Monday April 16, 2007 by George Rishmawi – IMEMC (with permission)
A group of nearly 120 women from different parts of the world participating in the ‘Follow The Women Cycle’, organized by the Beit Sahour-based Siraj Center For Hily Land Studies, arrived in Bethlehem today to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
A group of nearly 120 women from different parts of the world riding their bikes arrived in Bethlehem today to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. The international cyclists are joined by some Palestinian cyclists, members of the Palestinian Cycling Club.
The group entered Palestine on Sunday coming from Jordan after cycling in Lebanon and Syria. The cyclists arrived in the town of Beit Sahour, where they were received by a crowd of the town’s residents including the Mayor and members of the municipal council.
Michaelle Awad, one of the co-ordinators of the program said “this is one of many to be organized in Palestine involving internationals coming to show solidarity with the Palestinian people who have been living under occupation for nearly 40 years”.
Follow the Women is an international movement comprised of approximately 300 ordinary women, from as many as 30 different countries, who support peace and an end to violence in the Middle East. The group aims at raising awareness of how the current situation in the Middle East affects the lives of women and children in the region, and to show solidarity towards women in the region, and bring an end to violence and suffering in the region. In addition, increase support networks between women all around the world.
Support for women and children? Statistics were not available by sex, but these data from B’TSELEM reveal the total deaths and child deaths from the start of these second Intifada, September 29, 2000 until March 31, 2007:
OPT Israel
Palestinians killed by Israeli forces 3978 61
Palestinians killed by Israeli civilians 41
Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians 236 469
Israeli soldiers killed by Palestinians 229 87
Foreigners killed by Palestinians 17 36
Foreigners killed by Israeli soldiers 10
Palestinians killed by Palestinians 315
Additional data
OPT Israel
Pal minors killed by Israeli soldiers 819 2
Israeli minors killed by Palestinians 39 80
http://www.btselem.org/english/statistics/Casualties.asp