We will be arranging an All Mosques Together meeting for the end of July / beginning of August. We will show 'Conviction' and discuss further community issues on the agenda.
There will be more details to follow shortly!!
Monday 28 June 2010
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Tuesday 15 June 2010
Thursday 10 June 2010
Friday 4 June 2010
Israeli Navy intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla
Early on 31st May, the Israeli Navy boarded the six ships of an aid flotilla to Gaza. It has been widely reported that there have been at least 10 fatalities with more injured. The ships have been towed to Ashdod port in Israel, where the participants will likely be deported from Israel. At present 37 British Nationals are known to have been part of the flotilla. The UK Government has deplored the loss of life in this incident; British officials have visited the detained British nationals in Be'er Sheva prison.
Background to the Interception of the Aid flotilla
The ‘Freedom Flotilla’ was comprised of at least eight ships, six of which have now docked in Ashdod. It appears to be co-ordinated by, amongst others, the Turkish Islamic aid NGO IHH. The first ships left Istanbul on 23rd May. Their plan was to meet in international waters, off the coast of Cyprus, before heading on to Gaza. Six boats (of eight) from the “freedom flotilla” set sail from international waters towards Gaza late on the afternoon of 30th May. They were boarded in the early hours of 31st May by the Israeli Navy. Press reports suggest anything from 10 to 19 fatalities as a result of this action by the Israeli military, and between 30 and 50 injured.
The Israeli Government has stated that the Israeli Navy were met with violent resistance (including knives and firearms) ‘compelling IDF soldiers to defend their lives’.
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Statements
The Prime Minister set out the UK’s position following the news of the Israeli action and subsequent fatalities to the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 2nd June:
"What has happened is completely unacceptable, we should be clear about that. And we should also deplore the loss of life.
"We should do everything we can through the United Nations, where resolution 1860 is absolutely clear about the need to end the blockade and to open up Gaza.
"Friends of Israel, and I count myself a friend of Israel, should be saying to the Israelis that the blockade actually strengthens Hamas's grip on the economy and on Gaza and it's in their own interests to lift it and to allow these vital supplies to get through."
In a further statement to the House of Commons, The Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague, reiterated this position:
"We deeply deplore the loss of life and look to Israel to do everything possible to avoid a repeat of this unacceptable situation. The UN Security Council and the European Union have rightly condemned the violence which resulted in the loss of these lives.
“The United Kingdom has played its full part in the European Union and United Nations in agreeing on the need for a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation into the events. “Our goal is a process which ensures full accountability for the events which occurred and which commands the confidence of the international community, including international participation. Further discussions are taking place in other international fora, including at NATO and in the UN Human Rights Council. We will take the same principled stand across all our diplomatic efforts and stress to the Israeli Government the need for it to act with restraint and in line with its international obligations.
“It has long been the view of the British Government, including the previous Government, that restrictions on Gaza should be lifted, a view confirmed in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860 which called for sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and which called on states to alleviate the humanitarian and economic situation. That this has not happened is a tragedy. It is essential not only that there is unfettered access to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza but also to enable the reconstruction of homes and livelihoods and to permit trade to take place.
“It is today more clear than ever that the only long term and sustainable solution to the conflict which produced these tragic events is a two state solution that achieves a viable and sovereign Palestinian state living alongside a secure Israel with her right to live in peace and security recognised by all her neighbours.”
Key Points
The UK Government deeply deplores the loss of life during the interception of the flotilla.
The UK Government believes that Israel now bears a responsibility to provide a full account of what occurred. The UK Government agrees with EU partners and the UN Security Council that there must be a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation or inquiry in to these events.
The UK Government believes that this week's events underline the need to find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the problem of Gaza.
The UK Government has urged all parties to comply with the call in UN Security Resolution 1860 for renewed and urgent efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognised borders.
As the UK Government and its partners have made clear, Israel’s restrictions on access to Gaza must be lifted in line with Security Council Resolution 1860 – the crossings must be opened to allow unfettered access to allow the legitimate flows of aid, trade and reconstruction goods and people.
The UK continues to work to try and alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza:
· Last year the UK pledged £26.8m to the people of Gaza for humanitarian aid and early recovery activities. This has helped provide food aid for 915,000 people, clear 290 sites of unexploded ordnance allowing 220,000 children to return to school, provide 43 million litres of drinking water, improve sanitation for over 13,000 people, and provide additional income to 18,000 families through cash for work schemes.
· On 28th December 2009, the UK gave an additional £5 million to pay the salaries of over 550 UNRWA teachers in Gaza so that refugee children there can continue to receive a high quality education.
· The Department for International Development (DFID) spent £80m in 2009/10 in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
· The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent over £3m through the Conflict Prevention Pool in 2009/10.
Inquiry
The UN Security Council has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of the ships as well as the civilians held by Israel and a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent inquiry into Israel's raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid ships.
The full text of the Security Council statement can be found on The BBC Website
Associated Articles
BBC News – Deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship
The Telegraph – Gaza aid flotilla attack: 42 Britons detained by Israel
The Guardian – Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla sparks international outrage
The Independent – UN condemns flotilla deaths
Early on 31st May, the Israeli Navy boarded the six ships of an aid flotilla to Gaza. It has been widely reported that there have been at least 10 fatalities with more injured. The ships have been towed to Ashdod port in Israel, where the participants will likely be deported from Israel. At present 37 British Nationals are known to have been part of the flotilla. The UK Government has deplored the loss of life in this incident; British officials have visited the detained British nationals in Be'er Sheva prison.
