket is included in the price

The former UK International Development Secretary Clare Short has been told that she may face arrest if she travels to Israel. Israel states that her membership of the Council for EuropeanPalestine Relations (CEPR), a Belgium-based not-forprofit organisation is the reason for this. The potential ban leaves Ms Short unconcerned since she states that she does not travel to Israel with CEPR, though she has been to Gaza through the Rafah border. The decision to ban such a prominent UK politician displays Israel’s policy of clamping down against anyone who appears critical of the Israeli state. Israel continues to react defensively to moves by the international community to highlight Palestinian selfdetermination and in the process, calls into the question the supposed democratic nature of the state of Israel. Dr Arafat Shoukri who is the director of CEPR stated that the organisation will take legal action.

Daily Mail issues correction after naming Tel Aviv as “second city” The Daily Mail has issued a correction after releasing a travel piece which calls Tel Aviv Israel’s “second city”, implying that Israel’s first city is Jerusalem. FOA contacted the paper to ask that the errors be corrected, and released an urgent action alert to contact the online paper. The Daily Mail responded by issuing a correction in

which they stated: “Clarification: An earlier version of this article described Tel Aviv as Israel’s second city. Tel Aviv, of course, is Israel’s capital. The description referred to Jerusalem’s historic, cultural and religious importance for visitors.” The move was welcomed by FOA, who appreciate the way in which the matter was resolved.

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK /foapeaceinpalestine

IHH to launch new campaign for Gaza British student faces 10-year ban by Israel for social media comments

Turkish NGO and humanitarian relief foundation IHH has announced fresh efforts to begin a new campaign for Gaza. The current President of the organisation Bulent Yildirim stated that conditions in the impoverished Strip have deteriorated again, and that all NGOs have a duty to respond to the situation in Gaza. Mr. Yildirim stated dur-

ing a special session at a conference held by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) that “The Organization of Islamic Conference has to help in opening up a humanitarian corridor over Egypt to transfer the necessary humanitarian aid. They should not bother us again with means of going over sea and convoys”. There have been indications that the new campaign

launched by IHH may be in the form of a second Mavi Marmara ship, which would set sail to Gaza aiming to break the naval blockade of the impoverished Strip. IHH, known in English as The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief was established in 1992 to provide humanitarian relief during war and conflict as well as emergency and

hunger relief. The organisation was well-known for its 2010 joint effort with the Free Gaza Movement which set sail to Gaza to break the Israeli imposed siege on the Strip which is closed off from the rest of the world by both its land and sea borders. Nine aid workers were killed by Israeli commandos on the original Mavi Marmara.

A British student from Ireland has been deported and banned from returning to Israel after authorities deemed his comments on social media to be a “security threat” to Israel. The decision to ban Gary Spedding was seen as harsh, particularly since the basis for such action was from his comments on the social media sites Facebook and Twitter. Spedding was held at immigration where he was

subject to a full body search and interrogation. His phone was taken away soon after he tweeted about the treatment received at the hands of Israeli guards. Spedding is a columnist for the Huffington Post and was travelling to Israel to meet with politicians and NGOs. This is the first instance in which comments made on social media were deemed by Israel to be a threat to national security.

Israeli Science Minister Yaakov Peri has called on the UK Minister for Universities and Science, David Willets to pressure university Vice Chancellors to prevent the academic boycott hitting UK campuses. Peri also expressed concern over speakers holding anti-semitic views being invited to speak at UK campuses, and advised the Israeli ambassador to inform Mr. Willets of any events taking place. The concerns from Israel come at a time when the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign (BDS) is in full swing and victories are being seen across the world. It is evident that Israel is feeling the pressure of

mass public opinion against it, and as such is attempting to carry out damage control in as many areas as possible. Regardless, universities maintain the obligation to uphold freedom of speech and the reality is that students across the UK are keen to highlight the human rights abuses which Israel is complicit in. Such events are not anti-semitic and in fact, raise awareness of discrimination against Palestinians. There is a clear difference between the Zionist ideology upon which Israel was founded, and the Jewish faith, and criticism of the former does not constitute any form of racism.

