Two members of the Brighton-Tubas Region Friendship & Solidarity Group arrived in the Occupied Jordan Valley, Palestine, this week. They will stand side by side with Palestinians in their non-violent resistance to the ongoing threats to their land and way of life. The Israeli state has occupied their land for 40 years. The current phase of military occupation seeks to remove them from the land combining systems of apartheid and ethnic cleansing.

The volunteers, one of whom is a carpenter, will be helping to build a school in the village of Fasayal. There is no school for the village children at the moment as the Israeli army have denied them permission to build permanent structures. The school will be built using cheap materials so if the army demolish it the villagers can rebuild again.

The Brighton-Tubas Region Friendship and Solidarity Group have been able to donate £1500 raised in local fundraising events and from a few generous individuals. By assisting the villagers of Fasayil in their efforts to build a school for local children, they are not only helping the village educate its children but are also sending a signal to the Israeli military that these people are here to stay and are not forgotten by the world.

The two Brightonians will also be visiting villages that are under threat of imminent demolition. They hope to highlight the plight of communities that have had houses, wells and farming equipment destroyed or confiscated.

On the 25th of August 2007, buildings were destroyed in the villages of Al Haddidya and Humsa. 25 people were left homeless and without any shelter in searing heat. All of the residents face eviction by force at any moment. Their land has been deemed a ‘military area’ by the Israeli Defence Force and they have been told that the villagers must leave for their own safety. The nearby Israeli settlement of Roi (which is illegal under International law) plans to confiscate the land on which these Palestinian villages stand. If the army succeed in clearing the indigenous Palestinians out, Israeli settlers will use their lands to grow crops for export to Europe.

The Brighton delegates believe that if ordinary people were aware of what was going on in this region of Palestine then the actions of the Israeli state would not be tolerated. They aim to bring stories, pictures and video back to Brighton to highlight the injustices being committed there.

To interview the Brighton volunteers in Palestine or for photos and video footage tel. 07845039980 or email  thewallmustfall@riseup.net