Palestine Expo

Last updated
Palestine Expo
Venue Olympia Kensington
Location(s) London
CountryUnited Kingdom
Organized byFriends of Al-Aqsa, and others
Website www.palestineexpo.com

Palestine Expo is an exhibition about Palestinian culture, food, art and entertainment organised by the UK-based NGO Friends of Al-Aqsa(FOA). This year, 2019, it will be held in Olympia, London, UK on the 6th and 7th of July, 2019. [1] The organiser claim it to be bigger and better than the first one. The event was first held in July, 2017 and was spread over five stories in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, and expected to draw around 10,000 visitors. The event includes art galleries, comedy acts, augmented reality tours of Palestinian landmarks, discussion panels, and talks from people such as John Pilger, Miko Peled and Ilan Pappe. It is organised by Friends of Al-Aqsa, a non-profit based in the UK.

In the weeks leading up to the exhibition, there were concerns about a possible ban on the event. [2] [3] Lawyers of Jewish Human Rights Watch, an Israeli lobby group, issued a letter accusing the organisers of supporting "Jew hate". [4] The British government sent the organisers a letter raising concern about possible connections to radical groups, and threatened to ban the event if the organisers did not reply in time. [5] [6] [7] Ismael Adam Patel, chairman of FOA called efforts to ban the event a "deliberate smear campaign". [8] On June, 27th, two weeks before the event, a spokesman for the British government said the event may proceed. [9] [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamas</span> Palestinian political and military organization

Hamas, an acronym of its official name, Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military movement governing parts of the occupied Gaza Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestinian National Authority</span> Interim government in Western Asia

The Palestinian National Authority, commonly known as the Palestinian Authority and officially the State of Palestine, is the Fatah-controlled government body that exercises partial civil control over West Bank areas "A" and "B" as a consequence of the 1993–1995 Oslo Accords. The Palestinian Authority controlled the Gaza Strip prior to the Palestinian elections of 2006 and the subsequent Gaza conflict between the Fatah and Hamas parties, when it lost control to Hamas; the PA continues to claim the Gaza Strip, although Hamas exercises de facto control. Since January 2013, the Palestinian Authority has used the name "State of Palestine" on official documents, although the United Nations continues to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the "representative of the Palestinian people".

Palestinians hold a diverse range of views on the peace process with Israel, though the goal that unites them is the end of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Some Palestinians accept a two-state solution, with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip forming a distinct Palestinian state, whereas other Palestinians insist on a one-state solution with equal rights for all citizens whether they are Muslims, Christians or Jews. In this scenario, Palestinian refugees may be allowed to resettle the land they were forced to flee in the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight. However, widespread anti-Semitic sentiments in Palestinian society and Palestinian militancy have hindered the peace process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in the State of Palestine</span> State of human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as determined by Palestinian authorities

The state of human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is determined by Palestinian as well as Israeli policies, which affect Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories both directly and indirectly, through their influence over the Palestinian Authority (PA). Based on The Economist Democracy Index this state is classified as an authoritarian regime.

<i>Tomorrows Pioneers</i> Television program

Tomorrow's Pioneers, also known as The Pioneers of Tomorrow, is a Palestinian children's television show. The series was broadcast by the Hamas-affiliated television station Al-Aqsa TV from April 13, 2007 to October 16, 2009, and featured young host Saraa Barhoum and her co-host Farfour, a large Mickey Mouse-like costumed character, performing skits and discussing life in Palestine in a talk show fashion with call-ins from children. Presented in a children's educational format similar to such other preschool shows as Sesame Street or Barney & Friends, Tomorrow's Pioneers is highly controversial as it contains antisemitism, Islamism, anti-Americanism, and other anti-Western themes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the State of Palestine</span>

Homosexuality in the Palestinian territories is considered a taboo subject; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people experience persecution and violence. There is a significant legal divide between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with the former having more progressive laws and the latter having more conservative laws. Shortly after the Jordanian annexation of the West Bank in 1950, same-sex acts were decriminalized across the territory with the adoption of the Jordanian Penal Code of 1951. In the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip and under Hamas's rule, however, no such initiative was implemented.

