Vigil for Palestine
By Jenny Long
SYDNEY — The Palestine Human Rights Campaign and Women in Black will hold a vigil on December 1 to mark the anniversary of the Intifada, the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Both groups are supporting efforts towards dialogue between Israelis, Palestinians and other Arabs.
"We are opposed to the continuing violation of Palestinian national and human rights", say Barbie Bloch and Liza Chidiac of Women in Black, a group of Jewish, Arab and Australian women.
The Madrid peace talks have not reduced Israeli persecution of Palestinians. Zionist settlers are moving into more and more confiscated Palestinian land, and in August alone Israeli defence forces killed 15 Palestinians, wounded and arrested hundreds more, issued more than 30 deportation orders, demolished 21 homes and one factory, uprooted 1300 fruit and nut trees and imposed curfews on many towns.
"Despite this, we believe that the current peace negotiations give hope of progress towards a just peace. We hope the cooperation of our two groups is a step in this process", say the Women in Black representatives.
The vigil is to be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 1, at First Fleet Park, Circular Quay.
On November 30, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Human Rights Campaign and the Palestinian Cultural Centre will hold an afternoon of cultural and political events including photographic, poster and handicrafts exhibitions. Speakers will include Ali Kazak of the PLO Information Centre, Marta Romer representing Women in Black, Ndmuso Ntshinda from the African National Congress, Dick Wooten from the Uniting Church, and representatives of other solidarity movements and the Koori community.
The afternoon will be at the Community Hall, Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a BBQ and an evening of Arabic music. Other groups are invited to bring flags, banners, literature and petitions.