Israel feels the pressure of the academic boycott

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

Christians in Gaza sent heartfelt letter to Pope

AQSA NEWS

BICOM shifts tactics as public opinion on Israel reaches all time low The British Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), one of the largest pro-Israel lobby groups in the UK has revealed in a new report that it is to focus on influencing elites privately of Israeli ‘credentials’. BICOM’s original mission as stated on

their website in 2003, was to shift public opinion in Israel’s favour, however, it appears that such an ambitious goal has now been found to be unrealistic. The change in tactics is telling of the situation in Israel, and the fact that the international commu-

nity refuse to accept Israeli propaganda and sees the occupation for what it is. BICOM has lost the British public and has indirectly admitted defeat since the British public cannot be won over in the face of mass human rights violations by Israel.

A British medical delegation arrived in Gaza in November 2013, supported by the Ministry of Health. The group, headed by Dr. Abed al-Qader were due to perform three kidney trans-

plant operation for patients in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has been conducting cooperative visits and treatment with the Palestinian Doctors Association

in Europe as a means to exchange experiences. Hospitals and clinics in Gaza routinely face shortages in medicines and equipment due to the blockade imposed by Israel.

British medical delegation Gaza

A letter written by a Christian living in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip calling on the Pope not to forget the suffering of Gazans, and to remember the religious significance of the area, has been widely circulated on the internet. The letter, which speaks of the “globalisation of indifference”, offers a gentle criticism of the culture that has developed across the globe which has caused many to become indifferent to all forms of suffering, falsely thinking that it is

FREEDOM WALK 2014 REGISTER BY: Friday 16 May

SPONSORSHIP MONEY SHOULD BE IN BY: Wednesday 21 May

Registration form can be found on our website Full instructions including ‘what to bring?’, training and fundraising, can be found on our website: www.foa.org.uk/walk

not their responsibility to address. The author calls upon the Pope to utilise his authority and influence to alleviate the suffering in the Gaza Strip and to open up the borders once again which have been sealed for many years and have prevented the entry and exit of both people and vital goods. He emphasises the qualities advocated by Christianity and many other faiths, such as compassion, mercy and justice, and complains that whilst other leaders in the Western world are

able to celebrate Christmas freely in their homes, they do so knowing that Gaza is imprisoned and faces a humanitarian disaster. The author ends by saying that it is not Vatican treasures that are desired, rather, the simple wish is to be liberated so that people can live fully and freely. The letter is a powerful display of the extent to which Gazans of all faiths continue to suffer daily at the hands of Israeli occupation.

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 54 / FEBRUARY 2014

Football team in Chile sport historic map

FREEDOM WALK

2014

SUNDAY 25 MAY SPONSORED WALK PEAK DISTRICT DERBYSHIRE

A football team in Chile, made up of Palestinians, has refused to apologise for sporting an historic map of Palestine which shows the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank, as well as modern day Israel, as a single state. The team, known as Deportico Palestino has faced criticism from Jewish groups within Chile who called on the team to remove the map from their jerseys, and pressured the national football association to penalise the team. Chile has a relatively large Palestinian population of around 400,000. The Palestinian Federation

of Chile, which is the group which represents Palestinians living in Chile, rejected the criticisms stating that there is a clear hypocrisy and double standard in the way that those who reject the historic map speak of disputed rather than occupied territory. The Chilean authorities banned the team from wearing the shirts and issued a fine of $1,300, however the club made it clear on their social media page that “For us, free Palestine will always be historical Palestine, nothing less.”

years

2014: International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

2014 has been marked as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People after a vote in the UN General Assembly resulted in heavy support for the initiative (110-7, with 56 abstentions). The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was tasked with the job of organising various events to mark the Year of Solidarity, which are to be held in co-ordination with governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society actors, and groups within the UN. Support for the initiative

came predominantly from emerging and developing states across the globe that recognise the Palestinian struggle for justice, independence and human rights. The votes against the initiative were no surprise and came from the US, UK, Israel, Australia, Canada amongst a few others. Europe mainly abstained. The weighting of the vote speaks volumes for the level of support for Palestinians amongst the international community. Israel and its supporters are becoming increasingly isolated. FOA will be organising its own events in support.

continuously serving our brothers and sisters in Palestine and the refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Your donation will bring respite to those struggling to survive and ensure that Interpal can continue Helping Palestinians in Need. Interpal’s Winter Aid Projects eases hardships faced during the winter season and we need your support to ensure we can reach over 3000 families.

How you can help

To donate, call

£15 Blanket

0208 961 9993,

£30 Child clothes

or visit us at

£50 Home heater

interpal.org

£100 Fuel for a month