Reem will be giving a workshop on Palestinian and Arabic singing at the WFA Film Society, 9 Lucy Street, Manchester at 2.15pm next Saturday 6th Dec: http://www.labournet.net/events/0811/pscwfa1.html.

For more details please phone 01706 648104 or 01422 320139.

I hope you can make it.

Best wishes and thanks for your support.

Chris

ReemKelani & Chris Somes-Charlton
The Miktab Limited
PO Box 31652
London W11 2YF
www.reemkelani.com

[note - you can buy Reem Kelani CDs from Olive Cooperative here - Ed.]

Olive Planting Program - February 2009

A program for Civil International Solidarity with Palestinians

Invitation to the Olive Planting Program
7^th - 16^th February, 2009

Agricultural experts in the Holy Land estimate that over a million olive trees have been uprooted and destroyed by Israel since it was created in 1948. Almost half of these olive trees were uprooted since the start of the 2^nd Intifada in 2000 (Palestinian uprising against the Israeli Military Occupation).

Disrespecting its’ religious, cultural, natural, nutritious and economic value, the olive tree has been constantly targeted by the Israeli military occupation under the guise of security, the construction of the Wall on Palestinian lands, and the expansion of Israeli – Jewish only - colonies (settlements). The destruction of olive trees has had intentional and destructive results on the lives of many Palestinian farmers, land owners and the Palestinian population in general.

For these reasons and many others, the Olive Tree Campaign was launched in 2001 as a positive response to systematic destruction by addressing the needs of effected farmers. The Olive Tree Campaign uses the olive tree as a tool to advocate for the Palestinians right to peace with justice. So far six successful seasons of planting have helped hundreds of Palestinian farmers and land owners, and brought awareness to an expanding international network of friends and partners about the real life of the Palestinians who have been striving for peace with justice for more than half of a century.

Up until 2007, The Olive Tree Campaign - Keep Hope Alive has used two days during the Olive Planting season to invite friends and partners to plant olive trees as a sign of solidarity with the Palestinians. In February 2008 we had our first Olive Planting program, where people came from various corners of the world to show solidarity with the Palestinians and to strengthen our mission to “Keep Hope Alive” for a better future of peace with justice to the oppressed in this ongoing conflict.

The JAI and the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) are glad to invite you for the 2^nd Olive Planting Program taking place in February 2009.

Besides olive planting, the program will feature introductory presentations about the current situation in Palestine and the effects of the Apartheid Wall, tours in the old city of Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, in addition to cultural events and social gatherings.

It is our pleasure to invite you to be part of our mission in keeping hope alive together and to learn more about daily Palestinian life under a merciless military occupation.

Proposed schedule

· Saturday, Feb 7, Day 1:  Arrival to the airport and travel to Bethlehem to meet representatives from the organizing institutions for an overview and discussion of the program. Dinner and free time.

· Sunday, Feb 8, Day 2: Visiting Bethlehem. An afternoon of site-seeing and an introduction to the town. Watching Documentary about the situation in Palestine.

· Monday, Feb 9, Day 3: Half day planting trees at a selected field followed by lunch. Visiting Duheisha refugee camp. Evening with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugees’ Rights. Dinner and free time.

· Tuesday, Feb 10, Day 4: Half day planting trees at a selected field followed by lunch. Meeting with the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ) for a presentation on the Israeli Apartheid Wall and land expropriation by Israeli authorities. Dinner and free time.

· Wednesday, Feb 11, Day 5: Visiting YMCA headquarters in Jerusalem, A tour in the old city of Jerusalem to visit the main sites in the city. Lunch. In the afternoon we will join The Israeli Committee Against House Demolition ICAHD for a settlement tour around Jerusalem. Dinner and free time. (suggested family stay)

· Thursday, Feb 12, Day 6: Half day planting trees at a selected field followed by lunch. A tour in the old city of Hebron to visit the Ibrahimi Mosque, es-souq (the market), and to see the Israeli division of Hebron and the Israeli settlers who occupy the center of the city. Followed by a meeting with an organization based in Hebron. Dinner and free time (suggested family stay)

· Friday, Feb 13, Day 7: Visit to the city of Ramallah. A meeting with Defense for Children International DCI, Al-Dameer and a Palestinian political representative. Dinner and free time.

· Saturday, Feb 14, Day 8: Half day planting trees at a selected field followed by lunch. Meeting with representatives from the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine Dinner and free time.

· Sunday, Feb 15, Day 9: Half day planting trees at a selected field followed by lunch. Evaluation meeting followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant with staff members and volunteers. Overnight in Bethlehem.

· Monday, Feb 16, Day 10: Departure

More Information:

· The cost of the 10 days program including accommodation, meals, and local transportation is 620$.

· A tour guide will be present with the group at all times for facilitation purposes.

· Travel from and to the airport is not included in the cost but can be arranged for groups.

· Places are limited.

For any other information, questions, concerns, or to request a registration form, please contact:

· Jawad Musleh, Alternative Tourism Group, program coordinator, via email at: jawad@atg.ps or by phone at (+972) 2 2772151.

· Baha Hilo, the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine campaigns officer via email at: olivetree@jai-pal.org / bahilo@gmail.com or by phone at (+972) 2 2774540.