LICHFIELD CONCERN FOR PALESTINE GROUP: REPORT FOR AGM 16/6/21
The Group has continued to meet on a regular basis throughout this pandemic period via Zoom. The ‘Celebrate Palestine’ Event postponed from May 2020 due to the COVID 19 restrictions had to be postponed again this year. However we were determined to salvage something from the wreckage, and arranged an evening on Nakba Day (May 15th) based on the widely acclaimed film ‘From Balfour to Banksy’ Participants were asked to view the film beforehand. On the evening (again via Zoom) we had, Miranda Pinch the film’s producer with us alongside Kamel Hawwash,a British Palestinian Muslim professor at Birmingham university,and Brian Brown an exile from apartheid South Africa whose latest book ‘Apartheid South Africa! Apartheid Israel?’ is due for publication. They each spoke impressively and answered questions. At one point Baroness Jenny Tonge (a lifelong campaigner for Palestinian human rights) joined us and addressed the group of around fifty people. In November we welcomed Phoebe Rison via Zoom (a Palestinian advocacy worker with Sabeel Kairos) who with her mother led a cookalong with Palestiian food and as she taught us how to make falafel spoke of the cultural richness and the continuing courageous struggle of her people. We also co-hosted an evening in Lichfield Cathedral in Advent on ‘Bethlehem Today’ attended by 90 people 63 of whom signed the ‘Cry for Hope’ letter from Palestinian church leaders to the churches of the world calling urgently for committed involvement in their ongoing struggle as they face an existential threat at the present time. Now that Israel is being named as an apartheid state by human rights groups both international and Israeli the call for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions becomes ever more relevant and urgent. For further information about the Group please contact (jeyan.anketell@ntlworld.com) (cherbert427@yahoo.co.uk)