Opening the proceedings Angela Glendenning described how the North Staffordshire Olive Tree Campaign had been her response to the shock of personally experiencing the impact of the Israeli occupation on the life of Palestinians in the West Bank. Having taken part in an olive tree planting programme in October 2011

Nidal Abu Zuluf, Manager of the JAI Keep Hope Alive Campaign, sends his best wishes for the inaugural meeting of Sumud Palestine.  He writes:   “The Olive Tree Campaign involves people from all over the world to make a change in the lives of the Palestinian farmers and their families

On Wednesday night, 21 November, settlers from the Israeli settlement of Carmel, south of Hebron Hills, uprooted most of the 400 olive trees planted by the campaign earlier in 2012. This is a common occurrence. To keep hope alive more trees will be planted.     Commenting on the sparse

A young philosophy student was prompted by his mother to look at the Sumud Palestine website. Having done so he declared that he would donate his Christmas money and later a cheque for £100 was received. Such a spontaneous and generous gift is warmly appreciated.

My attention is drawn to journalist Peter Oborne’s blog. A trenchant critic of Israel, Oborne comments: [full_quote]No other lobby group carries as much clout at Westminister as the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI). An astonishing 80% if Tory MPs, including many Cabinet ministers, are members of it. Which is why

National demonstration to protest against the siege of Gaza following Israel’s week long attack the sense of urgency had evaporated as a cease fire had been signed but nevertheless 10-15,000 people joined the demonstration which took place in unrelenting rain. I joined the marchers gathering in Whitehall to march to

Walsall Kobar Friendship Association presented this year’s Salaam Festival at the New Art Gallery. This was a celebration of Palestinian culture and of the people’s resolve to remain on their land in the face of Israel’s determination to be rid of them. Sumud Palestine has been warmed and encouraged by

Olive Picking in the West Bank  Pat Mood,myself and another local woman, Marion Flynn, together with Sue Monk from Maidstone who I met  at the Palestinian Lobby of Parliament last year,  travelled to the West Bank to be part of a group of ‘internationals’ picking olives as an  expression of