Middle East Solidarity Issue 14 • Summer 2020 • £3

Occupation in a time of coronavirus

A monument Sudanese Syria protests Raising Annexation to dictatorship healthworker rise again the flag for and apartheid Al-Sisi’s obsession with speaks out A spirit of solidarity and liberation Israel’s land grab in the West Bank has a long building ’s New Sarah Abdelgalil on resistance is growing Alice Finde remembers history, writes Miriam Administrative Capital challenging injustice across the country again courageous Egyptian Scharf analysed by Fareid Atta from the UK to Sudan says Abdulsalam Dallal activist Sarah Hegazi 1 OUT NOW MENA Solidarity Research Report No.1

Middle East Solidarity is backed by

By Hamza Hamouchene, Samir Larabi and Shelagh Smith

Contents include: A year of the Hirak - History of the Algerian workers’ movement - The struggle in Kabylia - Teachers drive union change - Trade unions and the Hirak - Britain’s role in Algeria - Political prisoners and repression - A guide to solidarity action

AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AT WWW.MENASOLIDARITYNETWORK.COM 2 About us

vents in the Middle East often Edominate the news, but it is war, sectarian violence and western military intervention

Illustration: AshrafIllustration: Omar which grab the headlines. Middle East Solidarity shows a different side to the region. We report on resistance to repression and imperialism from Morocco to Yemen, covering the strikes and protests which are missed by the mainstream media. We carry the voices and stories of the women and men who are still fighting for bread, freedom and social justice to new audiences. Contents Our practical guides to campaigning and resources for 11 Al-Sisi’s capital folly activists aim to build a stronger Cover story solidarity movement. The grandiose plans to create a new 14 Annexation and apartheid Middle East Solidarity is a capital city for Egypt are testament joint project of MENA Solidarity The planned annexation of large to Al-Sisi’s determination to Network, Egypt Solidarity parts of the West Bank by Israel are prevent a repeat of the mass part of a longer history of strategic Initiative and Bahrain Watch, and protests which led to revolution is supported by funding from UCU, colonisation and settlement in 2011, argues Fareid Atta. Far building reports Miriam Scharf. PCS, NEU - NUT section and a from creating a sustainable new number of Trades Union Councils city to relieve the pressure of and local trade union branches. 16 Occupation in a time of overcrowding in , housing in Find out more here: coronavirus the New Administratrive Capital www.menasolidaritynetwork.com Palestinians are facing the trauma will be only available to the rich. www.egyptsolidarityinitiative.org of lockdown in a context of www.bahrainwatch.org intensifying Israeli occupation. Dave Clinch and Oisin Challen Comment Editors: Flynn spoke to Palestinian activists 6 Raising the flag for Anne Alexander, Irang Bak, Luke G.G. Bhatia, Helen Patuck, Alice from Hebron and Bethlehem about liberation Finden, Ameen Nemer, Shelagh how they are continuing to resist. Sarah Hegazi was a courageous Smith and Miriam Scharf. fighter against injustice and First person oppression and an inspiration to Publisher: the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights far Middle East Solidarity 6 ‘Covid 19 has exposed beyond Egypt, says Alice Finden. Publications, c/o MENA Solidarity, injustice globally’ PO Box 71143, London, SE18 9NZ Sudanese healthworkers are Email: [email protected] fighting on two fronts against News reports Covid 19 and systemic injustice 5 ‘The regime wants to put Design: both in the UK and Sudan, argues us in cages’ - repression Anne Alexander and Ben Windsor Sarah Abdelgalil intensifies in Algeria 7 Sudan sit-ins spread in wake Features of anniversary protests 6 A spirit of solidarity Despite fierce repression and Campaign reports the devastating effects of war, 24 Demonstrations against regime-controlled areas in Syria British shame over Yemen have recently witnessed a wave of war; Protests against Israeli protests. Abdulsalam Dallal reports annexation across Britain; on how activists have found ways Egyptian political prisoners to mobilise. at risk

3 News | Algeria

ALGERIA ‘The regime wants to put us in cages’ Shelagh Smith

eventeen months after Sthe protest movement, or Hirak, exploded onto the streets of Algeria in Journalist Khaled Drareni remains in jail | Photo: Zoheir Aberkane February 2019, there has assembly", "publication the integrity of the national CNLD (National Committee been no fundamental which could harm the territory". for the Liberation of change to the system since national interest" and He was first arrested Detainees) estimates that independence in 1962. "endangering the lives of in September 2019 and nearly 60 Hirak detainees The demand remains for others during the period of kept in prolonged solitary are still in prison, most a civil, not a military state. confinement". confinement. In March he of them for Protesters demonstrated The three are: former was sentenced to one year publications. peacefully every week until detainee, Merzoug Touati, for a speech on his party's Algerian President mid-March 2020, when the a blogger and journalist Facebook page where he Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorities banned marches for L'Avant-Garde Algérie, criticised the role of the hinted of other prisoner due to the coronavirus whose website is blocked in army in politics. He still releases, judging that outbreak - although the the country; Yanis Adjila, faces trial this September the country was moving opposition had already a human rights activist; for "damaging army morale". towards a "much calmer" suspended them. Amar Beri, an activist of the political climate. Despite a few prisoner Hirak. “The prison is But the only action that releases in July, opponents, Several other news sites would show the regime journalists, independent like lematindalgerie.com are a factory to has any intention of media and internet users blocked in Algeria. transform anger addressing the demands have been increasingly On the same day, the into political of the movement would persecuted by Algerian Bejaïa court released two be the immediate and authorities for expressing other activists, Khaled energy” - Karim unconditional release of all critical opinions in the Tazaghart (a resigned MP) Tabbou activists. Tebboune unveiled midst of the Covid 19 and Zahir Moulaoui (a his constitutional reform pandemic, with more former policeman), with Amira Bouraoui, project promising more frequent arrests and jail six months’ suspended a gynaecologist and rights and freedoms, at the sentences. sentences. prominent activist, was same time as authorities Recently, the Algerian The prosecution had also released provisionally, are incarcerating and League for the Defense of demanded one year and two together with Samir prosecuting anyone who Human Rights (LADDH) years respectively. They had Benlarbi and Slimane speaks up and tells the found that the majority been arrested on July 1 at a Hamitouche who had been truth. of political detainees face rally in support of Merzoug detained since March for Interviewed on Berbère vague charges such as Touati, Yanis Adjlia and "harming national unity" Télévision after his release, "undermining national Amar Berri. and "illicit gathering". Karim Tabbou said "The unity", "harming national On the same day, July 2, Significantly, the best way to make Spring is security" and "harming the four well known figures of journalist Khaled Drareni to release all the birds from army's morale", often based the protest movement were was not released at the their the cages," referring to on social media posts. also released, although three same time. Drareni, a the Hirak prisoners. Three activists of the of them provisionally: correspondent for Reporters "The regime wants to put Hirak were released from Karim Tabbou, one of the Without Borders (RSF), is in us in cages, this is the trap. prison on July 2. They had most prominent figures of pre-trial detention, having As long as people sing inside been arrested on June 12 the movement and founder been arrested in March the cages, it doesn't bother in Bejaia, Kabylia, during a of the UDS (Democratic because of his reporting of them". He added "The prison rally to support detainees. and social union), was demonstrations in Algiers. is a factory to transform The prosecution had provisionally released, The day before, six other anger into political energy". demanded three years in having been sentenced to activists had received a Take action online at www. prison for "inciting unarmed one year for "undermining presidential pardon. But the menasolidaritynetwork.com

