We're sorry our reports from the events that GNN people organized and participated in around the June 5 anniversary of 40 years of Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and Golan have been a little delayed. Below, find the first of these-- from GNN co-chair Hagit Tarnari. We hope to get a couple more good ones up here in the coming days... Also, following some changes in administering the site, we intend to have it be much more timely and useful over the months ahead. We apologize that it was shut completely down for a few days in late August. Bear with us! Check back often! And send any suggestions you have for the site to webmaster@www.gn-nonviolence.org.)
Description of Israeli-Palestinian events to mark 40 years of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza
by Hagit Tarnari
See some photos of the events here.)
There has never been a public concert or anything close to what we arranged there in Tantur, on the slope overlooking Bethlehem, the wall, one of the checkpoints to and from Bethlehem. You can see Bethlehem in the background of the stage, both at day time and at night.
But the permits arrived from the IDF only a day or two before the events, and we could not distribute them on time for most people. We arranged for busses to take the Palestinian friends, but eventually, not that many managed to make it. Those who did enjoyed very much. It was an uplifting hopeful ending for a week of commemorating hard memories for Palestinians, and impossible present for both Palestinians and Israelis...
The
number of people that came was somewhat disappointing. in each day
there were around 400-500 Palestinians and Israelis attending, the
PR campaign on the Israeli side was far from satisfactory,
although a huge amount of money was invested for advertisement and
PR. there were ads published in Haaretz, jingle ads on the radio
in Israel (but the most popular station has no ads), and banners on
popular
Israeli portals. Not to mention the fact that none of the
activities of the entire June 5'th week was covered by the Israeli
Media which made it hard on reaching and arising public awareness.
All the artists that performed in Tantur did it for a small fee, except one, who we thought would attract much larger crowds.
Hagit Tarnari, GNN's
co-chairperson,
was
orchestrating the line-up for the Tantur events, including the
screening of films, which included Encounter Point,
presented by Joline
Makhlouf, the producer of the film and a GNN member.
The
movie
was followed with a Question and Answer session from the audiance
conducted by the Israeli
and Palestinian members from the "Beraved Families Forum".
One of the speakers at the event was
Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Bukari
who is also a GNN member.
The entire week of the June 5'th was full with joint Israeli-Palestinian activities calling for the End of Occupation, Two States for Two People, One Peace.
Here is a photo of Broza Ud and G-town in Tantur:
Here are Suli and Itamar from Combatants for Peace, :
Here is GNN member Joline Makhlouf, introducing the film she helped make, "Encounter Point", along with IPCRI's Gershon Baskin:
And here is a broad view of the event at night, with the lights of Bethlehem in the background (and a grape-vine artistically draped in the foreground.):
All the artists that performed in Tantur did it for a small fee, except one, who we thought would attract much larger crowds.
For the Full Schedule of the event
see here.
The entire week of the June 5'th was full with joint Israeli-Palestinian activities calling for the End of Occupation, Two States for Two People, One Peace.
Keeping hope alive for
Peace/Salaam/Shalom in a Nonviolent World.
Hagit Tarnari.
Here is a photo of Broza Ud and G-town in Tantur:
Here are Suli and Itamar from Combatants for Peace, :
Here is GNN member Joline Makhlouf, introducing the film she helped make, "Encounter Point", along with IPCRI's Gershon Baskin:
And here is a broad view of the event at night, with the lights of Bethlehem in the background (and a grape-vine artistically draped in the foreground.):