Antonine Link in Parliament
The Antonine Friendship Scroll, which has been on display in Falkirk
Municipal Buildings, spent last week being exhibited in the members' foyer
of the Scottish Parliament.
The Antonine Friendship Link was set up following a conference in Falkirk
to look at the devastating effect of Israel's apartheid wall dividing
the adjacent rural and urban Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
Falkirk was chosen as the venue because of the proximity of the Antonine
Wall. The conference was well attended by the local community, and there
was a clear desire for a local initiative to take forward from the conference.
After further discussion and meetings, a link was established with the
West Bank village of Jayyous. Like Falkirk, Jayyous was once a Roman garrison
town. Until recently, it was a thriving farming community, but now the
Israeli Wall is strangling the local economy, cutting off villagers from
their land, crops, olive trees, grazing grounds and water aquifers.
The Link works to raise public awareness of these issues, through meetings,
events and fundraising. The Antonine Link Friendship Scroll was designed
by a local artist and has been signed by local MPs, MSPs, councillors,
churchpeople and supporters. One copy was sent to Jayyous, while the other
has been on display in Falkirk's Municipal Buildings, and now forms the
centrepiece of the AFL exhibit in the Scottish Parliament.
On behalf of the Antonine Friendship Link, Cate Mowat thanked Falkirk
East MSP Cathy Peattie for her sponsorship of the exhibition.
"The exhibition gave Link members the opportunity to raise awareness
of the difficulties facing the Jayyous community in Palestine and to outline
the way we work to help them through fundraising activities, talks, filmshows
and practical aid; all money raised by the Link goes towards funding essential
community services in Jayyous," Ms Mowat said
"The response received from both politicians and interested members
of the public was very encouraging. An added bonus was the opportunity
to have a live radio link-up with Shareef Omar Khalid in Jayyous through
BBC Radio Scotland. The programme was broadcast on their Sunday Live slot
on Sunday, 16th September.
"Falkirk's Antonine Wall with its history of military occupation
highlights the futility of wall building; our hope is that through the
exhibition and the resulting media coverage we have raised public awareness
of the Palestinian situation, the hardships caused by their separation
barrier and increased the friendship links between Falkirk and District
and Jayyous in Palestine."
Cathy Peattie has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament to help
highlight the work of the group.
"The Friendship Link works hard to raise awareness and provide humanitarian
help for the people of Jayyous," she said, "and I am delighted
to be able to help them raise their profile through this parliamentary
exhibition and tabling the motion. The Wall has denied people access to
water supplies, land and livelihoods. Three World Bank reports this year
have emphasised the dire state of the Palestinian economy and the importance
of addressing the restrictions on movement to building a sustainable economy
in Palestine - and without that we will not achieve peace in the area."
Pictures are available from http://www.cathypeattiemsp.org.uk/gallery.htm
Note - recent report on Jayyous - http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/900949.html
many reports today on new World Bank report - e.g. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17902806.htm
Radio Broadcast - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/scotland/aod.shtml?scotland/sundaylive
(September 2007)
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