4 News | Sudan

Top Left: Women join protests in Abu Jubaiha, a town of 20,000 people in South Kordofan. Top Right: Mobilising in Niyala. Bottom Left: Wadi Halfa’s Resistance Committee takes to the streets. Bottom Right: Crowds mass for rally in El Obeid on 30 June. Independent station Radio Dabanga reported on mass marches in Khartoum, Port Sudan, Dongola, El Geneina, El Obeid, and all of the camps for the internally displaced in Darfur. | Photos: SPA via Facebook

SUDAN Protesters are frustrated action against militiamen “participants in the vigil at the lack of structural who continue to terrorise held banners saying “We are Sit-ins change, more than a year agricultural communities all Nierteti!” and “Security after the fall of dictator El with violent attacks. and peace are rightful spread on Bashir.. Independent radio In Darfur, demonstrators demands”. protest station Radio Dabanga organised sit-ins calling for The question of justice reported on mass marches action against militiamen for protesters killed anniversary in Khartoum, Port Sudan, who continue to terrorise in Khartoum at the Dongola, El Geneina, El agricultural communities. violent dispersal of the Anne Obeid, and all of the camps Solidarity protests spread sit-in outside the army for the internally displaced again across Sudan after headquarters on 3 June last Alexander in Darfur. militiamen riding camels, year and the new wave of The Sudanese horses, and motorcycles sit-ins in Darfur are deeply Professionals Association, killed at least 9 people at the connected. udan’s revolutionary one of the key coordinating sit-in in Fata Borno camp on The head of the Rapid Smovement has surged groups in the mass 13 July. Support Forces, the militia ahead with renewed mobilisations which toppled Nierteti in Central formed out of the armed confidence as marches to El Bashir last year, posted Darfur has also been an Janjaweed gangs which commemorate the one year pictures of demonstrators important focus for protests continue to terrorise Darfur anniversary of the ‘March taking to the streets across and solidarity. Resistance and played a pivotal role of Millions on 30 June Sudan, from Abu Jubaiha committees in Khartoum, in the genocide there, 2019 once again mobilised in South Kordofan to Wadi Omdurman and Khartoum Mohamed Dagalo, is a millions across the country Halfa on the northern North organised a solidarity member of the Transitional to demand justice for those border with Egypt. demonstration outside the Government. killed by the security forces In Darfur, demonstrators Prime Minister’s office. Follow MENA Solidarity on during the uprising. organised sit-ins calling for Radio Dabanga reported: Facebook for more info

5 First person | Sudan ‘Covid 19 has exposed injustice globally’

Systematic failures in the injustice not only in the health service, but globally, with regards to health, to NHS are risking the lives of medication, to getting PPE, to getting Sudanese health workers in tests, to approving a vaccine. The situation in Sudan is very the UK, Sarah Abdelgalil challenging, as we are coming out explains. Meanwhile they of 30 years of systematic failure and also continue to mobilise in corruption and lack of commitment and a fragile health service. We were solidarity with the ongoing then confronted by cholera, dengue and revolution and the battle Rift Valley fever outbreaks, and now against Covid 19 in Sudan. Covid 19. The Ministry of Health and the government have been working hard udanese doctors and health with support internally and externally Sprofessionals have been active from the Sudanese diaspora to try members of the NHS for ages. There to combat the Covid 19 pandemic, has always been a movement from through training, through donations, Sudan, from health professionals to by obtaining PPE, by supporting come to the UK for training and they oxygenation, by increasing public have been active in delivering services awareness, so it brought people in the NHS at different levels, from together. SDU-UK launched a project senior clinicians, to pharmacists, which has raised funding to supply paramedics, nurses in different areas. hundreds of oxygen cylinders to El- They have been on the frontline Fashir hospital in Northern Darfur working with other colleagues in state. The hospital serves a population fighting Covid 19. of 3 million, including 64,000 The Sudanese Doctors’ Union - UK internally displaced people. Portraits of Dr Amged El-Hawrani and and Dr carried out a survey which rang alarm Adil El-Tayyar, two of the five Sudanese NHS The revolution brought people bells as it exposed that a significant workers who have died from Covid 19 together and united them, and Covid number did not have an appropriate Illustrations: Nick Prolix 19 did the same. risk assessment before being deployed States, or Australia, or the There have been challenges due to to work at the frontline. It seems they Gulf. That is a for a range of reasons, the international sanctions on Sudan were unable to raise their concerns including difficulties in obtaining visas. imposed during the previous regime. about the risk assessment not being Another issue is the question of These affect us getting funding, buying done, or about the suitability of their the ‘Brain Drain’. Professionals from PPE, and this, along with other factors, workplace, indicating that there is a Africa, from Sudan are leaving their caused shortages in PPE, and this systematic failure within the NHS to continent and going to work in Europe has meant that in some areas health allow people to raise their voices. or in North America, Australia or the professionals were unable to work The links between Sudanese health Gulf, because of political, economic because of the huge risk to their lives. professionals and Britain go back to and social injustice. What is the moral We are very disappointed and colonial times, with the establishment commitment from these countries frustrated that Sudanese people inside of the Gordon Medical School. when they are draining brains from and outside Sudan peacefully stood up The system is the British system, Africa? against a terrorist regime, but still we the links are with the British academic I think the main thing in 2020 is cannot lift the ban and get our rights, institutes. Doctors used to come what has been happening in the USA even to transfer money or to be able to from Sudan from the University of with regards to Black American lives. get the basic equipment to fight such a Khartoum Medical College for training We have to be careful about addressing deadly virus. in the UK and then they would go back. the issue of racism and that we tackle Dr Sara Abdelgalil is an NHS consultant There are also thousands of the root causes of it appropriately with and a member of the Sudanese Doctors Sudanese doctors who are not coming action and not just with words. Union - UK. Find out more on the SDU to the UK, instead going eto the United Covid 19 has exposed the significant website www.sdu.org.uk

