History

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been going on since the recreation of Israel in 1948. Thousands of Palestinians were killed by the incoming Zionists, and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homeland as refugees. In the Deir Yassin massacre of 1948, over 100 Palestinian civilians in the small village of Deir Yassin were murdered. In 1967, war broke out again and thousands more Palestinians were killed. It has been estimated that since 1948, 1.5 to 2 million Palestinians have been killed. Upon Israel’s recreation, Israel would occupy 57% of Palestine, and Palestinians would occupy 43%. Today, Palestinians occupy only 21% of their original homeland: the West Bank and Gaza. Most of this land is under occupation by the Israeli military.

An Independent State

Despite numerous tragedies, hope is on the horizon: On November 30, 2012, the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to recognize Palestine as a state in its own right. Palestinians, led by PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas, appealed to the United Nations to recognize them as a state independent of Israel. While it is the suicide bombers that catch media attention, this appeal was the epitome of the nonviolent movement in Palestine to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Nonviolence was practiced by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Desmond Tutu; the result was freedom for India, blacks in America, and black South Africans. Soon Palestinians will be added to the list. I am anxious to see the leaders that emerge.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood is not merely a victory for Palestinians. It is a victory for the entire world. We all share the same planet, and what affects one person, affects us all. When Palestinians are suffering under an oppressive apartheid, we all suffer. We have suffered from terrorist attacks, organized by men who are trying, through unacceptable means, to make us aware of the suffering of Palestinians. We have suffered from not recognizing and appreciating the intrinsic value and gifts that every Palestinian holds — what if the person who would have discovered the cure for AIDS is languishing in an Israeli prison without any charges brought forward?
Many of the woes that we face as a society will begin to end when Palestine is a free nation. An important step towards that goal has been taken, and the precedent of nonviolence was firmly established. We recognize and congratulate Palestine on its victory. Now we must all work together to help build peace in Israel and Palestine, and help rebuild a nation that has been crippled by 65 years of war.

About the author

I grew up in conservative Christian circles in the American South, and majored in theology at an Alabama Southern Baptist college. Without really understanding why, I believed that Muslims were to be avoided at all costs, and we have to unilaterally support Israel. Like many young adults, after college I wasn't sure at all of what I wanted to do with my life, so I traveled to the Middle East for a year and a half. Most of the people I met were descendants of the Palestinian refugees forced out of their homeland in 1948, when Israel was recreated. I fell in love with Arab culture, and realized that on the world scene, Arabs have no voice. Living in the Middle East gave me fresh new eyes to read the Bible, and interacting with Arab Christians, especially Palestinian Christians who live in Jordan, caused me to question all the dogmas regarding Israel with which I had grown up.

Living in the Middle East also gave me the courage I needed to pursue my lifelong dream of being an author. My first book, A Theology of Chaos, will come out this next spring. I plan to use the profits from it to support organizations in the Middle East that are fighting for justice. I have written some short stories as well, which you can find on smashwords.com under my full name, Margaret Elysia McColley.

I now live in New York City, where emergency procedures for a potential terrorist attack are constantly updated, and where the sharp divide between Christians, Muslims, and Jews can be clearly seen on posters in the subways. My goal in life is simple: to end terrorism in my lifetime, by giving a voice to social injustices that compel terrorists to violence.

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Plans to build Britain's biggest place of worship – a "monolithic, overly dominant and incongruous" mosque in east London – are set to be thrown out despite 25,000 letters in favour.

The mosque, which could take 12,000 people – four times as many as St Paul's Cathedral – would be as big as Battersea power station and become the HQ of Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat. However, officers for Newham council recommend the plan is refused.

The sect, to which the July 7 bombers and shoe bomber Richard Reid have been linked, could now be forced to leave the Abbey Mills site altogether in Canning Road, near the Olympic Park, after a 13-year battle.

Alan Craig, campaign director of MegaMosque No Thanks and a former Newham councillor, said: "Now it's up to the planning committee to follow the recommendation to reject. The building would be ugly, it would add nothing to the area and we have huge concerns about the group behind it."

Tablighi Jamaat first submitted plans to use the site, which has several prefab buildings, in 1999, arousing intense opposition from the start. In 2001, it agreed worship there would be on a temporary basis only, but when permission expired in 2006 the group continued to use the site.

In 2010, the council issued an enforcement notice but Tablighi Jamaat won its appeal last year and more than 5,000 people a week now worship at the site. The giant new mosque would have 40ft minarets, a visitors centre, a library and a 300-space car park.

The council's special strategic development committee meets next Wednesday to decide. The planning office received 3,000 letters opposing the scheme. Only one per cent of the 25,000 letters of support were from people living in the local consultation area.

