Palestinian Tent City to be erected at Free Derry Corner

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Wednesday July 08, 2009 13:37 by Shane OCurry - wsm - personal capacity

Derry citizens’ call for Solidarity with Palestine.

Activists from Derry and Donegal have called for people to join in the creation of a “Tent City” at Free Derry Corner, this Monday, 13 July. The family-friendly action is to be in solidarity with Palestinian families whose homes are currently being demolished by the Israeli State. Families and individuals have been asked to come to Free Derry Corner between 11 am and 2pm on Monday, and pitch a tent if they have one. The area is to be cordoned off, in order to create a child-friendly space.

Free Derry Corner in January 2005. Copyleft Jim Collins.

“Monday is “International Day against the Demolitions in Palestine” ” explained Julia Tor Rojo speaking for the group of Derry and Donegal based anti-war, community and human rights activists. “This day was called by the international networks of Palestine solidarity groups in order to highlight the plight of the hundreds of Palestinians whose legally-held homes are continually being illegally and forcefully bulldozed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF)” The demolitions, which are in breach of current peace agreements, as well as International and Israeli law, are being carried-out in order to facilitate the extension of illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories.

“This official policy of ethnic cleansing by the Israeli State” Ms Tor Rojo told Indymedia “ which is an attempt to sabotage the Peace Process and shows Israel’s contempt for the international community, is of course primarily having a devastating effect on the lives of the hundreds of Palestinian children, women and men who have to watch as their homes are destroyed. These families, many of whom are already refugees in their own land, now have to bring up their children in tents and makeshift housing without sanitation or proper facilities. But we, here in Derry, don’t have to be powerless in the face of this humanitarian disaster. This family-oriented event is a peaceful and very effective way to draw international attention to this tragic situation, as well as being a gesture of heartfelt solidarity that will be warmly received by the families in Palestine. Everyone can take part, so please bring yourself down to Fee Derry Corner to take part in a couple of hours of camping with music and fun this Monday morning.”

The event also comes a week after the 5th anniversary of the International Court of Justice's ruling against Israel's Apartheid Wall (see link for Galway event last Saturday). The organisers of the event told Indymedia that they hoped the humanitarian aspect of the issue would over-ride sectarian divisions in Derry and draw-in people from all parts of the community. In the past the Palestinian issue has been sectarianised in the North, with loyalists flying Israeli flags in response to republican/nationalist solidarity with the Palestinians.