6 OpinionAnalysis | |Syria Syria

On the streets in Algiers, February 2020 Photo: Zoheir Aberkane ‘We are with you until victory’: a message from Idlib to al-Suwayda’a, January 2020 | Photo: Bilal Bayyoush A SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY Protesters reach out from south to north in Syria Despite fierce repression situation in the Assad-controlled areas, internal struggle against the political including skyrocketing inflation which regime whose neoliberal policies have and the devastating effects has left 3000 Syria liras now equivalent impoverished a large segment of the of war, regime-controlled to $1. Others welcomed these protests, Syrian people, marginalised others, and interpreting them through the lens of divided Syrians in order to remain in areas in Syria have recently the Syrian revolution. power. witnessed a wave of In Al-Suwayda’a itself, revolutionary Only those who were from the inner protests. Abdulsalam activists have also had their say. Chants circle of the regime and close to the clearly showed that the recent protests security intelligence apparatus have Dallal reports on how are against the regime. Slogans such had the upper hand in Syria, enjoying activists have found ways to as: “Our revolution is not a hunger good living standards compared to the keep the spirit of solidarity revolution, it is against bowing”, “Syria rest of the population. belongs to us, not to the Assad family”, What these interpretations miss is alive “Leave O Bashar,” and “Long live Syria understanding the essence of solidarity … down with Bashar al-Assad” were at which pushed Syrians to take to the emonstrations against the regime the core of the demonstrations. streets since day one of the protests in Dof Bashar al-Assad resumed in the These trans-ethnic and trans- Dera’a province. Indeed, revolutionaries predominantly Druze province of Al- sectarian chants challenge in Al-Suwayda’a, through their protests, Suwayda’a in southern Syria on 7 June interpretations which primarily explain set a great example of solidarity. 2020. Revolutionaries in Syria and exile the Syrian revolution with reference to In addition to their anti-regime at first were split into two groups in sectarianism or geopolitics and regional slogans, they raised banners and response. and international competition for chanted slogans expressing their The first group linked these protests leverage over the country. The Syrian solidarity with people in Idlib who with the deteriorating economic revolution is first and foremost an have suffered, like other revolutionary

7 Analysis | Syria places, from severe bombardments by the Assad regime and its allies, Russia and Iran. It is also important to mention here that Al-Suwayda’a protests are taking place on the first anniversary of the death of the famous revolutionary fighter, goalkeeper, and singer, Abdulbasset al-Sarout who died on 8 June 2019. Protesters did not miss the opportunity to remember him and exalt his soul. Activists in Al- Suwayda’a, who I spoke to, stated that June has become an important month for them. “We revived the Syrian revolution in our hearts and on the streets and remembered al-Sarout who sacrificed his soul defending the Syrian revolution and its goals this month last year.” In response, solidarity protests in Dera’a, northern Syria, and Idlib - during which protesters carried banners glorifying revolutionaries in Al-Suwayda’a - emphasised the unity of the Syrian struggle and dismissed sectarian narratives. The timing of these protests is very important for several reasons. Firstly, although the regime has recaptured Idlib protesters again show solidarity with al-Suwayda’a, 20 June |Photo: Fadi al-Shami most of the territories that it lost since March 2011, its power, however, has been eroded. It is not able to rule as it did before the revolution. Secondly, Russia is not happy with the Assad regime. Reports indicate that Moscow recently criticised the Assad regime and its cronies for not exerting real efforts to settle the conflict and start a concrete reconstruction process. Therefore, Russia could be ready to start looking for an alternative to Bashar, someone who could undertake serious steps towards a peaceful resolution and reconstruction. Thirdly, it is important to highlight Protesters in al-Suwayda’a 8 June | Photo: Facebook that Al-Suwayda’a protests take place amidst a split within the ruling family. The power struggle between the axis of Rami Makhlouf, the president’s maternal cousin and that of Asma, the president’s wife has floated to the surface. Makhlouf appeared in three videos on his Facebook page, talking about the “unfair procedures’’ which the government is taking against his companies and projects. He pleaded with the president to take action and stop the “farce” after the Treasury sent him a demand to pay his taxes, which Makhlouf claims that he has already paid. Protesters in al-Suwayda’a 13 June | Photo: Facebook

8 Analysis | Syria

Makhlouf also noted that such procedures only benefit those who are around the President, meaning Bashar’s wife and her businessmen relatives. This split encouraged people in the Assad-controlled areas to bravely point out the corruption of both the regime, the government and the officials’ cronies. Even Alawites, who are drawn from the same religious sect as the President and are often considered core loyalists of the regime, have begun to voice dissent. Ibrahim, an activist from the town of Lattakia referred to the economic hardships that people in the predominantly Alawite areas suffer from. “Unfortunately, we are suffering at both political and economic levels. Demonstrators in Idlib | Photo: Abdulkader al-Bakri From a political perspective, the regime cautious about their safety. They Al-Suwayda’a to other parts, they did turned our sect from a peaceful sect marched through the city centre and not want them to have blood on their into a bloody one. Many of our youth reached the governorate’s buildings. hands. are perceived as loyalists. This will Messages from Syrian Soldiers from the various areas in affect our future integration with other revolutionaries were circulated through Al-Suwayda’a spend their mandatory Syrians when Bashar’s regime leaves. social media warning against making military service in the province. At the economic level, we are enduring their own earlier mistakes. “We do Jamal, an activist from Aleppo and a a lot. Now we are not able to afford to not want protesters in Al-Suwayda’a to previous lecturer in the Assad Academy buy some basic goods.” commit any of our mistakes, their chats for Military Engineering, said that The regime media, however, should be inclusive, the protests in Al- “the anti-regime mobilisation in Al- attempted to diminish the struggle Suwayda’a should remain peaceful and Suwayda’a is to be expected. of Al-Suwayda’a. They at first denied stay away from militarisation”, a Syrian The province always wants to be having any protests, but later activist in the northern countryside of with the revolution.” The regime’s some reports talked about people’s Aleppo disclosed to me. deployment of the “minority protection frustration and anger at the high prices card”, and its claims to be defending as well as the difficult living conditions, “We are enduring a lot. religious minorities from attack has which the regime tried to attribute had some effect, however, Jamal added. to the recent American sanctions Now we are not able to In addition the regime is capable of following the activation of “Caesar Act.” afford to buy basic goods.” trying to bend reality to fit its vision. These sanctions, which the White Ibrahim, Lattakia “Whenever this does not work in House approved, came after an officer Al-Suwayda’a, we notice pockets of in the military security intelligence, The spirit of solidarity with Al- ISIS fighters, who the regime allowed known as “Caesar”, smuggled out Suwayda’a was remarkable. Syrian to evacuate from the suburbs of around 11,000 pictures of detainees protesters in Germany on 21 June Damascus to areas near Al-Suwayda’a who were tortured to death in the raised banners and chants in solidarity in August 2018 becoming active again, prisons of the Assad regime. with protesters in Al-Suwayda’a. Lujain, frightening the population there.” The regime played an anti- one of the protesters, said that “it It is nine and a half years since imperialist narrative to defuse its feels like we are back in 2011 when Syrians demanded change. Their supporters’ anger. At the same time, it we protested in solidarity with Syrian peaceful struggle evolved into a used traditional methods of cracking cities and towns which suffered the bloody war attracting regional and down on protesters in Al-Suwayda’a, regime’s brutality at that time”. international powers. including detaining some activists. Finally, it is crucial to note that this Syria has become a chessboard for The regime also called its is not the first time that the protests in those players whose interests deepened supporters, including state employees, Al-Suwayda’a take place. Throughout the Syrian tragedy and crafted students, members of Ba’ath Party, to the past nine years, the province has cleavages within its multi-ethnic and take to the streets and express their witnessed many anti-regime protests. multi-sect communities. loyalty to the regime. A voice message Additionally, people refused the However, the recent protests of attributed to the head of the student deployment of their youth outside the Al-Suwayda’a prove once more that union in the province, Wafa’a Aflaq, province. the Syrian revolution is a popular and stated that if any student does not go Fares, a Syrian refugee from Al- nationwide revolution against the to the pro-regime rally, he or she will be Suwayda’a in Europe, told me that “the autocracy of the Assad regime and we expelled from the University. best thing that the Sheikhs and leaders should not ever forget this fact. While these measures did not in the province did is that they objected dissuade the demonstrations, to the deployment of soldiers from protesters, however, became more

