FULLY OCUPIED

A delegation of eight people from Brighton, including five Sussex University students, has travelled to the Tubas region of Palestine. The group, members of the Brighton Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group, are looking to foster links with local communities in the Jordan Valley, as well as to gather information on the realities of living under occupation. And to offer more practical help, they also intend to travel to the threatened community of al Masra to assist with their olive harvest.

A delegation from the group in October last year, joined al Masra residents on a protest against illegal land-grabbing by the Talmon B settlement when settlers started to fire live ammunition at the demonstrators, many of whom included young children (see SchNEWS 609). The village has continued to suffer intimidation and violence from the settlement, including the murder of a 15-year-old boy by a settler in December last year. Despite the identity of the settler being known, he has continued to escape justice from the shockingly indifferent Israeli authorities, although Brighton Tubas has continued to press for his prosecution.

This is the fourth large delegation that the group has taken to Palestine over the last few years and among their successes, the group have helped to build a school in an area where any new constructions faced demolition (see SchNEWS 584).

To find out more about the Brighton Tubas Friendship and Solidarity group, as well as to read updates and blogs from the delegation, visit www.brightonpalestine.org/cms