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*Broadbased coalition in support of an end to
Israeli occupation set for
launch*
Record-breaking actor Emma Thompson revealed today why she is
helping to
make political history by supporting Britain's first broad-based
alliance for a just peace in the Middle East. Ms Thompson earned
her
Oscars for best actress in Howard's End and for best-adapted
screenplay
for adapting Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. The
only person
ever to have won film Oscars for acting and writing is backing
a new
historic drive for a just settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.
The ENOUGH! coalition, representing over three million people
in
charities, trade unions, faith and campaign groups has come
together to
mark this year's 40th anniversary of the Israeli military occupation
of
the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The launch will come only days after a report, funded by the
British
government, warned that Israel's separation wall is trapping
250,000
Palestinians. The report on Israel's separation wall was produced
by the
Israeli planning and rights organisation Bimkom. The report
says the
wall is cutting off Palestinians from employment, education,
healthcare
needs, undermining social and family life and isolating farmers
from
markets.
Ms Thompson said: "This report cites the devastating effects
on
Palestinians' health and livelihoods of Israel's separation
wall. It
shows the vital need for our ministers to make fresh moves for
a just
peace. It is high time the UK government matched its rhetoric
with
action which can save Palestinians and Israelis from another
40 years'
conflict."
ENOUGH will be launched with a news conference at 11.00 am next
Tuesday
(30 January) in the Wilson Room at Portcullis House, Victoria
Embankment, London SW1A 2LW.
Supporters include actor -Miriam Margolyes, now appearing in
London's
West End hit musical Wicked - and other celebrities such as
Richard
Wilson, Stephen Fry, Angus Deayton, Zoe Wanamaker and film director
Mike
Leigh.
Other ENOUGH! backers include the MP Clare Short, former UK
international development secretary, comedian Mark Steel, playwright
Caryl Churchill, poets Benjamin Zephaniah and Adrian Mitchell,
artists
John Keane and Laila Shawa, and novelist Ahdaf Soueif.
Ms Margolyes will introduce the news conference, where the speakers
will
be: Palestinian farmer Sharif Omar, whose livelihood has been
hit by
Israel's separation wall, Mona El-Farra, a Gaza doctor treating
children
traumatised by occupation, Professor Manuel Hassassian, the
Palestinian
delegate to Britain and former Israeli pilot Yonatan Shapira,
who
refused to fly missions over the occupied territories.
The news conference precedes a public launch rally later the
same day.
Tony Benn, the ex-UK cabinet minister, will address the rally,
along
with award-winning Gaza cameraman Zakaria Abu Harbid, Yonatan
Shapira,
Sharif Omar, Mona El-Farra and Professor Hassassian. It will
take place
at 7.00 pm on Tuesday, 30 January at Friends House, 173 Euston
Road,
London NW1 2BJ.
ENOUGH! coalition will organise throughout the year: In April
- local
events across the country with a special focus on Jerusalem;
9th June -
a national demonstration and concert in London on Saturday 9
June, to
mark the 6 Day war 28th November - a lobby of the British parliament
to
mark the United Nations International Day for Palestine.
The coalition comprises: Amicus, Amos Trust, BFAWU, Britain-Palestine
All Party Parliamentary Group, Britain Palestine Twinning Network,
CAABU, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Birzeit University, GMB,
Green
Party, ICAHD UK, Interpal, Jews for Justice for Palestinians,
Jewish
Socialist Group, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Muslim Association
of
Britain, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Public Affairs Committee,
NUJ, NUS Black Students Campaign, Open Bethlehem, Palestine
Solidarity
Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Palestinian Return Centre,
Pax
Christi, PCS, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, T&G, Trade
Union Friends
of Palestine, UNISON, War on Want, Welfare Association.
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