9 Comment | Egypt Raising the flag for liberation Sarah Hegazi was a courageous fighter against injustice and oppression and an inspiration to the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights far beyond Egypt, says Alice Finden.

his summer, activists around Tthe world shared memories and tributes to Sarah Hegazi who claimed her own life on 13 June this year. Sarah had been suffering post traumatic stress and depression after a harrowing Mural of Sarah Hegazi in | Photos: Flycatchr via Wikimedia Commons imprisonment by the Egyptian state in Egypt. In the first month after tortured, and some are ‘disappeared’. in 2017. She had claimed asylum in Sarah’s arrest, The Egyptian Initiative There are also major concerns over Canada and had been living with her for Personal Rights estimated that infection rates of prisoners given the trauma. A year later she wrote, “Even 54 arrests had been made under the current Covid 19 pandemic. after my release, fear of everyone, debauchery laws. Shady Habash, one of the regime’s family, friends, and the street The Egyptian police use apps such latest victims, was imprisoned for continued to haunt me.” as Grindr and Growlr as a means of making a music video that criticised Sarah was arrested along with entrapping LGBTQ+ people. In 2015 el-Sisi. He died in Cairo’s Tora prison Ahmed Alaa for raising the rainbow Middle East Solidarity Magazine in May this year after being detained flag at a Mashrou’ Leila concert. The interviewed LGBTQ+ people about for two years without trial. As Sarah lead singer of Mashrou’ Leila, Hamed their experiences of state violence in said: ‘Whoever differs, whoever is not Sinno, is openly gay and advocates for Egypt and Lebanon. At the time, Ramy a male Sunni Muslim heterosexual LGBTQ+ rights in Lebanon where the told us: “I think the crackdown under who supports the ruling regime is band is from. On raising the flag, Alaa al-Sisi is definitely the most violent of considered persecuted, untouchable, or said: all time”. dead.’ “It was a great moment for feeling State targeting of LGBTQ+ But as Sarah told us in an article free, for helping people to practice their communities has been happening for she wrote in 2018, it is not only the rights … It makes me happy. It makes a long time in Egypt. The “Queen Boat state who should be held accountable, me feel human. I can speak. I can share Panic” of 2001 highlighted the first but also various forms of religious my opinion in public. It was the best instance of a systematic crackdown, extremism. She wrote: moment of my life.” through the use of repressive Public “Islamists and the state compete Sarah and Ahmed were both Order and Public Morals Codes in extremism, ignorance and hate, charged with “promoting sexual to criminalise people engaged in just as they do in violence and harm. deviancy and debauchery” and jailed “homosexual acts”. This case involved Islamists punish those who differ from for three months. Sarah wrote that arrests of 52 gay men on a boat party them with death, and the ruling regime during that time, she was tortured on the Nile who were thereafter tried punishes those who differ from it with with electrocution, sexually assaulted for “public depravity”. prison.” and humiliated. The authorities also El-Sisi’s regime has become There has been an outpouring of arrested dozens of other people at the infamous for its mass arrests, arbitrary support and commemoration of Sarah concert. detention and unfair trials. Many by her fellow activists online. Tributes State violence and police brutality who are kept in Egypt’s overfilled jails were made on social media with the targeted at sexual minorities is rife are political prisoners and have been hashtag #RaiseTheFlagForSarah.

10 Feature | Al-Sisi’s Capital Folly

CAPITAL FOLLY

The grandiose plans to n 13 March 2015 at an economic river over an area of 6,200 acres, solar Oconference in Sharm el-Sheikh, energy farms totalling 17,000 football create a new capital city Egypt’s government set out its vision fields, at least six foreign universities for Egypt are testament to the international community. and a finance centre with the tallest Perhaps what shocked the audience building in Africa. to Al-Sisi’s determination most was the announcement of a The staggering superlatives, and to prevent a repeat of the New Administrative Capital (NAC). vague and somewhat contradictory mass protests which led According to the plans, the NAC would government reports on the finer details be located 45km East of historic Cairo. of the NAC have led some Egyptian to revolution in 2011, At 700 square kilometres it would commentators and foreign observers argues Fareid Atta. Far exceed the size of Singapore and to speculate that the 65-year-old al-Sisi from creating a sustainable accommodate 6.5 million people. views the capital relocation as a means It was set to feature nearly to establish his personal legacy. new city to relieve the 2000 schools and colleges; over The former general has been pressure of overcrowding in 1000 mosques and churches; 600 widely criticised for his pharaonic hospitals; over 40,000 hotel rooms; lifestyle including palatial residences Cairo, housing in the New an amusement park that dwarfs at a military camp in Cairo and a new Administratrive Capital will Disneyland, a public park double the summer residence in New al-Alamein be only available to the rich. size of New York’s Central Park, an City on the North Coast. airport as big as Heathrow, a green He may not have yet taken the