Critics claim Tablighi Jamaat preaches "separation and segregation". The group maintains its main objective is peaceful missionary work.

The Anjuman-E-Islahul-Muslimeen of London UK Trust, Tablighi Jamaat's charitable trust and the site's owner, said it will appeal if the plan is thrown out. Newham council said: "Officers have made a recommendation for refusal, which will be considered.

"Our planning policies promote the development of the Abbey Mills site for a mix of residential, employment and community uses, to help create a new local centre near West Ham station and regenerate the area. It is not considered this application is consistent with these policies.

"There are also concerns about the size of the proposed buildings and impact on parking and traffic."

Evening Standard, 29 November 2012

See also "Newham council officers recommend so-called West Ham mega mosque is rejected", Newham Recorder, 28 November 2012

Update:  Needless to say, the far right can scarcely restrain their joy at the news. Alan Craig must be so proud.

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The people of Walthamstow take to streets to defy the EDL in SeptemberThe police restriction preventing the EDL from entering Walthamstow is a major victory for our movement. The massive demonstrations planned by UAF, We Are Waltham Forest and Muslim communities, and pressure of our grass roots campaigning, helped to achieve this victory.

This has been acknowledged by many including London Assembly Member Jennette Arnold. The EDL is weak and isolated, while our movement grows stronger. This victory must be celebrated!

Jennette Arnold, London Assembly Member: "This follows a long campaign by community groups and activists including We Are Waltham Forest and Unite Against Fascism who have made it quite clear that the English Defence League is not welcome in our community. As well as spreading their racist ideas they also seek to cause division and unrest in our communities."

Some people argue that we should cancel the event in Walthamstow. We disagree with this. Firstly because it is important to celebrate victories not just react to the EDL. Secondly there is a danger that the EDL could be encouraged to turn up in Walthamstow if they think people won't be mobilised on the streets. Continuing with our event in Walthamstow acts as a deterrent.

Assemble 11am, Hoe Street
Nearest tube: Walthamstow Central (stewards will be directing people to Hoe Street)

UAF news report, 26 October 2012

See also "EDL threaten to ambush police", Hope Not Hate, 26 October 2012

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The battle of hunain was fought near a valley situated on the road which leads from Makah to Al-Taif. This battle was fought in 630 between the PROPHET PBUH and the people belonging to the tribe Hawazin. The battle ended in the favor of the Muslims and they captured a large number of slaves. In the Holy Quran, there are two battles whose names are mentioned and the battle of hunain is one of them.

Background of the battle

After the Makah conquest, the Arabs and other small tribes found that there is no other option then to accept Islam so they embraces Islam but there were still some tribes who did not accept Islam. These included the tribe of Hawazin, Bani Hilal, Nasr, Sa’ad bin bakr and thaqif. They thought that they are so mighty and they will not surrender or bend and will not accept the religion taught by the Prophet PBUH. Therefore they planned to fight against the Muslims and they joined hands with Malik Bin Awf An- Nasri.

Role of the spies

Before starting the battle of hunain, the people of tribe Hawazin and their allies spied on the Muslims. When they came to know that the PROPEHT MUHAMMAD PBUH and his followers have departed from Medina to attack on Makah, they planned to attack the Muslims on their way beside Medina. But the PROPHET PBUH was also informed by HIS spy about the plan of the Hawazin so the Muslims army along with the 12000 soldiers marched against the army of Hawazin after two weeks of the conquest of Makah.

The battle

The Muslim army arrived at the place of hunain at the 10^th of SHAWWAL at night. Malik Bin Awf had already entered the valley before the arrival of the Muslims and he had ordered his army to hide at the narrow places and to attack the Muslims whenever they caught a sight of them. The orders were to throw stones at the Muslim army and then to attack them and have a one man fight. When the Muslims started camping they were shot with arrows and a fierce attack was made by the enemies.

The Muslims were not expecting such a sudden attack so they started to retreat and ran in confusion. Only a few people were there in the field who and fought the battle of hunain with the enemies. They included HAZRAT ALI A.S, HAZRAT ABBAS BIN FAZAL, and ABI SUFYAN BIN HARITH AND USAMA.

The PROPHET PBUH addressed the Muslims and asked them to come back in the battle field and fight with the enemies. HE asked for the help of ALLAH and prayed to HIM. The PROPHET PBUH then picked a handful of dust and threw it towards the enemies which made their eyes thick and they began to retreat.

At the end of the battle of hunain, the enemies were defeated and their seventy men were killed by the Muslim army. The camels, weapons and other cattle of the enemies were captured by the Muslims. Some of the men of the enemies ran away and chased by the Muslims and were then captured.

About the author

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