Cafes have
traditionally functioned as factories for ideas. It is likely that numerous
important decisions which have altered history were taken over a cup of tea or
coffee. Nowadays, the value of “being together” is rapidly changing as people
communicate more and more through new media. However, the practice of meeting
in a cafe has not died out; indeed, it has evolved with the appearance of
“topical” cafes.
To enhance
communication between people from different cultures and experiences in a
region in which information is often hindered, is one of the goals of the newly
established AICafè, a political café run by volunteers of the Alternative Information
Center.
The
AICafè is meant to foster political information, and to advance ideas, which
may start alternative ways of knowledge and communication in order to achieve
awareness in all spheres of daily life, such as politics, economics and
international issues.Without denying
the importance of the most important and significant cultural traditions, the
AICafè strives to promote change and to enhance new social and political
practices by creating a wide range of events and activities centred on dialogue
and mutual understanding.
In accordance
with the AIC though, which promotes responsible co-operation between
Palestinians and Israelis based on the values of social and political justice,
equality, solidarity and community involvement, the AICafè provides an open
space for local and international people to endorse a joint struggle for
Palestinian people rights, against Israeli policy of occupation.
The AICafè,
hosted in the AIC historic office building in the heart of Beit Sahour, holds
political material, guides, reports, the AIC’s numerous publications and a
library. The café serves primarily local and fairly traded products from the
area.
The AICafè is
starting a networking process with other political cafés around the world and
is currently linked with the Dutch political café Averechts in Utrecht (www.averechts.nl ).
Thousands of Palestinians work illegally in Israel as construction laborers. After an arduous and dangerous journey, loaded with blankets and bags, they cross the hills to the places where they can find employment. At night they sleep on the hillcrests in improvised huts and coffin-like sleeping cubicles, a stark contrast to the apartment complexes they build by day. But they have made homes for themselves, complete with cozy pillows and even power generated by batteries they have scraped together
Ziad Mahfuth, 17 year old boy from Aroub camp was arrested for fifth time since 2004
Meeting with Ziad Mahfuth on Saturday 11th May at 11am in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour
Please come and write about this case, contact journalists in the region, forward this message, let the world know! Even though there are many boys like Ziad, we have had the chance to get to know him and appreciate his efforts to change his situation and we want to support him to succeed in that!
Ziad was arrested at 2am on Friday morning 2nd of May. Him and his brother were beaten during the arrest. Ziad has spent 4 days in Atzyon detention center and was released today. He is back with his family in Aroub camp. Ziad has been beaten by the Israeli investigators during his detention. He was accused for throwing stones and molotov cocktails, but he hasn’t confessed. This was the fifth time that 17 year old Ziad was arrested within the last 4 years. Usually he is accused of throwing stones. Once he spent more than half a year in prison as a child prisoner.
Filmscreening: Jeremy Hardy vs The
Israeli Army, a film by Leila Sansour
Leila Sansour will be present
during the filmscreening. The film: In March 2002 Comedian Jeremy
Hardy is approached by a Palestinian director who urges him to join a group of
internationals, intent on doing their bit to solve the world’s longest-running
conflict. Jeremy has always felt sympathy for the Palestinians but traveling
thousands of miles to face the world's fourth biggest military power is not his
idea of a holiday. On the other hand, neither is traveling to Florida to spend
Easter with his in-laws so Palestine it is. What he doesn’t know, as he arrives
in Tel-Aviv only a week later, is that he will become one of the most unlikely
witnesses to a horrific yet seminal moment in the struggle of the Palestinian
people
Sam Bahour about the Right of
Entry/Re-Entry Campaign
Sam Bahour, one of the coordinators for the
Campaign for the Right of Entry/Re-Entry into the oPt, will update us on the
latest developments concerning the access of foreign nationals to the oPt, as
well as the ongoing saga of tens of thousands of Palestinian foreign nationals
who have requested family unification but are still being denied the basic right
of keeping their families together.
Sam Bahour is a Palestinian-American businessman and activist based in
Al-Bireh/Ramallah, Palestine. He is Managing Partner of Applied Information
Management (AIM), a management consulting firm specialising in business
development with a niche focus on the information technology sector and
start-ups. Sam was instrumental in the establishment of PALTEL and the PLAZA
Shopping Centre and currently serves as a Board of Trustees member at Birzeit
University and
AICafe 
