Latest news from HAFSA
What is needed in Sabastiya?
Apart from the increasing need for food staples, HAFSA is embarking on a project to provide means of power generation in the village independent of the unreliable electricity from the grid. A first generator has been bought and is working well. Even more gas masks are needed due to increasing incursions with tear gas used along with sound bombs and live bullets being fired. Children are under severe stress and so HAFSA is also funding projects to bring them some support and light relief with games, arts&crafts to help develop other skills. HAFSA has recently invested in a first rotavator to help cultivate the small plots of land and areas close to houses more productive for growing food to eat.
What about HAFSA events?
* June Sabastiya Update Zoom – Wed June 25th, 6pm in UK (8pm in Palestine, 1pm EST). Register now using this link for our 30 minute session to see, hear and speak with Abu Yasser in Sabastiya. The current situation in the village, with the ruins area closed off to the people of Sabastiya and the collapse of the local economy, is dire – but the determination and resilience of their commumnity is inspirational.
Visit Palestine with HAFSA – when possible!
HAFSA plans to organise a visit to Sabastiya and other parts of Palestine for members and friends when we can. Dates will be confirmed nearer the time. If you are interested please contact us and we will invite you to a planning meeting when a visit looks feasible. We usually visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem as well as other places of particular interest to our group. If you are keen to visit Palestine at a different time then Travel2Palestine, Amos Travel and Green Olive Tours are options to consider.
Have you seen, read about or heard these?
* HARDTalk BBC interview with Farah Nabulsi – listen on BBC iPlayer. Farah’s latest film The Teacher was shot in the Nablus area and partly in Sabastiya. To see the film trailer and find cinemas where it is being screened click here.
* NO OTHER LAND – recent film release – For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel’s occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist who wants to join his fight. To see the trailer, and where to watch the film click here. You can read the Guardian newspaper review here.
- The Britain Palestine Project regularly runs informative events. Click here to see their new videos and recent recordings
- Mapping Palestine: An online exhibition: The majority of British people today do not know about Britain’s colonial role in Palestine and its impact on the current reality. This is one of the key reasons why some people are simply unaware of this issue. The Balfour Project launched its first ever virtual art exhibition exploring the theme of mapping in order to raise awareness of the ongoing occupation and pressure the British Government to take responsibility for their historic role. Click here to learn more.
Please contact us with your suggestions for items of news, links or events which may be of relevance and helpful for HAFSA friends – any of your ideas as to how we can continue to fund-raise are very much appreciated.
These earlier updates may also be of interest :
- You can also look here at our archive of news bulletins going back over more than 10 years.