08/06/2008
Saturday 7th June 2008 in Albert Square Manchester saw a fantastic celebration of Palestinian art, culture, history, experience and politics. For Palestinian people, it is 60 years of the Nakba [disaster]. Yet despite this there is much to celebrate. Palestine and its culture still exist, thanks to the courage and resilience of its people. Palestine Lives - 2008 !

This event was a year in the planning, particularly designed to counter the appalling assertion of 60 years existence of the Zionist Israeli state is something to celebrate. Also, it followed the similar gathering last June in Sheffield, and once again people from northern towns and cities came together and showed their support and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The political context for the event was set at a meeting the night before. On Friday evening 200 people listened to Ilan Pappe, Israeli historian, explain how the "transfer" of 1948 was, from the start, an integral part of a carefully planned strategy of ethnic cleansing. He has documented proof how this has been planned and achieved, and terrifyingly how the strategy of creating the world's largest prison is allowed to happen while the rest of the world turns its back - and how this plan has still not yet achieved its ultimate goal of extermination.

The other speaker, Alan Hart, author of "Zionism: Real Enemy of the Jews" outlined how the state of Israel is not just a prison for Palestinian people, but its own worst enemy and a threat not only to peace in the Middle East but also worldwide. He advocated the need for Palestinians both in Palestine and throughout the world to form an organisation to exert political pressure on all the governments of the world, and especially America.

He also gave examples of how the level of oppression exerted by the Zionist state on Palestinians was resulting in dehumanising Jewish people in Israel and in contrast how Palestinian people, despite their oppression, were maintaining their humanity. One example he gave was that the Israelis could bulldoze a Palestinian house and the family would pick up their bits and pieces and sit down and offer you a cup of tea.

This strength and humanity was evident in abundance at the Saturday celebration. Over 1000 people spent time in the Square, many of whom were Palestinians, at some point over the course of the afternoon. A constant core of 500 people watched the performers, listened to the speeches, visited the stalls and exhibitions, ate the food and marched round Manchester on the colourful and lively Parade - and best of all talked to each other and came together with a positive sense of solidarity and purpose. Speakers included Linda Clair (Manchester PSC), Baroness Jenny Tonge (Liberal Democrat), Musheir al Farrar (Palestinian living in Sheffield), Khalid (Palestinian from Gaza), Linda Ramsden (Director of ICAHD UK) and Richard Kuper (Jews for Justice for Palestinians).

Towards the end of the afternoon we all together raised our voices in solidarity to be heard by phone link to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. None of the Manchester zionists mobilised to spoil the event and the majority of the public approaching during the Parade were supportive and willing to engage.

All those who organised and participated in the event felt a sense that it was possible to win over civil society into supporting the Palestinian people, who are suffering the worst atrocities ever inflicted on a people. We learnt that we win over civil society by engaging people in not only what the Palestinian people are losing but in what everyone is losing - that is, the rich history, culture and humanity of Palestine. As was seen in South Africa, when the mass of civil society in all countries around the world take notice and demand the isolation of Israel as the pariah state it is, then the governments of the world will eventually follow. All the speakers agreed that those groups working in solidarity with the Palestinian people must keep up the pressure and recognised that events such as this were a positive way to reach out and educate people.

For more information on how the event was organised contact Manchester Palestinian Solidarity Campaign www.pscmanchester.org.uk

By Norma Turner