solidarity with palestine

Friends of Jerusalem/Al-Quds, Oslo, Norway
report
Oslo, summer 2014
SOLIDARITY
WITH PALESTINE
• The Israeli Apartheid-wall
• Al-Quds Day
• The Israeli war against Gaza
I: The Israeli Apartheid-wall in Palestine
In late June 2014 several international Palestinian institutions sent out an announcement to friendly and
associated institutions in many countries reminding them that on 9. July 2014 it will be ten years since the
International Court of justice in The Hague decided that the Israeli wall is illegal and should be dismantled.
They asked for July to be a month of discussions and
demonstrations against the wall, all over the world.
Friends of Jerusalem/Al Quds, now planning for the Al Quds-Day July 25th, decided to make the Israeli
Apartheid wall focal point of events. Name: The Oslo Wall. Several concrete steps were taken:
2. Building the Wall. A symbol of the illegal Israeli Apartheid-wall in Palestine
The wall was set up, consisting of:
- Building a wall, 12 meters long and 5 meters high, prepared similar to a concrete wall like the one in Palestine.
Grafitti, slogans and painting on the wall.
- Banners, remindering of the illegitimate wall and the present situation of the Palestinians.
A tent was placed by the wall, for talks and discussions with people and the general public. Pamphlets were
distributed. Many people took part in the activities. Palestinians living in Norway took responsibility for the
daily activities. A web-site was also established: www.theoslowall.no
The Oslo Wall
commemorating an ongoing crime
1. Meeting with the management of Jacob Cultural Church in Oslo
Appointments were made, and meetings arranged, with management of the church. The church gave permission that a wall, symbolizing the Israeli Apartheid wall in Palestina, be built just outside the church, on
land belonging to the church, to remind people and the public of the illegal wall. Furthermore, it was decided
to hold an open meeting by the wall outside the church on the 9-July, the 10th. Anniversary of the decision
of the International Court of Justice in The Hagu. And: During a demonstration going to the wall, to “tear it
down” – with cultural activities and speeches on the Al Quds-Day.
The symbol in Oslo of the illegal Israeli Apartheid-wall in Palestine.
The illegal Israeli Apartheid -wall in Palestine.
Israel bombing Gaza.
The Cultural Church Jacob in Oslo.
The symbolic Oslo Wall being built.
Banners are part of the Oslo Wall.
3. “Opening the Wall”, 28. June: Meeting with speeches and a concert
An open meeting was arranged inside the church on the day of the “opening” the Wall. Program:
- Main speech by invited guest: Miko Peled, an anti-Zionist Jewish intellectual coming from Jerusalem/ Al Quds.
He held a very strong speech indeed against Zionism and the State of Israel. Gave an important interview
to a daily newspaper.
- Christian speakers talking against Zionism, asking for boycotting Israel.
- Major architect and expert exposing the Israeli annexation of Jerusalem/Al Quds.
- Palestinian resistance. A short presentation.
- Major Concert – with Rim Banna, a Palestinian artist, and Marthe Valle, a Norwegian artist.
- Discussions and comments.
There were sizeable announcements in newspapers and on Net-sites.
Demonstration on Al Quds-Day, Oslo.
II: The Al Quds-Day in Oslo, Norway
Miko Peled outside the Oslo Wall.
Presentations and concert inside the church.
4. Event outside the Wall next to the church, 9. July
The 10th anniversary of the announcement of the International Court in the Hague against the Israeli
Apartheid-wall was marked.
This was a major event. Announcements were made in several mosques – both Sunni and Shia – in advance.
Imams advised people during the Friday-prayers to participate. An announcement in support was given by
the Islamic Council of Norway – he umbrella organization for almost all mosques in Norway – to support and
participate. There were announcements in newspapers. Programme:
- Assembling. People assembling at Gronland square after jumma/daily work.
- Street-theatre: Artists performing. How to promote respect and understanding. “Tearing down the wall”.
- Demonstration going up to the Wall next to the church. Banners and pamphlets. Slogans.
- Palestinian children singing and dancing! (The children were part of a football-team from the refugee-camps
Sabra and Chatilla in Lebanon, visiting Norway.)
- Talks and speeches. Poems. (Presented by both Sunni-, Shia Muslims and other persons and representatives.)
III: The Israeli war against Gaza
Israel attacked Gaza! A major war of aggression broke out. Israel bombed houses, schools, hospitals, and
thousands of civilians – many of them children – were wounded and killed. The Wall outside the church
now changed its focus to become:
- A place of continuous protest against the Israeli bombings.
- A meeting place for Palestinians and other people.
- A place of mourning for the dead
Broad cooperation and support for the events, by prominent imams and sheiks in Norway.
Palestinian children from the refugee-camps Sabra and Shatilla in Lebanon dancing and singing.
Arrangements are continuing by the wall.
The Wall now: A place for mourning the dead in Gaza: “Palestinian children in Gaza want to live.”
Per Christian Volmert
Secretary
Trond Ali Linstad
Chairman
The participants tearing down the symbolic apartheid-wall in Oslo.
Friends of Jerusalem/Al
www.theoslowall.no