11 Feature | Egypt ultimate step of wearing a Neme team,” as well as an on-site medical aid a viable alternative for the informal around his head, but Al-Sisi’s concept package worth 12 million EGP. housing dwellers of Cairo begs the of power is clearly authoritarian in Despite action to control the virus question, why is it being built in the the style of old Egyptian dynasties: on site, on 4 April, the Presidential first place? unitary, personal, and unpredictable. Office postponed the opening of The answer might lie in the In order to gain public funds and “major national projects”, including work of Ali al-Rigal, a researcher in support for his fortress, he has relied the transfer of government officials to political sociology, who suggests the on the support of private and the the new Government Quarter to 2021. decision to move government offices public sectors within Egypt as well as The official reason given by the away from protests has a political substantial foreign investment from government for the capital shift is the and sociocultural underpinning. He China. oft-repeated refrain that Cairo, with suggests the government wants key Initially, the Gulf states were eager its twenty-two million inhabitants, is state institutions to exist amongst to fund the project. However, since overcrowded and the population needs the rich, upper classes, who tend to be 2015 confidence in the commercial to be redistributed. more in support of the government. feasibility of the scheme amongst The minister of housing claimed “The regime seeks to isolate itself international investors has massively that there is “no other solution to from the old city and its residential deteriorated. The Gulf developers who dealing with population growth, and areas. It believes they’re a burden pledged funding fought over terms to eliminate ashwa’iyat (informal and a danger to it, due to this class’ and following this, abandoned the housing areas).” It may be proposed political leanings, which tend to cut project. that the decision to relocate from against the regime,” Rigal’s argument Since 2016, the project has Cairo is driven by a desire to escape has merit when we consider the provided considerable opportunities the long history of popular unrest average prices of the units in the NAC. for the regime and its collaborators, in the old capital, and the seismic The funding for the NAC, and particularly in construction projects. uprisings across Egypt in the winter dreams of self-sufficiency has, as has Much has been supervised by the of 2011. repeatedly been the case in Egypt’s Armed Forces Engineering Authority development, been purchased at and the New Urban Communities This utopia will be the price of dependence on foreign Authority (NUCA). countries and/or the private sector. In October 2015 the minister of nothing more than a The Industrial and Commercial Bank housing (and chairman of the board dream to the majority of of China (ICBC) has pledged $3 billion of NUCA) declared that NUCA, which . over five years to establish a central has its own finances independent of business area in the NAC. the government, would provide initial Of course, congestion and The Minister of Housing Assem investments in the new capital and overcrowding are serious issues in al-Gazzar declared the first instalment that there would be “no pressure on Cairo, and it is easy to imagine why of the loan will cover the expenses the general budget.” its residents would dream of escaping of designing and building seven tall Fast forward to June 2020, and the dust and the dirt of the capital and towers on a total area of 600,000 over thirty storeys of the “iconic escape to a world of wide-open streets, square meters. The rest of the loan tower”, have been erected, with swift orderly rows of housing and palm is expected to finance the remaining progress made on the remaining trees tickling azure skies. This utopia, thirteen skyscrapers in the financial towers, “Phase 1” is due to be finished however, will be nothing more than a centre, including the “iconic tower.” by 2022, and the Government Quarter dream to the majority of Egyptians. The Egyptians have evidently is already completed. As of June 2020, Thus far the vast majority of the renegotiated a new loan deal, after the only two university campuses appear NAC housing has been undertaken first fell through, but it is suspected to have opened their doors to students by private developers, with a seeming there are strings attached, with in the NAC: bias towards middle and high- the ICBC likely to have demanded The University of Prince Edward end compounds. Unit prices for a a sizeable share of revenues from Island, an umbrella organisation 1-bedroom studio flat start at over the financial district. As usual, created to host degree programmes 1 million EGP, when we consider information on the revenue expected from select Canadian universities, and the average wage of an Egyptian to be generated from the towers is the University of Coventry. Coventry government employee is around 4000 scarce, though it is highly unlikely the opened its doors to students in the EGP a month, it is difficult to fathom area will be a cash cow in the short NAC as of September 2019 to great how ordinary Egyptians will afford it. term. fanfare. When asked about the prices of The handing over of a portion of Even Covid 19 has not significantly private housing, the spokesman the city’s revenue also raises serious slowed progress on the project, with for the project, Khaled al-Husseiny, questions over the ethics of such loans the Egyptian government claiming dodged questions about the provision from China, and whether Egypt is in to have secured “the continuity of for lower earners in the NAC and the fact, just the latest victim of China’s work on the sites while preserving average price of real estate: “Forget ignominious debt-trap diplomacy. the safety of the workers”. China the numbers, they’re not important Brahma Chellaney, professor State Engineering and Construction and not fixed, we have a dream, and of strategic studies, has described Company (CSCEC) has deployed its we’re building our dreams now.” The Beijing’s policies as a kind of “creditor “epidemic prevention and control practical infeasibility of the city as imperialism.” The handing over of Sri

12 Feature | Egypt

Lanka’s Hambantota port to China, is a chilling reminder of the dangers for emerging economies in defaulting on their debts to the superpower. Egypt’s repayment on these new Chinese loans will begin as early as mid-2020, based on the 36-42-month downtime in the initial agreement in 2017. With the end of the three-years deferral period coming up Beijing is already applying upwards pressure. Egypt’s economy has shown encouraging signs of recovery since its November 2016 IMF bailout, but Covid 19 is a significant threat to this fragile recovery. National GDP is thought to be decreasing at a rate of between 0.7 and 0.8 percent (EGP 36 to 41 billion) for each month that the global crisis continues. Abdel Khalek Farouk, an economist and director of the Nile Centre for Economic and Strategic Studies, criticised Egypt’s economic handling The new city is planned to cover 700 sq km of the project in new loans: “How can Photo: Screengrab via YouTube such an indebted country as Egypt seek to obtain new debt in light of the original in Tahrir, was a lightning rod of ideas, and if Tahrir falls, the dream massive internal and external debt it for the protests in 2011, 2012 and falls. Tahrir is a myth that creates a already has?” He also highlights the 2013. reality in which we’ve long believed.” high interest rates attached to existing Historic Cairo, much like other The emotional power of spaces debts. capitals such as Paris or Beijing such as this pose an extraordinary risk Chinese involvement was a fait contains the legacies of protest. Cairo’s for the regime. Their prerogative to accompli for the project, with a price Tahrir square features some of the turn downtown into “a heritage area” tag of over $40 billion dollars, the most significant symbols of Egypt: The speaks volumes about the intent of country has the deep pockets Egypt Egyptian Museum, The Arab League Al-Sisi’s to erase the memory of the desperately needs. The urban planner building, and the Egyptian Parliament. Revolution. David Sims has claimed the whole In the 20th century it has been the Relocation to the desert, forty- programme may be too big to fail. de-facto centre of resistance to the five kilometres to the East of Cairo, There are “too many cheerleaders for state, during the colonial period and negates the possibility of mass desert development, and too many of course, most recently in the 25 demonstration by decreasing the client groups to satisfy.” January Revolution. connectivity and proximity of informal China’s support is also of critical neighbourhoods to key sites. Should importance for al Sisi’s political base Chinese involvement was Cairo be brought to a standstill by at home. The strengthening of Egypt’s public protests and demonstrations, economic, political and security ties a fait accompli. With a Egypt’s military government in the with China -- or at least the image of project price tag of over NAC would remain unaffected. them, combined with much jet setting $40 billion dollars, the The fact that the NAC is the and hand-shaking with world leaders, brainchild of al-Sisi is significant. Al- allows him to present himself to an country has the deep Sisi’s radical project uses his country’s increasingly restless Egyptian public, pockets Egypt desperately scarce resources, not only to assert the as the vanguard of the country’s needs. self-efficacy of the state and catapult development. Egypt back into the geopolitical Public support for such projects is In fact, Tahrir became globally chessboard-- but to protect his regime one reason for the regime’s decision the largely uncontested centre of by creating a totally new urban space to relocate, but another is regime media attention, the symbol of a that expresses the values that he security. Since the ousting of the transformative spatial politics in the envisions as constituting the “New Brotherhood there seems to have been Arab world: as Ahdaf Soueif explains. Egyptian”, an identity that is both a concerted effort made to de-populate “The people know that Tahrir was conservative and modern, globalised and remove government ministries simply spectacle. They know that the but isolated from complex historical from the iconic downtown area. revolution was won in the streets and legacies of Cairo. On 27 April 2016, Al-Sisi opened a the factories. But they also know that Read more on solidarity with Egyptian new office of Egypt’s Interior Ministry the spectacle is important in the battle political prisoners on page in New Cairo, east of the capital; the

