Palestinians on friendship tour in Tower Hamlets

Palestinian delegation to tour Tower Hamlets From 6th to 16th October, the Tower Hamlets Jenin Friendship Association (THJFA) was hoping to host three delegates from the Palestinian Authority on an information and cultural exchange to the borough.

THJFA has been working for a decade to build links between the Borough and the province of Jenin in the north of Palestine. This visit was planned to further strengthen solidarity and understanding between our residents and theirs. The delegation was to meet politicians and trades unionists and visit teachers, lecturers and students, as well as enjoying some tourism in London. A highlight was to be an East End History Walk with David Rosenberg, who will show participants some of the rich history of migrants of different religions into Tower Hamlets.

The visitors invited were: Yousef Awad, Director of International Relations for the Governor of Jenin Province; Maysoun Dawoud, Public Relations Manager for the Mayor of Jenin City; Ahmed AlQuassem, Deputy Governor of Jenin province. Unfortunately, Maysoun and Ahmed were prevented from leaving the West Bank in Occupied Palestine to travel to Jordan for their flights to London.

Tower Hamlets Councillor Ohid Ahmed, who led a delegation to Jenin in 2013, said “This visit is very important in cementing relationships between our two communities. Our successful visit to Palestine in 2013 made us all realise the mutual benefits of twinning Tower Hamlets with Jenin.”

Kerie Anne, Assistant Branch Secretary of UNISON in Tower Hamlets, said “We are delighted to be able to return the hospitality that the Trades Union and Councillors delegation were shown on our trip to Jenin in 2013. We are very disappointed that Ahmed and Maysoun we not able to join Yousef because of the actions of Israel, which controls the movement of all Palestinians.”

•For more information about the Tower Hamlets Jenin Friendship Association, go to: www.thjfa.org.uk

•For more information about the delegation’s itinerary, email: thpalestinesolidarity@gmail.com

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