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Block party commemorates week of ‘Palestine Solidarity’ in Memphis

<p>Locals gather to commemorate 'Palestine Solidarity Week' with a week-ending block party. The event was hosted by Memphis Voices for Palestine to spread awareness in Memphis of foreign conflict.&nbsp;</p>
Locals gather to commemorate 'Palestine Solidarity Week' with a week-ending block party. The event was hosted by Memphis Voices for Palestine to spread awareness in Memphis of foreign conflict. 

Arabic pop music and the aromas of traditional Palestinian cuisine filled the the parking lot of First Congregational Church Oct. 21 as locals gathered to celebrate the finale event commemorating “Palestine Solidarity Week.â€

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Locals gather to commemorate 'Palestine Solidarity Week' with a week-ending block party. The event was hosted by Memphis Voices for Palestine to spread awareness in Memphis of foreign conflict. 

Hosted by Memphis Voices for Palestine (MVP), the event was held in conjunction with three previous events during the week of Oct. 16 to spread awareness in Memphis about the foreign strife of Palestinians.

Due to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, more than 5 million Palestinians have lost their native rights, according to MVP. Members of MVP stressed that Israel has the power to change policy that would end the on-going bloodshed and mistreatment of Palestinians within the area that makes up Israel and Palestine. They also stressed that U.S. taxpayer money is being used to support the nation of Israel, and  the group believes this has a direct effect on the issues Palestinians are currently facing.

 Dahia Helou, 26, is a community advocate for Palestinians in the Mid-South and in Palestine. She said she does not believe city officials do enough to support the Palestinian community in Memphis.

“The Israelis continue to occupy Palestinian territory and oppress the Palestinians, and the U.S. continues to give them money,†she said.

Charm_ Palestine map

An illustration displays the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. MVP's 'Block Party' was the last of four events last week meant to raise awareness in Memphis of the conflict. 

Helou said she and other members of MVP want Americans to know how their money is being used. Helou spoke at a recent town hall meeting in August hosted by Memphis-area Congressman Steve Cohen. There, she spoke to the board about an estimate that the U.S. gives $3 billion a year to Israel.

“We hope to let Americans know that their money is going to the continual oppression of the Palestinian people,†she said.

Sales contractor Faiz Abbad, 55, came to the block party show support for his culture. A native of Jerusalem but of Palestinian background, Abbad has lived in Memphis for the past 32 years.

“Family and friends brought me here, and I also brought my children because I wanted them to know more about their family background and where they come from,†Abbad said. “I want them to see the music, customs and traditional dress, so when they go overseas, they’ll have an idea of the culture already.â€

Abbad said he supports MVP’s efforts to spread awareness in Memphis about Palestinian struggle, but he said he doesn’t see an issue with the way Memphis has responded to the Palestinian community in the city.

“I believe that they [city officials] are doing a good job,†Abbad said. “I’ve been here for a long time, and in general, people here are very nice. I haven’t noticed any tensions, and I believe that we as Palestinian people have been given freedoms like everyone else in this city.â€

Another MVP advocate, Heather Jendoubi, said it is important that Americans realize the severity of the current state of Palestine.

“Palestinians tend to be extremely marginalized also, considering that they don’t even have a nation,†Jendoubi said. “People should see the bigger picture concerning the state of Palestine because it is actually really scary right now over there.â€

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