13 Analysis | Palestine Annexation and apartheid The planned annexation of large parts of the West Bank by Israel are part of a longer history of strategic colonisation and settlement building reports Miriam Scharf.

nnexation, illegal under Ainternational law, is the forcible and unilateral acquisition of territory over which the perpetrator has no recognised sovereignty and to make that territory an integral part of the state. The Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim is built illegally on Palestinian land The taking of another people’s land Photo: Wikimedia Commons by force should spark international to the border with . labour force in Israeli-owned industrial outrage and action. But not when it is As Israeli activist Jeff Halper argued parks. This adds to Israeli dominance Israel taking the land. And not when more than 20 years ago, this process and control. it is Palestinian land they are taking. of settlement construction has always So what future would annexation After all that’s how Israel was created, been strategic. Built over the main mean for not just the 2 million by dispossessing Palestinians, how aquifers to deny water to Palestinian Palestinians in the West Bank, but Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza settlements, extending across to within for any future Palestinian state? in 1967, annexed East Jerusalem in 20kms of Jordan cleaving the West Annexation means abandoning 1980, and the Golan Heights in 1981. Bank in two, cutting off East Jerusalem the two-state solution. The Israeli This military occupation has continued the former heart of Palestinian government envisages entrenching in all but pockets of the West Bank social and economic life from other dispossession and poverty, making designated in the 1993 and 1995 Palestinians, with road-building and life unbearable so the steadfastness Oslo Accords as Area ‘A’, where the security measures making contiguity (sumud in Arabic) is broken, and Palestinian Authority (PA) provides a between Gaza and the West Bank ending for good any Palestinian fig-leaf for Israeli control. impossible. national aspirations. Israel’s relentless building of illegal Moreover, granting annexed settlements in Areas ‘B’, nominally Annexation will unleash Palestinians citizenship rights within joint PA and Israel controlled, and Israel is not on the agenda, as that Israeli-controlled Area ‘C’ means a further flood of settler could endanger the Jewish majority 600,000 Jewish settlers now live violence backed by the which gives the democratic face to the in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s state, intensify human Jewish state. plans for annexation would extend This ‘democracy’ has nearly 60 laws Israeli sovereignty to more than rights violations and land which discriminate heavily against 230 settlements, 15 Area A and confiscation, non-Jewish citizens, or ‘Arab Israelis’ B communities including 44,175 as they are legally designated. The 2018 Palestinians, and 48 shepherding Decades of sucking life out of the Nationality Law enshrined the rights communities comprising 8,775 Palestinian economy by constructing of Jews over non-Jews. This systematic Palestinians in Area C. This would be physical barriers plus legal and institutional racism is defined in almost 30 percent of the West Bank. A bureaucratic measures backed up international law as Apartheid. If key difference with previous proposals by brutal violence has forced many two million Palestinians were to be is that Palestinians will have no access Palestinians into being a cheap manual incorporated into the State of Israel,

14 AnalysisCampaign | Palestine reports | apartheid would be extended and that would lead to the annexation of Palestine Solidarity Campaign would be permanent. any occupied Palestinian territory amongst others are demanding the UK The US has been Israel’s staunch and would be, as such, contrary should adhere to an ethical policy on all ally in the dispossession, occupation, to international law.” There is no the UK’s trade with Israel, in particular violence and war on the Palestinians. mention of any consequences and by applying international law on Netanyahu and Gantz may be using the the EU continues to reward Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian opportunity presented while Trump contravention of international law territory and stopping any arms trade is in the White House but Obama with billions of euros in trade, aid and with Israel that is used in violation of re-armed Israel during its last war on weapons. the human rights of Palestinians. Gaza. Annexation of occupied territory The Arab states, though Jordan Peoples around the world recognise is a serious violation of the UN Charter will not be happy, will come up with a annexation as an escalation from and the Geneva Convention. But the formula that pretends they have not decades of discrimination and UN will do nothing to enforce these abandoned the Palestinians, when they occupation to complete apartheid. laws, allowing the US to decide how did that long ago, following Anwar Whenever forces oppose their annexation proceeds. Sadat’s 1979 visit to Jerusalem. governments, especially for countries Understanding the strategic Annexation will unleash a further in the region, solidarity with Palestine importance of Israel to the US is flood of settler violence backed by is high on the agenda. paramount to understanding Israel’s the state, intensify human rights History has shown it is only when impunity to international law, and violations, land confiscation, and the Palestinians themselves have its resistance to criticism. This key US excessive use of force and torture. The fought that they have made gains. alliance allows Israel to ignore all UN burning of orchards, demolition of The extraordinary democratic resolutions. homes, stoning children on their way struggle of the first intifada, the heroic The EU may make critical noises to school, or olive-pickers are already second intifada, the daily steadfastness, but their response to annexation is regular events. It will consolidate the where ‘existence is resistance’, the typical. Congratulating Netanyahu already unjust reality: two peoples continued battles against evictions and on forming a new government, EU living in the same space, ruled by to rebuild, to keep hope after years of foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the same state, but with profoundly oppression means progressive forces the EU, “look forward to continuing unequal rights. throughout the world identify with working together in the spirit of the Palestinian civil society has made their struggle. longstanding friendship that binds us.” a global call for ‘effective measures’ He added, “We strongly urge Israel to be taken to stop this annexation Turn to page to read more on protests to refrain from any unilateral decision happening. against annexation in Britain

