Dear Editor
People in Bedford may be interested to hear about the latest activities of Bedford Friends of Al Walaja, our twinning group with a village in the West Bank (Palestine).
This week we have joined a series of Zoom events on the lack of human rights in Palestine, and on Wednesday 8 December we heard from people in Al Walaja on their right to have and keep their possessions: they have suffered house demolitions, loss of access to their water sources, fields and so harvests.
They are enclosed within a wall with only one entry/exit point and only this week, Israeli forces invaded the village at 6am to destroy some walls and a shed.
International Human Rights Day is on Friday 10 December and on Saturday at 11am we will have a poster demonstration in Silver Street calling for full human rights for the Palestinians.
On Friday at 7.30pm we will also be lobbying our MP, Mohammad Yasin, about the situation in Palestine. As well as the problems of our “twin”, this will cover wider issues like the continuing building of settlements (all illegal under international law) and the Israeli labelling of six Palestinian human rights organisations as supporters of terrorism, the evidence for which has already been discredited.
Finally, in a recognition of the Friendship Link between Bedford and Al Walaja, the mayor has agreed to the planting of a commemorative tree in Bedford, when a tree will also be planted in Al Walaja. We have chosen a variety of elm which is resistant to Dutch elm disease and to flooding, and it will be planted on the Embankment early next year.
Anyone wanting more information can email bedfordfriendsofalwalaja@gmail.com
Rob Wall
Bedford Friends of Al Walaja
Letters published reflect the views of the author, not Bedford Independent. If you would like to write a letter to respond to any issues raised, please email letters@bedfordindependent.co.uk
