Call for the organization of local comittees

A great and ambitious project is under construction in France. A caravan constituted by more than 100 vehicles will leave Strasbourg (seat of the European Parliament) on July 4, 2005 and will reach Jerusalem on July 19.
75 persons (about 20 vehicles) are already registered for the journey, whose route passes through great cities like: Geneva, Bologna, Ancona, Patras, Athens, Thessalonica, Istanbul, Ankara, Damas and Amman…
The team is a melting pot of people who believe in the power of human relationships and solidarity. We are convinced that the application of international law is the key to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
We decided to travel just under this simple and consensual demand in order to forget our disagreements on the Palestinian questions, and to make it possible for the civil society to be united and strong.
The project is meant to meet the population, to call out for media cover, and to exercise pressure on governments. All these purposes can only be reached if the movement is well-known and supported by the civil society all over the world… and, obviously, all the more, in the countries visited by the Caravan.
If you want to help joining good wills and energies in your country, you can do a lot for the Caravan, for Palestine and for the future of mankind.
For a better organization, we need contacts in the countries we cross. So we are looking for associations, parties or individualities who engage themselves to organize the event in each town.
We can not still ask for precise events. We have thought about a maximum of communication with local media (radio, newspaper), maybe kind of concerts, demonstrations or popular dialogues. But the events in your town will be mostly planned by the “local committee” (formed by all those who want to help in solidarity).
If it is possible, it would be kind of you (the committees) to plan our accommodation too.

But it is even more important that some people in your country are prepared to accompany the Caravan to Syria, Jordan, and why not… Palestine.
The caravan will be growing up on the road and you are welcome in this adventure.

Planned schedule:

Day 1 : Strasbourg – Geneva (July 5)
Day 2 : Geneva – Bologna (6)
Day 3 : Bologna – Ancona – Patras (7)
Day 4 : Patras – Athens (8)
Day 5 : Athens (9)
Day 6 : Athens – Thessalonica (10)
Day 7 : Thessalonica – Bosphor (11)
Day 8 : Bosphor – Istanbul (12)
Day 9 : Istanbul – Ankara (13)
Day 10 : Ankara – Cappadocia (14)
Day 11 : Cappadocia – Alep (15)
Day 12 : Alep – Damas (16)
Day 13 : Damas – Amman (17)
Day 14 : Amman – Alleby Bridge – Jerusalem (19)

Our next meeting is in Paris on the first week-end of April (2nd and 3rd) . If you want to attend it, you will be welcome.
We are strongly waiting for answers from you. Please tell us if you want to participate in that great adventure for human rights and particularly in solidarity with the Palestinian people, or just if you know some people who would be interested. Give us as much information as possible about contacts and local possibilities. The more numerous we are and the more media attention we awake, the more successful the caravan will be.
You can find more information on our website:  http://caravane.palestine.free.fr
Our charter is already translated into 15 languages.
See you soon.
Fraternally yours
Caravane pour la Palestine