A world leader in ‘homeland security’ he sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey basis to maintain its oppression of protesters. Tfrom the Labour shadow cabinet Palestinians. It targets civilians with Used by the IDF as a tool of by Keir Starmer for re-tweeting a tear gas grenades, rubber-coated collective punishment, it is sprayed Maxine Peake interview containing bullets and live ammunition, carries into Palestinian shops, schools a reference to the connection out mass arrests, house demolitions, and houses of communities between the US police and Israel is torture and extrajudicial executions, whose members participate in the Labour leader’s signal to the UK all amounting to breaches of demonstrations. Based on its proven establishment, and to the US, that international law and war crimes. The effectiveness against Palestinian in his hands the Labour Party will inhumanity and brutalisation of the protests – Israel markets Skunk to not tolerate anything other than oppressor in their determination to police units worldwide, including total support for Israel. Safeguarding humiliate and injure the oppressed departments in the United States. Western interests is the issue, not is deeply ingrained in racism The American company Mistral antisemitism. integral to the system. Israel shares Security reportedly began selling Yet Peake is quite right to make the with American police delegations Skunk to US police departments connection between Israel’s position briefings and live demonstrations of following the 2014 protests in today as pre-eminent in violent suppressing an occupied population. Ferguson. Mistral Security advertises suppression techniques as a result of the product as applicable to “border decades of practice on subjugating This also facilitates the sales and crossings, correctional facilities, Palestinians. Israel has long sold transfer of crowd-control technologies demonstrations, and sit-ins.” weapons ‘battle-proven in Gaza’. But between the two governments. it is its methods and expertise as an Developed by the Israeli Police and Find out more about the relationship occupying power that has made it a manufactured by Israeli company between US police forces and Israel global leader in the homeland security Odortec, “Skunk,” is a foul-smelling from the Deadly Exchange campaign industry. liquid designed to cause nausea that organised by Jewish Voice for Peace at Israel uses military force on a daily is sprayed at high pressure onto www.deadlyexchange.org

15 Interview | Palestine

Occupation in a time of coronavirus

Palestinians are facing the he city of Hebron went into wedding in Taffuh, near Hebron and a Tlockdown on Saturday 20 June with large gathering in the village of Idnaa trauma of lockdown in a only grocery stores and pharmacies to celebrate the end of a blood feud. context of intensifying allowed to open. Ahmed, an activist Testing facilities in the city itself with Hebron International Resources have been overwhelmed by the Israeli occupation. Dave Network, told us that weddings and demand, and people are having to go Clinch and Oisin Challen prayers in mosques have been banned as far as Jenin in the north for the Flynn spoke to Palestinian following the reporting of just over procedure, Ahmed explained. The 1800 cases of coronavirus in Hebron province goes into this crisis with very activists from Hebron and governorate. limited health care resources. There Bethlehem about how they Social life and communal are 170 hospital beds in Hebron city, are continuing to resist. celebrations had been identified serving a population of 220,000, a as spreading the virus, including a further 50 beds in Halhoul and 120

16 Interview | Palestine more in Doura while in the West Bank as a whole there are only 120 ventilators. In the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, the situation is - if anything - more traumatic, according to Mohammed Abu Srour, a member of the camp’s Popular Committee. Seventy years after its foundation, more than 5,000 people are crammed into a space which is only 0.7 km square. As Mohammed explained, solidarity and cooperation have been essential to their survival for decades, so the advice on social distancing was psychologically hard to implement, as well as being almost physically impossible in such confined quarters. “People cooperated with each other for the last 70 years and this is one of the reasons they were able to survive … we have a small area, which is very crowded and there is no privacy … so how could we tell the people to keep distant and stay away from each other?” The Popular Committee took the lead, Mohammed said. “We were always the ones wearing a mask, trying to talk to people in lots of ways, telling them this is not a game or lie, that we need to be careful or there are people we love who are going to die and get hurt.” Aida’s Popular Committee quickly found out that they were going to have to rely on themselves to protect the camp’s residents. “We first heard about the virus on 5 March, when the Ministry of Health announced there were 7 or 8 cases, causing a panic in the whole city of Bethlehem,” Mohammed told us. In the refugee camp itself, the UNRWA, the United Nations body tasked with supporting Palestinian refugees was meant to be in charge. Yet it took 70 days before any support Facing page and top: Checkpoint, Susiya village. Centre left: Tackling Covid 19 near Hebron. materialised, when 200 food packs Centre right: Home visting, Aida youth project, Bethlehem. Bottom: Preparing food parcels, arrived at the camp - a drop in the Aida youth project | Photos: HIRN and Aida youth project ocean compared to the scale of the crisis. home visits, each two volunteers going campaign. During Ramadan they “We tried to reach them in different to visit 10 or 12 houses, providing started a kitchen which delivered ways, tried to get in touch with them reassurance to people, telling them 400-600 meals a day to people around and nobody responded to us. And all about symptoms of the virus and what the city, thanks to donations from that we heard from them was that they they can do to protect themselves from wealthy residents. Finding funding for are also on lockdown in Jerusalem,” it.” supplies of medication was much more Mohammed said. By the second and third week, camp challenging, Mohammed told us. “We In response the Popular Committee residents started reporting losing have almost 30 diabetes patients and drew up an emergency plan, their jobs. In a context where few we need to pay around $100 every 3 distributing sanitiser and PPE around people have any savings - and support weeks to cover their insulin and you the camp. “We tried to work through from the Palestinian Authority was need a high budget to cover that.” social media, through the mosque, in almost non-existent - the Popular Meanwhile in Hebron, movement is the streets, using DJs to deliver the Committee realised they would very difficult because of the lockdown. information and news. We even did need to mount a major food relief “HIRN has the ability to negotiate

