A Celebration of Palestine

Just had this from Mike Cushman...thanks Mike

A Celebration of Palestine

29th & 30th November

11am – 6pm

Free Entry

SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square

London, WC1H 0XG

Text Box: A wonderful array of Palestinian products & experiences: Palestinian Olive Oil – Nablusi Soap – Olive Wood – Embroidery - Hebron Ceramics – Clothing - Almond, Dates, Za’atar – Jewellery – Music and Books – Olives – Calendars and Cards – Artwork – Cremisan Wine & Brandy – Tours to Palestine – Exhibitions: Nabil Anani Prints & Palestinian landscape photography Relax and enjoy a delicious Palestinian lunch Dabke dance and story telling Talks and workshops

A two day fair trade fair and celebration of Palestinian culture


See http://www.zaytoun.org/journal/


The Occupation and Israeli civil society

Speakers:
Gideon Levy (Ha’aretz)
Karma Nabulsi (Oxford University) [replacing Samia al-Botmeh]
Prof Ilan Pappe (Exeter University)

Saturday 29 November, 2pm
Khalili Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental & African Studies
Malet Street, London WC1 (nearest tube: Russell Square)

• ‘Today there is hardly a university [in Israel] that does not offer special courses for officers, pilots and secret agents.’

• ‘The entire nation is an army and Bar-Ilan [University] is all security.’

• ‘The universities must not allow themselves to be conscripted into safeguarding Israel’s security. They must not bow down to this idol.’

These comments from a recent article in Israel’s leading daily newspaper, Ha’aretz, direct attention to the role played by universities in the illegal occupation of Palestine.* The author, campaigning journalist Gideon Levy, suggests that Israel’s academic institutions are integral to the Occupation: that together with the media, the legal system, the health system – in fact the whole of civil society – they are part of the means by which military rule is sustained.

Israel’s civilian institutions serve the Occupation. Palestinians, meanwhile, are denied the most basic resources. Under military rule they are denied access to land and water, movement is restricted, schools and universities struggle to maintain teaching, and hospitals lack basic equipment and trained staff.

You are invited to join this discussion about the recruitment of Israeli society to the service of the Occupation. What are the implications – and what can be done in Israel, Palestine and here in Britain?

* “Shin Bet's academic freedom”, Ha’aretz, 8/9/2008, at: www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1018912.html

Supported by SOAS Palestine Society, Palestine Solidarity Campaign