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Study Visit
“Zajel Study Visit is looking for those who
are interested in developing a clear, contextual understanding of
the situation in the Middle East”
Palestine and
Palestinians have been misunderstood for a long time.
Palestinians have been portrayed variously as terrorists, bedouins
etc. as a result of a misinformation campaign by Israeli and
western mass media. On the other hand, issues like the
chaotic situation faced by Palestinian refugees and the majority
of the Palestinian population have not entered into international
consciousness.
Most of western
information media continue to fabricate myths, ignore or neglect
wrongs done to Palestinians and Palestinians' rights in gaining
their own independent state and human dignity, while
simultaneously turning a blind eye to the illegal Israeli
occupation. International legal agreements to which Israel
is a signatory, such as the 4th Geneva Convention, are
broken with seeming impunity.
Through Zajel Study
Visit, participants will get a rare opportunity to know a
different version of the conflicts that have been taking place in
the Middle East in the last decades, becoming capable of
influencing misunderstandings and negative images about the
Palestinians and their struggle for their rights.
The Zajel Program is
run by well educated persons and experts in history of The
Middle East and the Palestine situation in particular.
Joining the Zajel Study Visit for 2 weeks includes workshop
participation, attending lectures, dialogue sessions, field trips,
meeting with civic leaders, will open your mind and improve your
comprehension of this very difficult and complicated issue.
Other potential experiences may be incorporated, as their value
and contextual importance becomes evident.
Study Visit to Nablus
31st Oct. 2003
Zajel organized a visit
to An-Najah and Nablus for a British delegation consisting of 12
members of civil society associations in UK. Group visited
the Rafidia hospital in the company of Zajel volunteers, where
they met with wounded people, including several international
volunteers working with the ISM whom were shot last week in the
Balata Refugee Camp.
The delegation visited
Greek Catholic Melkite Church in Nablus, where they met with
Father Youssef Saadeh. Who made a presentation about the long
history of peaceful coexistence and tolerance between the
Christians, Muslims, and Samaritans; the main religious groups in
Nablus. He also explained the difficulties caused by the forced
deportation of the Palestinian refugee who were expelled from
their lands in 1948; stressing the important connections the
people still have with their homes, and their basic rights as
refugees to return.
Another visit was
organized to Josef’s Tomb, which is currently being threatened by
more intensive Israeli occupation. The visitors were also taken to
the former compound of the Nablus city governorate, which was
completely destroyed by repeated Israeli attacks. The delegation
was taken around the roads that are used by the local citizens to
demonstrate the impact of the siege upon Nablus, and made a trip
to the industrial zone, which has also suffered greatly as a
result of the Israeli invasions.
Following this, the tour passed
through Askar refugee camp, where the delegation visited refugees
in their units, and listened to stories about the difficult
conditions they have lived in over the past half century. This
included a more formal presentation about the right to return,
focusing upon the major decisions made by the international
community regarding the status of Palestinian refugees. Finally,
the delegation went to the old city of Nablus, where they once
again had the opportunity to meet with residents, many of whom
have had their homes destroyed by the Israelis.
Zajel is committed to
organize similar study visits to the international visitors who
would like to get first hand information about the daily life in
Palestine.
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