17 Interview | Palestine permits for emergency rescue vehicles, thus managing to provide food baskets for extremely vulnerable families”, Ahmed explained. But it is not just the coronavirus restrictions which are impeding the efforts to support people through the virus. As HIRN has documented, the 16 families who live in the community of Al Qanoob face multiple restrictions: “They are surrounded by areas declared as Military Zones, face a large number of settler attacks and violence that has prevented them from accessing their water resources and grazing fields.” In addition they have experienced a large number of Stop Work orders and the Israeli authorities have confiscated cars and mobile latrines in addition to about 300 dunums of land for further settlement expansion. Attacks from settlers in the South Hebron Hills villages of At-Tuwani and Susya have continued unabated. The settlers of the Havat Ma’on ‘outpost’ are armed, extremely violent and have for example posed a daily threat to children going to school for many years. Usually international volunteers would be accompanying the students but Aida refugee camp entrance most have had to leave Palestine at the Archive photo: Numerosept, via Flickr start of the pandemic. disinfectant tanks for spraying in the Meanwhile the relentless drive of In At-Tuwani recently a sheep village of Susya. Israel’s right-wing government to grab barn was destroyed. Residents were In Aida refugee camp, political more land at the Palestinians’ expense prevented from leaving the village for and health campaigns began to mesh powers on, early abetted by their allies work or to go to school, by the erection together through mobilisations in in the USA. “They used the time when of a tent on the track. solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians have been busy with Covid According to Israeli activists from “We wrote graffiti, we made two songs to continue with their “Deal of the the Villages Group, who have been for them and we launched a campaign Century,”” Mohammed told us. “They visiting Susya and At-Tuwani for years called “Mazyouna wants to see her are not going to annex the Palestinians to offer solidarity, settlers “very often child”, named after one of the mothers … they want the land without the enter the village itself, go wild breaking of the Palestinian prisoners, because population.” things, destroying property and farm we didn’t want the people to forget International solidarity matters equipment, and make the lives of the about the prisoners inside”, explained more than ever in these times, inhabitants insufferable. Mohammed. Mohammed and Ahmed stressed. And They do this while the men are away even when volunteers cannot visit, at work, and only the women and solidarity organisations are mobilising children are present, and they simply “Settlers go wild breaking to raise vital funding and to keep the sow terror. Whoever comes close things, destroying pressure on their own governments for to their tent would risk his life – at property and farm their support of Israel. gunpoint. Later we shall read in the paper that “another terrorist who was equipment, and make the Ahmed works with the Hebron trying to murder Jewish colonists was lives of the inhabitants International Resources Network shot and neutralised.”” insufferable” (HIRN) which raises funds worldwide Since early March HIRN has to support schools and also vulnerable helped to purchase 500 Coronavirus “Mazyouna told me, “people are individuals, families and communities fighting kits, and sent food baskets to complaining about being under in the occupied West Bank. To donate ten families isolated from shopping lockdown for one week, but my son to Hebron International Resources in Bethlehem because of Palestine was in prison for 30 years. See how we Network projects please go to: https:// Authority travel restrictions imposed couldn’t be in prison for 7 days and tinyurl.com/hirndonations For Aida because of the coronavirus. Further they have been there for 30 years” so Refugee Camp Covid 19 projects food assistance has been given to now you can imagine how much those donate online at: https://tinyurl.com/ families in the old city of Hebron. people are suffering.” aidacampcovid19 Funds were also raised to provide

18 Campaign reports | Yemen

Hundreds of protesters brougt a strong message to the BBC and the government | Photos: Steve Eason

considered whether selling arms to into “living hell” for the country’s Protests grow the Saudis might lead to violations of population, including 12 million as British arms international humanitarian law. children, according to Unicef. Around Just days after saying they had 80 percent of the population - 24 sales to Saudi reviewed arms sales and concluded million people - are in need of that breaches were “isolated humanitarian assistance in the face of Arabia restart incidents”, government ministers told famine and disease. Covid 19 is also MPs that they were aware of over 500 now spreading rapidly in a context ampaigners have vowed to keep up possible violations of international law where the Saudi-led coalition has Cthe fight to stop British weapons by Saudi-led forces. Campaign Against targeted hospitals and schools. fuelling Saudi Arabia’s devastating war Arms Trade spokesman Andrew Smith Meanwhile protests have begun on Yemen, after the government said said: to gather momentum: hundreds of it would resume granting licenses for “These are not statistics, they demonstrators gathered outside the arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition are people’s lives. Saudi forces have BBC on 5 July before marching to on 7 July. bombed schools, hospitals and Parliament Square where they joined A landmark judgement by the homes. They have turned gatherings Black Lives Matter protests. Court of Appeal in June 2019 into massacres and inflicted a ruled that it was unlawful for the humanitarian crisis on Yemen.” Search #MarchforYemen for details of British government to have not Saudi bombs have made Yemen further protests

19 Campaign reports | Egypt and Palestine

#StopAnnexation protest in Islington Photo: Adham Mighdam via Twitter The annexation plans also drew Family attacked Annexation bid criticism from within the UK Jewish waiting outside sparks protests community, with forty Rabbis signing a letter to the Israeli embassy in prison for news in solidarity London, calling the unilateral seizure of further Palestinian land an “abuse after visits stop with Palestine of power.” Palestinian civil society Israel’s bid to grab even more organisations are calling for targeted ens of thousands of prisoners Palestinian land by annexing sanctions against Israel, including an remain at risk of Covid 19 in T swathes of the West Bank sparked arms sale ban and the suspension of of Egypt’s overcrowded and insanitary demonstrations around the world at free-trade agreements and supporting jails, while their families have been the beginning of July. efforts by the UN to reconvene the UN denied visiting rights and information In Britain, activists organised Special Committee on Apartheid to about their condition. socially-distanced protests in over investigate Israel’s apartheid regime. Political prisoners such as Alaa 100 locations including Manchester, Abdelfattah, Patrick Zaki, Hisham Durham, Brighton, London and Go to www.palestinecampaign.org Fouad, Mahienour el-Masry and Sheffield for a day of action on 4 July, to find out more about local protests Haitham Mohamedain are among the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said. and campaigns in Britain and www. those still detained. There were also demonstrations in the bdsmovement.net for updates on the Family members asking for USA, Denmark and Czech Republic. global boycott campaign. information from inside the prison system have been assaulted and beaten, Egyptian activists report. Laila Soueif, mother of Alaa Abdelfattah and his sisters Mona and Sanaa were attacked while spending the night outside Tora prison on 22 June. When they went to report the assault to General Prosecutor the next day, Sanaa was seized by plain clothes police and herself detained. Bologna University graduate student Patrick Zaki, who was arrested on 7 February had his detention liberation and BDS. renewed on 2 July for a further 45 ‘We stand with Angela Davis, who has played a key days. Like Alaa Abdelfattah his family Palestine’ say role in the fight against racism in the have not heard from him since the US said: “Palestinian activists have middle of March. BLM activists long supported the Black people’s Meanwhile doctors and pharmacists struggle against racism. When I was in who have questioned the Egyptian he protests over annexation jail, solidarity coming from Palestine government’s handling of the Covid 19 Tcoincided with the fifteenth was a major source of courage for me. pandemic are the latest group to face anniversary of the Boycott, In Ferguson, Palestinians were the first a crackdown - at least 9 were arrested Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) to express international solidarity. … between March and June. movement, marked by a strong We have a profound responsibility to Go to Egypt Solidarity Initiative on statement on Twitter from the BLM support Palestinian struggles.” Facebook for more information UK account supporting Palestinian Go to www.bdsmovement.net

20 Subscriptions & further reading

Disabled activists join a protest in Tunisia in 2011 | Photo: Nasser Nouri

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MENA Solidarity Bahrain Watch menasolidaritynetwork.com bahrainwatch.org MENA Solidarity is a network of Bahrain Watch is an Egypt Solidarity activists from different unions in the independent research and egyptsolidarityinitiative.org UK engaged in building solidarity advocacy organisation Egypt Solidarity launched on for struggle to win social justice and formed in February 2012 11 February 2014, the third workers’ rights in the Middle East. that seeks to promote anniversary of the fall of We are supported by the UCU, PCS and effective, transparent and Mubarak, in order to campaign in NEU unions and a number of other accountable governance in defence of democratic rights in trade union regions and branches. Bahrain. Egypt.

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