NETWORK OF OXFORD WOMEN
FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

Press Release

Oxford brings Palestine to Town Hall for Women's Festival

A group of Oxford women have brought a Palestinian woman over from
Ramallah, a besieged city in the West Bank, for the start of Oxford
International Women's Festival. Hadeel Qazzaz is speaking at a public
meeting "Women of Palestine", in Oxford Town Hall on Saturday 6th March.
The long-running plight of Palestinian refugees will also be addressed at
the meeting by Karma Nabulsi of Nuffield College, herself a refugee from
Palestine.

Three members of the Network of Oxford Women (NOW) for Justice and Peace
met Hadeel during a trip to Ramallah last September. NOW brings together
women working on peace issues, and supports grassroots links between Oxford
and Ramallah. Jenny Stanton of NOW explained: "As Hadeel is a women's
community worker and sociologist, she bridges the town/gown divide. We
felt she could address as wide as possible an audience in Oxford. We
encourage people here to make links, whether through their faith groups,
unions, or places of work, to reach out to their couterparts in Ramallah".

The meeting is open to men as well as women, runs from 3.30 till 6 pm, and
includes a display of Palestinian crafts, literature from organisations in
Ramallah, Palestinian snacks and a chance for discussion. All present will
be invited to make friendship links, and think of ways to pressurise our
politicians to persuade Israel to withdraw from its occupation of the West
Bank.

The NOW women also stood with Israeli "Women in Black" in Jerusalem,
calling for an end to the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza -
"The only way to end the suicide bombings" as Gila Svirsky of peace group
Bat Shalom told the visitors.

All through March the Phoenix Cinema bar hosts a related photo-exhibition,
"Visiting Palestine". And at the Museum of Oxford, there is an exhibition
about the organisations which have contributed to the varied programme of
the Oxford International Women's Festival 2004, with the theme "Feast or
Famine".

For further information, please contact:
Jenny Stanton (01865-247730) and
Caroline Raine (01865-778009)

PS NOW and friends are invited to a special gathering this Friday, 5 March,
from 6.30-8pm in the Bar at The Phoenix Cinema, Walton St., Oxford, to view
"Visiting Palestine" - a photographic exhibition of work by Jenny Stanton,
Caroline Raine, Ag MacKeith and Kes Kirby, produced during their recent
journeys to Ramallah, Jerusalem and other Palestinian destinations.
(You'll have to buy your own drinks - but olives will be provided, free).
Hope to see you there.