News

The trip to Palestine, Special Jury Prize for the School Competition, organized by MPPM and sponsored by the General Delegation of Palestine, occurred  between 22 and 30 July 2010. The delegation was composed of eleven students (Ana Lourenço, André Pato, Inês Silva, Jéssica Roque and Rafael Monteiro, of the Escola Básica 2/3 of Poceirão, Palmela; Ana Real, Andreia Fernandes and Sara Costa, of the Escola Básica 2/3 of Real, Braga; Ana Pinho, Ana Bastos and Cátia Almeida, of the Escola Básica 2/3 of Carregosa, Oliveira de Azeméis); three teachers (Aníbal Serra, of  Escola Básica 2/3 of Poceirão, Palmela; Carla Ferreira, of Escola Básica 2/3 of Real, Braga; Nelson Gomes, of Escola Básica 2/3 of Carregosa, Oliveira de Azeméis), a representative of the General Delegation of Palestine; the journalist José Manuel Rosendo and, representing MPPM, Amador Clemente.

The National Directorate of MPPM condemns in the strongest terms the attack perpetrated by the Israeli navy, during this morning, against a naval convoy of humanitarian aid that caused the deaths of more than a dozen people. Organized by solidarity movements,  bound for Gaza, and taking on board about 750 people of sixty nationalities with 10,000 tons of various products to help the people of Gaza, that group of vessels was attacked, while  in international waters, according to the available news,  by units of the navy of Israel, which sets up a serious violation of international law.

After near a year of the inauguration of the right-wing government in Israel, led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, the worst expectations are confirmed: worsening the repression of the Palestinian people, blocking the negotiation process with a view to a diplomatic solution to end the occupation, disrespect for international law and legality, and worsening tensions in the Middle East.

For the second consecutive year MPPM - Portuguese Movement for the Rights of Palestinian People and the Peace in Middle East - organized the "Week of Palestine", a series of events, aimed at promoting the culture and fight of the Palestinian people, centered around the data of November 29th, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. A verse from Mahmoud Darwich's poem "Mural" - One day we shall become what we want - gave the motto to the "Week".

This year's "Week" was also associated with the celebration of Jerusalem Capital of Arab Culture 2009, thus corresponding to the appeal by the organizers "to the solidarity groups to promote Jerusalem's historical and cultural identity as the capital of the State of Palestine".