WEST BANK: Internationals ride bicycles into West bank to draw attention to Israeli closure

Record ID: 349253

  • Title: WEST BANK: Internationals ride bicycles into West bank to draw attention to Israeli closure
  • Date: 29th August 2008
  • Summary: (MER-2) JENIN, WEST BANK (RECENT - AUGUST 19, 2008) (REUTERS) CYCLISTS LEAVING JENIN TOWARDS OTHER CITIES
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA22066O5XJBXXS5TA0P79P1PVG
  • Story Text: International activists attempt to ride bicycles into the West Bank and through Israeli military checkpoints to draw attention to the Israeli closure of the Palestinian territories.
    Seven international cyclists from three European countries are on a two-week tour of the West Bank, in an attempt to draw attention to the Israeli closure on the Palestinian territories.
    The trip is also planned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Nakba. In 2008, Palestinians mark sixty years of dispossession after being forced to flee from their homes upon the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.

    "We've come to cycle around Palestine, witness the occupation, and when we go to the UK we will talk to all our family, friends, people that we come across, to tell them about what we witnessed and advocate on the Palestinians' behalf," said Sofia, a London-based Greek cyclist.
    After the tour, which will end on Friday (August 29), the cyclists plan to call on the European Parliament to take action towards a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

    "There is going to be no solution unless people start talking and communicating, and stop the violence. The Israelis need to stop the violence against the Palestinians, they really do. And they need to give them their human rights and the equality that they are owed," British cyclist Fiza told Reuters during a tour of the city of Jenin.

    "We are here because we want to make a difference. We want to find out for ourselves about the checkpoints, about all of the difficulties the Palestinians face in their day lives under this brutal occupation. We are here because we're fed up with hearing stories but not doing anything," said Nick, another cyclist from Britain.
    The seven activists were hosted by local NGOs including "Siraj", an association that aims to creates links between Palestinians and the wider world.

    "The aim of this visit is to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. They came from about three different countries to see with their own eyes what is happening to the Palestinian people. So when they return to their countries, they can give talks and tour the different parts of Europe, as well as the European Commission in Brussels, in order to put pressure on the EU to change its policy towards Israel," said George Rishmawi, the local organiser of the event.
    The cyclists hope to form a Palestinian Cyclists' Club, which will bear witness to the daily lives of people under occupation.
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