A Bristol campaign group has launched an emergency fund-raising appeal to help a small town in the West Bank, Palestine.

The town, Marda, has been cut off behind security fences in a “ring of steel”. People fear their town will be slowly strangled, forcing people to leave so the Israelis can demolish their town. But the Palestinians are determined to resist by holding their community together.

They have appealed for equipment to start a Computer Centre to be run as an educational and community facility. International volunteers visited the town last November (2005) to help with the Olive Harvest.

The Israeli Separation Wall was being built down one side of the town. Earlier this year, a security fence was built along the Settlers-Only road on the other side of the town. Now, the only way in and out of the town is through a metal gate, which can be locked closed at the whim of the Israeli Army.

The International Women’s Peace Service, who are based nearby, have recorded the town has been locked closed several times this summer, for hours or days at a time. Conditions in the town are desperate. The schools are closed, as the Palestinian Authority has no money to pay teachers. The town is subjected to frequent Israeli army raids, during the day and last thing at night, to traumatise its citizens. The young people have no hope for their future.

Marda’s organisers are doing their best to maintain education for their young people, a sense of community, and links with the rest of Palestine. Otherwise people will leave their homes in despair. The Israelis have a program of forced evictions and house demolitions throughout the West Bank. Because Marda is close to the settlement of Ariel, the whole town may eventually be cleared and demolished.

Organisers in the town have asked for equipment to set up a Computer Centre. They have an empty building and there are volunteers to run this, in the day and the evenings. The Centre will be used for educational and recreational use by the whole community.

Even when the town is locked up by the Israelis, youngsters will be able to study and people will be able to maintain contact with the rest of Palestine via email and the internet.

BristolComputers4Palestine is a newly formed project based in Bristol. All work is done on an entirely volunteer basis. The project has been backed by Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy. It aims to collect donated and recycled computers and ship them to Palestine, to help towns like Marda.

However, the first shipment cannot go until later next year. Even then it may be obstructed by the Israelis. In order to respond to this urgent situation an EMERGENCY APPEAL has been launched this week. The aim is to raise £6,000 in six weeks.

Imam Assad Ali Shah, of the St Marks Road Mosque in Bristol said “The more we hear about the continued injustice in Palestine, the more we feel for its people’s sufferings. This little town of Marda, like many others in Palestine, is the victim of the continued Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank. Ed Hill of Computers4 Palestine told Islamic Times, “It’s not just the money and the practical aid. So much of what is happening in Palestine simply isn’t reported in our media. I hope through this publicity people will understand more of what is really happening.”

There are various ways to donate to this Emergency Appeal. By post, send cheques, (payable to Bristol Computers 4 alestine):

Bristol Computers 4 Palestine
BOX No 110, c/o 82 Colston Street,
Bristol BS1 5BB.

Via the website which includes a Pay-Pal service at:

www.BristolComputers4Palestine.co.uk

By Bank transfer to:

The Cooperative Bank Account,
Bristol Computers 4 Palestine
Number 65216224
Sort Code 08-92-99