Worcester Palestine Friendship (WPF) Gaza More than 500 hundred gathered in London on January 18th to protest against

the on-going blockade and bombing of Gaza the 5th anni!ersary of the end of "srael#s massi!e military assault on Gaza$ %he protest took place close to the "sraeli &mbassy and demonstrators heard representati!es from many organisations 'ho !oiced their outrage at the ongoing blockade and attacks on Gaza$ %he headline in this 'eek#s bulletin from Je's for Justice for (alestinians is )"srael and &gypt *oin in s+ueezing life out of Gaza$# %he 'inter storm is o!er the floods ha!e receded , but Gaza is still under siege more harsh than e!er no' that &gypt#s military go!ernment is permanently blocking the tunnels that 'ere Gaza#s lifeline$ -othing has been heard from any international body about their responsibility to protect the people of Gaza$ .o' do the /uartet and go!ernments of "srael &gypt the &0 the 012 e3pect the people to li!e4 Gaza has pre!iously been described as an open air prison 'ith tunnels to &gypt as its lungs$ "ts citizens are no' gasping for breath$ International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (IYSPP). %his 'as launched at the opening of the 5016 session of the 0nited -ations 7ommittee on the &3ercise of the "nalienable 8ights of the (alestinian (eople on 19 January 5016$ %he 0re+uested the 7ommittee to organize acti!ities to be held during the year in cooperation 'ith Go!ernments rele!ant organizations of the 0nited -ations system intergo!ernmental organizations and ci!il society organizations$ %he ob*ecti!e of the ":1(( 'ould be to promote solidarity 'ith the (alestinian people as a central theme contributing to international a'areness of ;a< core themes regarding the +uestion of (alestine ;b< obstacles to the ongoing peace process particularly those re+uiring urgent action such as settlements Jerusalem the blockade of Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the occupied (alestinian territory and= ;c< mobilization of global action to'ards the achie!ement of a comprehensi!e *ust and lasting solution of the +uestion of (alestine in accordance 'ith international la' and the rele!ant resolutions of the 0nited -ations$ >e a'ait de!elopments 'ith interest$ Letter from new Minister of State !"#h $o%ertson )>e raise our concerns about "sraeli actions for e3ample on the treatment of (alestinian child detainees the se!ere restrictions on Gaza or the e3pansion of settlements robustly and repeatedly$ %here is no more urgent foreign policy priority than making peace in the Middle &ast$ >e 'ill do all 'e can o!er the coming months to support the parties and the 01 in their efforts to negotiate a lasting t'o-state solution$# &ishop of Worcester spea's in !o"se of Lords on (an"ary )*$ >orcester -e's reports that 8ight 8e! John "nge called on the &0 to thro' its support behind plans by 01 secretary of 1tate John ?erry to achie!e a settlement in the "sraeli(alestinian conflict$ %he @ishop is !isiting the >est @ank again soon 'ith a pilgrimage from the Aiocese$ Gaza +hildren,s -rt ./hi%ition %his is on display at Aale 1treet Methodist 7hurch Leamington 1pa 7BC5 5.L from January 5C-59= Driends Meeting .ouse 1tourbridge from Debruary 50-5C= 0ni!ersity of >orcester on Debruary 58 ;tbc<= and the 7hurch of &ngland Aiocesan 1ynod on 1 st March$ (lease let us kno' if you 'ould like to display it or ha!e friends in the 0? 'ho could display it in a church club school or else'here$

What can Y01 do2 (lease continue to get 'ell informed$ Gi!e money to alle!iate the suffering ;see Aonations belo' for some suggestions<$ @uy (alestinian products and boycott "sraeli ones$ >rite to your M( M&(s$ 7ampaign for @oycott Ai!estment and 1anctions$ httpEFF'''$bdsmo!ement$net$ 3onations. 1tanding orders to our account 'ith the 7o-operati!e @ank are 'elcome$ 2Fc -o$95656089 1ort code 08-G5-GG$ Hur main e3penses are tra!el for ;some< speakers$ >e ha!e supported pro*ects in Gaza made donations to 7hristian 2id '''$christianaid$org$uk Medical 2id for (alestinians '''$map-uk$org (alestine %rauma 7entre httpEFF'''$ptcuk$org +hildren,s Li%rary 4hanyo"nis Aespite all the difficulties in Gaza the good ne's is that this 'as formally opened last month$ "t is a tribute to (alestinian determination and skill$ (hotos are circulating separately$ F"t"re Meetin#s Friday 5th Fe%r"ary 5.67pm &arlsdon Methodist 7hurch 2lbany 8oad 7o!entry 7B5 9-D$ %he 1tones 7ry Hut#$ %he story of (alestinian 7hristians$ Light refreshments from Ipm$ (alestinian goods on sale$ Dilm 1creening and / J 2 'ith the film maker :asmine (erni$ 1upported by (a3 7hristi 7o!entry Driends of (alestine 7o!entry Aeanery J( Group and ?airos @ritain$ S"nday )8th Fe%r"ary 97)*. 6 : *.67pm. Driends Meeting .ouse Hrchard 8oad Great Mal!ern >816 CA2$ )2 Je'ish perspecti!e on (alestine# $ 2 presentation by Leah Le!ane$ ;Je's for Justice for (alestinians<$ Dollo'ed by refreshments$ Hrganised by Mal!ern 7hurches Justice and (eace Group$ Wednesday );th Fe% 97)*$ 5pm. : ;pm$ 7larence .all @eaufort 1treet 7rickho'ell -(8 1@-$ 8achel (odger ;internationally reno'ned !iolinist< 'ill play for (alestine and 2nn Darr an independent obser!er 'ill talk about her recent !isit$ %here 'ill also be poetry readings refreshments and an opportunity to talk through issues$ <h"rsday 97th Fe%r"ary. 5.67 start. (0- 1ocial Justice Aay< Driends# Meeting .ouse 1cotts 8oad 1tourbridge A:8 108$ :ael 2rbel and 2!raham ;2!i< Le!i 'ill be gi!ing their talk about life in "srael as (eace 'orkers and also as military refuseniks against the background of the e3hibition of Gaza 7hildren#s 2rt$ :ael is no' part of the 1anctuary 1chools (ro*ect in the 0?$ WPF F"t"re Meetin#s -o further meetings ha!e been arranged yet$ "f you 'ould like to recei!e information about future e!ents and are not recei!ing communications from us already please complete a slip 'ith contact details$ "f you 'ould like to become more acti!ely in!ol!ed in the planning of meetings and other acti!ities please let us kno'$ lornaKarch1CG$plus$com or colinKarch1CG$plus$com or 'orcesterLpalestineLfriendshipKhotmail$co$uk$ %el$ 0IGI0 I555C0$ Dacebook$ >orcester-(alestine Driendship group >e are grateful to @&27H-1 for placing details of our future meetings on their 'ebsite$ '''$beaconsdec$org$uk $ 7olin 2rcher 7oordinator 55$01$5016