What a beginning to the New Year. The Gaza Strip is raising temperatures internationally. But closer to home in Bonnie Scotland, in the Prime Minister’s (Gordon Brown) Constituency (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) the Friends of Al-Aqsa on Saturday 3rd January 2009 asked shoppers in the town of Kirkcaldy to sign a petition in support of their cause – that is to free Gaza. The Friends of Al-Aqsa is a UK based non-profit making NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) concerned with defending the human rights of Palestinians and protecting the sacred al-Aqsa Sanctuary in Jerusalem.

There aims include:

(a) Highlighting Human Rights abuses suffered by the Palestinians
(b) Putting pressure on the British government to make Israel respect International Law and human rights
(c) Bringing the Palestinian issue to the attention of those concerned with International Law, human rights and UN Resolutions
(d) Mobilising international condemnation for Israel’s apartheid policies to be manifested through the boycott of Israel
(e) Educating people on the issue of Palestine through conferences, lectures and publications
(f) Emphasising the significance and the centrality of the al-Aqsa Mosque to the Islamic faith and the Muslim identity and re-affirming the Muslim historic and religious rights to the area
(h) Working in conjunction with international heritage, cultural and humanitarian organisations in joint ventures to advance these aims

International Law

So that you are aware the UN Security Council has passed more than 20 Resolutions condemning Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem and its military occupation of the West Bank. The UN has re-affirmed the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland over 100 times.

(Article by Charles Litster)