Al-Aqsa TV is a television channel run by Hamas, which is based in the Gaza Strip. Its programs include news and propaganda promoting Hamas, children's shows, and religiously inspired entertainment. It is currently directed by Fathi Hamad, who is a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and Interior Minister of the Gaza Strip. The channel is named after Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel–United Kingdom relations</span> Bilateral relations

Israel–United Kingdom relations, or Anglo-Israeli relations, are the diplomatic and commercial ties between the United Kingdom and Israel. The British embassy to Israel is located in Tel Aviv. The UK has an honorary consul in Eilat and a non-accredited consulate-general in Jerusalem, that represents the United Kingdom in that city and the Palestinian territories. Israel has three representative offices in the United Kingdom: an Embassy located in London and consulates in Cardiff and Glasgow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Fakhura school incident</span> 2009 Israeli bombing of a UN-operated school for refugees

The al-Fakhura school incident was an Israeli military strike that took place during the Gaza War on 6 January 2009 near a United Nations-run school in the Jabalia Camp in the Gaza Strip. According to the UN and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), more than 40 people were killed. Israel reported the death toll as nine Hamas militants and three noncombatants with senior IDF officers stating that the death toll published by Hamas was "grossly exaggerated". Israel stated it fired on the school in response to militant gunfire believed to be coming from al-Fakhura. A UN inquiry said that there was no firing from within the school and there were no explosives within the school, but could not establish if militants fired from the vicinity of the school.

Events in the year 2004 in Israel.

Events in the year 2004 in the Palestinian territories.

The Palestine Marathon is an annual road running event, including races over the marathon, half marathon, 21 km, 10 km and 5 km distances, that takes place on the streets of Bethlehem, Palestine. It was held for the first time on 21 April 2013, and has been held annually since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Gaza (2007)</span> Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip from Fatah

The Battle of Gaza was a military conflict between Fatah and Hamas that took place in the Gaza Strip from 10 to 15 June 2007. It was a prominent event in the Fatah–Hamas conflict, centered on the struggle for power after Fatah lost the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. The battle resulted in the dissolution of the unity government and the de facto division of the Palestinian territories into two entities: the West Bank governed by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and the Gaza Strip governed by Hamas. Hamas fighters took control of the Gaza Strip, while Fatah officials were either taken as prisoners, executed, or expelled. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported that at least 161 people were killed and more than 700 were wounded during the fighting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestine Solidarity Campaign</span> UK advocacy organisation

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is an activist organisation in England and Wales. It was founded in the UK in 2004 and incorporated that year as Palestine Solidarity Campaign Ltd. In 2023, The Guardian described it as "Europe’s largest Palestinian rights organisation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle East Monitor</span> Not-for-profit press monitoring organisation

The Middle East Monitor (MEMO) is a not-for-profit press monitoring organisation and lobbying group that emerged in mid 2009. MEMO is largely focused on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, but writes about other issues in the Middle East as well. MEMO is pro-Palestinian in orientation and supports Islamist causes. MEMO is regarded as an outlet for the Muslim Brotherhood and its website strongly promotes pro-Hamas related content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–2016 wave of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict</span> Notable increase of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

An increase of violence occurred in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict starting in the autumn of 2015 and lasting into the first half of 2016. It was called the "Intifada of the Individuals" by Israeli sources, the Knife Intifada, Stabbing Intifada or Jerusalem Intifada by international sources because of the many stabbings in Jerusalem, or Habba by Palestinian sources. 38 Israelis and 235 Palestinians were killed in the violence. 558 Israelis and thousands of Palestinians were injured.

The following is a timeline of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2021, including the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Al-Aqsa clashes</span> Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

On 15 April 2022, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces on the Al-Aqsa Compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the clashes began when Palestinians threw stones, firecrackers, and other heavy objects at Israeli police officers. The policemen used tear gas shells, stun grenades and police batons against the Palestinians. Some Palestinians afterwards barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and proceeded to throw stones at the officers. In response, police raided the mosque, arresting those who had barricaded themselves inside. In addition, some damage was done to the mosque's structure.

Events in the year 2022 in the Palestinian territories.

References

  1. "Palestine Expo starts in UK despite attempts to cancel". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  2. Harman, Danna (2017-07-08). "Dogged by Claims of Extremism, Biggest Palestinian Expo in Europe Opens in London". Haaretz. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  3. "UK pro-Palestinian event may be canceled over alleged Hamas support". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  4. "Activists fear UK censorship of Palestine Expo event". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  5. MacAskill, Ewen (2017-06-25). "Palestinian event in London faces ban over Hamas links". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  6. Haaretz (2017-06-26). "British Minister Threatens to Ax Major Palestinian Event Over Support for Hamas". Haaretz. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  7. "UK government threatens to nix pro-Palestinian event over Hamas ties". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  8. "Palestine Expo starts in UK despite attempts to cancel". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  9. "British government 'content' to let Palestine Expo proceed". Middle East Monitor. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  10. "Palestine Expo given green light after banning threat by government". Jewish News. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  11. "Palestine Expo event goes ahead in London, despite 'smear' campaign". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2017-07-09.