Speakers from Palestine in Rochdale

Members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign with the guest speakers

Campaigners and supporters of Rochdale Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) gathered bearing flowers at Crescent Radio to mark International Women's Day and hear women speakers from Palestine on tour of the North West of England.

The speakers talked movingly of how the Israeli State seeks to normalise the occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Sameeha Sabina Elwan, from Gaza, talked of how the 'Palestinian narritive' was passed on from mother to daughter giving clear voice and expression to the role of women in their day to day lives and the liberating role of education as being vital as a means of empowerment from mothers to all their children, adding that the Internet was a "free space that can give a voice to the 1.5 million people in Palestine, of whom 1 million are refugees. Despite borders, walls and razor wire, I was able to use the Internet because it recognises no borders and my freedom of expression was not subject to the will of an Israeli soldier."

Kholoud Ajarma, from Nazareth, spoke equally movingly of "Palestinian steadfastness in the face of often sometimes overwhelming odds", of the role of Palestinian women in keeping the family strong, traditionally the past when men and women used to work the olive groves of Palestine side by side, and today when "the family has a vital role in the life of my people so that families who may be forced apart physically by the illegal Occupation remain together in their hearts always."

She also pointed out that the iron wall the Israeli State has built is "three times as long as the Berlin Wall and two times as high, but that whatever happens education is the key to making any people free from oppression, and a vital tool for self determination."

The meeting ended with both women being interviewed on Crescent Radio about their experiences with the programme being broadcast throughout the week to mark International Women's Day event celebrations.

Rochdale PSC coordinator, Jenny Turner said: "It is crucial that we support the struggle of the Palestinian people for peace, freedom and justice and we hope that Rochdale people who share this view will join us at future meetings for food and discussion.

"We shall continue to highlight the issue of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land."