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PfL’s Palestine solidarity initiative is an evolving project that began with the Interfaith Peace Pilgrimage and Solidarity Visit to Palestine-Israel...
PRESS RELEASE
Peace Cycle Rides for Justice
By SIRAJ, CENTER FOR HOLY LAND STUDIES
2008 AUGUST 16
The third international Peace Cycle will arrive in the Middle East on 14th August.
The cyclists, only one of whom has visited Palestine before, have all been in serious training for the last 6 months in preparation for cycling some long distances in very hot weather. The physical challenge may be a difficult one but their message is simple: Peace in Israel and Palestine can only come through justice and an end to occupation.
The group of cyclists, which includes a development worker from Greece, a school Headteacher from London, an Avionics Engineer and a 20-year-old degree student, will cycle from Amman and visit unrecognised Arab villages near Haifa and Nazareth before touring the Palestinian West Bank on their bikes to learn more about the realities of life under military occupation. Their route will take them past the “Separation Barrier” and through checkpoints, roadblocks and confiscated land. They will be meeting as many local people as they can to hear about their experiences, before taking up the cause for justice back in their own countries, raising awareness of the occupation across Europe.
Peace Cyclist Zeger, an NGO worker from Belgium, said, “I want to increase my own knowledge of Palestine so that I can campaign more effectively, and next year I will take part in a major campaign to the European Parliament, demanding justice at last for the Palestinian people”.
Another cyclist has given up her job in London so that she can take part. She said, “This is such an important issue and we all need to be better informed. We cannot keep quiet in the face of such injustice and by taking part in the Peace Cycle I hope to show the Palestinian people that we do care about what is happening to them”.
As well as training for the ride, the cyclists have also been busy raising funds for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, which provides mobile health units in the Occupied Territories. Nick, a Headteacher from London said, “The parents at my school used our sports day to raise money for MAP, and this will be used to help fund one of their essential medical units. I feel it is a small way of helping people who are suffering—if our governments won’t help, at least we can”.
The Peace Cycle ride will finish in Jerusalem on Friday 29th August, where many of the cyclists plan to donate their bikes to Palestinian charities before they leave.
For more information on the Peace Cycle 2008, contact George Rishmawi (contact information below).
George S. Rishmawi
Coordinator
Siraj, Center for Holy Land Studies
Beit Sahour, Schoold Street, P.O.Box 48, Palestine
Email:
Website:
www.wusul.com/wusul/CommunityHomePage.faces
www.mepeace.org/profile/GeorgeSRishmawi
Tel: +972 2 274 8590
Fax: +972 2 274 8774
Mobile: 0599 180 872
USA number: 1 989 607 9480
Visit the Peace Cycle website for more information about the event, including the detailed itinerary of the 2008 program and daily reports from the cyclists themselves.
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