ISRAEL'S APARTHEID WALL, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE 10/8/03
First-Hand reports from representatives of Palestinian workers and farmers from the West Bank
Co-Sponsored by Al-Awda, the Palestine right of return coalition, and Direct
Action Palestine
Endorsed by NAAP-NY
Brecht Forum
122 west 27th street
7:30pm
Wednesday October 8
The construction of Israel's "Apartheid Wall" - in terms of size, magnitude, and consequences on the ground - is considered one of the most destructive measures initiated by Israel since its depopulation of over 500 Palestinian villages 55 years ago. Amid the pretense of negotiations and a "road map" for peace, the Israeli authorities continue to wreak more destruction every day, making the Apartheid Wall a clear indicator of the actual path that is being laid out for the further decimation of Palestine.
The present construction translates into the confiscation of at least 10% of the West Bank. As of May 2003, some 25 Israeli companies had been contracted
to work on the wall, and 250 bulldozers had already razed over 5,000 acres of land for the footprint of the wall, including the uprooting of some 102,000 trees, and the destruction of 35,000 meters of water pipes. Inhabitants of the affected areas, therefore,are losing most of their agricultural lands, infrastructure and livelihoods on which they have depended for many generations, indeed centuries. In notable cases, this destruction also forecloses Palestinian villager's only access to water sources. More than 30 villages have lost all or part of their land as a result of this "first phase".
In addition, construction has begun on a second wall, on the Jordan side of the West Bank. With this wall expansion, the amount of Land confiscated
becomes up to %50 of the West Bank.
Hear from Palestinian Representatives from the "Stop the Wall" Campaign during their vital visit to the US.
Representatives of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions and the Farmers Union, travelling from the Occupied West Bank, will give first-hand
reports from the Palestinian campaign to stop the building of the "Apartheid Wall".
Brief introduction to the Delegation members:
Nasser Ai-Faqih
Palestinian Agricultural Development Association (PARC) "Stop the Wall" Campaign
Mr. Al-Faqih is program manager of PARC: Rural Development Program in
locations impacted by the separation wall. He is on the steering committee
of the "Stop the Wall" campaign. His duties include training and organizing
men and women farmers and agricultural workers, providing legal and other
services. He works out of Ramallah, West Bank.
Abdel Raheem Saleh Abdel Latif Khatib
Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions
Mr. Khatib has worked for eighteen years as the official representative for
the Hotel and Service workers in Jerusalem. He is responsible for the
education and implementation of Palestine Labor Law, elections and bylaws.
His daily responsibilities include union organizing, collective agreements,
addressing grievances and legal issues faced by Palestinian workers, (which
included Palestinians working in Israel prior to the second Intifada). As a
member of the Legal Affairs Department of the PGFTU, Mr. Khatib works with
the various unions of the Federation and international labor
representatives.
Fayez Audeh "Al-Taneeb"
Farmers Union "Stop the Wall" Campaign
Mr. Audeh is coordinator for the Farmers Union in Tulkarem, West Bank and
coordinator for "Stop the Wall" campaign. His responsibilities include
organizing and providing support services for farmers and families in the
area, especially those affected by the construction of the Wall. Mr. Audeh
can no longer work his own land as it was declared off limits by the Israeli
Army due to the construction of the Wall.