14th – 15th January – Training weekend for anyone wanting to volunteer with Jordan Valley Solidarity in Palestine

19th January – Book launch Targeting Israeli Apartheid: a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Handbook

Late Feb/early March – delegation coming from Palestine

14th – 15th January – Training weekend for anyone wanting to volunteer with Jordan Valley Solidarity in Palestine

Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Jordan Valley is accelerating in their drive to take control of the area. This makes the work of Jordan Valley Solidarity more urgent than ever, and they are appealing for short term and long term International volunteers to join them. 

As a volunteer you could be involved in house and school building, documenting human rights abuses, and supporting communities under threat from both the Israeli Army and the illegal settlers. More details can be seen on the website volunteering page at http://www.jordanvalleysolidarity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=261&Itemid=24

In Brighton we provide training for volunteers before you go, so that you are better prepared, know what to expect, and can be more effective whilst you are there. 

The training is run collectively by several members of the group who have spent time in the Jordan Valley, and based on the experience and knowledge we have built up over the years. We aim to give an overview of the situation, talk about the role of volunteers, help you to think about how you can act effectively in the many situation you may encounter. It is also an opportunity to meet with others who are going and link up to travel with other volunteer if you wish. 

We expect everyone who is working with Jordan Valley Solidarity to come on the training weekend, so if you are planning to go to Palestine please come along. 

We will announce the venue and exact times very soon (but it will definitely be in central Brighton and will probably run from 10am – 5pm each day). Email us if you are planning to come so we can send you details and have an idea of how many will be there.

19th January – Book launch Targeting Israeli Apartheid: a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Handbook

Time for action: Target Israeli Apartheid

Talk and discussion to launch the new Corporate Watch book Targeting Israeli Apartheid: A Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Handbook

7.30pm Thurs 19th January

Friends Meeting House, Brighton

The book will be on sale for £7 on the night

In 2010 two researchers from the civil society organisation Corporate Watch spent several months in Palestine and Israel looking at the ways in which both Israeli and international companies profit from the occupation. Targeting Israeli Apartheid is the result of this research.

Taking its cue from the unified Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, the book is designed to facilitate action; to bring the Palestinian struggle to the doorsteps of those who profit from Israeli apartheid.

Through economic and geographical case studies, the authors show both the real impact the ‘corporate occupation’ has on Palestinians on the ground and highlights which companies to target from all Israeli economy sectors, from agriculture, diamond cutting and construction to pharmaceuticals, technology and arms sales. There is also a section on British companies aiding the Israeli economy, including supermarkets, universities, pension funds and banks.

The researchers’ talk will focus on ’information for action’ and will be followed by a discussion. Hopefully we will plan some action so feel free to prepare your own ideas, suggestions and BDS activities. 

‘Targeting Israeli Apartheid is the guide many of us in the movement have been waiting for. This forensic, clear and systematic account details the where, who, how and why of the flows of capital and contracts which enable the colonisation of Palestine to continue.’ Ewa Jasiewicz – Coordinator of the Free Gaza movement

This meeting is being organised jointly by Brighton Jordan Valley Solidarity (www.brightonpalestine.org) and Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign (www.brightonpalestinecampaign.org)

Late Feb/early March – delegation coming from Palestine

Our visa applications for three representatives of Jordan Valley Solidarity to visit us in Brighton have now been successful. Our first visitor will come next week, and will focus on participating in the activities of the group here, and getting to know those who we are working with here in Brighton.

In late February, our other two visitors will want to meet with a much broader group of people both in Brighton, and around the UK. We will be planning a series of meetings and events for whilst they are here, and will send details of these in the near future.