Background to the Interception of the Aid flotilla
The ‘Freedom Flotilla’ was comprised of at least eight ships, six of which have now docked in Ashdod. It appears to be co-ordinated by, amongst others, the Turkish Islamic aid NGO IHH. The first ships left Istanbul on 23rd May. Their plan was to meet in international waters, off the coast of Cyprus, before heading on to Gaza. Six boats (of eight) from the “freedom flotilla” set sail from international waters towards Gaza late on the afternoon of 30th May. They were boarded in the early hours of 31st May by the Israeli Navy. Press reports suggest anything from 10 to 19 fatalities as a result of this action by the Israeli military, and between 30 and 50 injured.
The Israeli Government has stated that the Israeli Navy were met with violent resistance (including knives and firearms) ‘compelling IDF soldiers to defend their lives’.
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Statements
The Prime Minister set out the UK’s position following the news of the Israeli action and subsequent fatalities to the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 2nd June:
"What has happened is completely unacceptable, we should be clear about that. And we should also deplore the loss of life.
"We should do everything we can through the United Nations, where resolution 1860 is absolutely clear about the need to end the blockade and to open up Gaza.
"Friends of Israel, and I count myself a friend of Israel, should be saying to the Israelis that the blockade actually strengthens Hamas's grip on the economy and on Gaza and it's in their own interests to lift it and to allow these vital supplies to get through."
In a further statement to the House of Commons, The Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague, reiterated this position:
"We deeply deplore the loss of life and look to Israel to do everything possible to avoid a repeat of this unacceptable situation. The UN Security Council and the European Union have rightly condemned the violence which resulted in the loss of these lives.
“The United Kingdom has played its full part in the European Union and United Nations in agreeing on the need for a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation into the events. “Our goal is a process which ensures full accountability for the events which occurred and which commands the confidence of the international community, including international participation. Further discussions are taking place in other international fora, including at NATO and in the UN Human Rights Council. We will take the same principled stand across all our diplomatic efforts and stress to the Israeli Government the need for it to act with restraint and in line with its international obligations.
“It has long been the view of the British Government, including the previous Government, that restrictions on Gaza should be lifted, a view confirmed in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860 which called for sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and which called on states to alleviate the humanitarian and economic situation. That this has not happened is a tragedy. It is essential not only that there is unfettered access to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza but also to enable the reconstruction of homes and livelihoods and to permit trade to take place.
“It is today more clear than ever that the only long term and sustainable solution to the conflict which produced these tragic events is a two state solution that achieves a viable and sovereign Palestinian state living alongside a secure Israel with her right to live in peace and security recognised by all her neighbours.”
Key Points
The UK Government deeply deplores the loss of life during the interception of the flotilla.
The UK Government believes that Israel now bears a responsibility to provide a full account of what occurred. The UK Government agrees with EU partners and the UN Security Council that there must be a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation or inquiry in to these events.
The UK Government believes that this week's events underline the need to find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the problem of Gaza.
The UK Government has urged all parties to comply with the call in UN Security Resolution 1860 for renewed and urgent efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognised borders.
As the UK Government and its partners have made clear, Israel’s restrictions on access to Gaza must be lifted in line with Security Council Resolution 1860 – the crossings must be opened to allow unfettered access to allow the legitimate flows of aid, trade and reconstruction goods and people.
The UK continues to work to try and alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza:
· Last year the UK pledged £26.8m to the people of Gaza for humanitarian aid and early recovery activities. This has helped provide food aid for 915,000 people, clear 290 sites of unexploded ordnance allowing 220,000 children to return to school, provide 43 million litres of drinking water, improve sanitation for over 13,000 people, and provide additional income to 18,000 families through cash for work schemes.
· On 28th December 2009, the UK gave an additional £5 million to pay the salaries of over 550 UNRWA teachers in Gaza so that refugee children there can continue to receive a high quality education.
· The Department for International Development (DFID) spent £80m in 2009/10 in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
· The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent over £3m through the Conflict Prevention Pool in 2009/10.
Inquiry
The UN Security Council has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of the ships as well as the civilians held by Israel and a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent inquiry into Israel's raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid ships.
The full text of the Security Council statement can be found on The BBC Website
Associated Articles
BBC News – Deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship
The Telegraph – Gaza aid flotilla attack: 42 Britons detained by Israel
The Guardian – Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla sparks international outrage
The Independent – UN condemns flotilla deaths
Thursday 3 June 2010
999 FUN DAY!!!
Come and join in the fun on:
Saturday 10th July 2010
12.00pm ~ 4pm
@
Harry Crook Centre
Moorlands Road (off of Ridgeway Road)
Moorlands Road (off of Ridgeway Road)
Fishponds
Come and take a look at:
• Emergency Service Demonstrations and Display Stands
• Face Painting
• Prize Raffle
• Fair Ground Attractions
• Hot Food.......and much
much more!!
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