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The killing must stop
28/ 6/2004
AN Oldham doctor will be joining cyclists all over the world as
he rides across Europe to Jerusalem to raise awareness of the
Palestinian struggle.
Dr Ali Dabbagh, an eye surgeon at the Royal Oldham Hospital is
taking part in the Peace Cycle and is raising money for three
Palestinian charities helping blind children in Bethlehem,
abandoned children in Tulkarem and needy students at the Bir Zeit
University in the West Bank.
The 49-year-old doctor who was born in Palestine and now lives in
Werneth, Oldham, said the ride which will last up to six weeks,
will also be a personal challenge after suffering from a triple
bypass surgery last October.
He said: "I've done small rides before but never one this
challenging. Being a Muslim and Palestinian, the Peace Cycle is
very important to me.
"The aim is to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Palestine and to
publicise about the Israeli occupation so that it will achieve a
just settlement to enable people of the area to live in peace
"It's going to be a once in lifetime journey, I haven't been to
Palestine since my parents left the country when I was a child so I
am looking forward to going back.
"I had surgery last year, but have been building my strength to do
this, so this is an added challenge for me."
The ride will start in September and 14 countries including the US,
Australia and those in Europe will send 12 cyclists to spend six
weeks riding from their homes to arrive at the Al Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem.
The arrival is timed for 28 September to coincide with the
anniversary of Ariel Sharon's visit to the site in 2000, which
started the second Palestinian uprising or Intifada.
They will then proceed to the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, to
demonstrate
Riders will carry a placard carrying the "truth" about the Israeli
Palestinian conflict and this will be translated into different
languages.
Said Dr Dabbagh: "Over the past 55 years thousands of Palestinians
and Jews have been killed.
"Apart from the eight hundred Jews who have died in the past three
years, Israel has stepped up its oppression and killed over three
thousand Palestinians and wounded over thirty thousand
Palestinians.
"This has to stop and we need the worlds attention if we are to
work towards integration and help the people of Palestine."
The Peace Cycle is supported by The Friends of Al-Aqsa, The
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, The International Solidarity
Movement, The Muslim Association of Britain, The Holy Land Trust,
The Annur Youth Association (Bethlehem), Gush Shalom (the Israeli
Peace Bloc) and Al-Awda Right of Return Coalition.
If anybody will like to sponsor Dr Dabbagh they can email him at
alidabbagh696@hotmail.com.
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