San Ghanny Choir visits Tweeddale Peace Group

They came to hear the San Ghanny Choir from Edinburgh report back in detail about their recent visit to Palestine. San Ghanny (Arabic for “We shall sing”) told of the lives of Palestinian men, women and children through powerful stories, slides and songs.

Liz Findlay, from the Tweeddale Peace Group, welcomed the choir and explained that they had taken some of the money raised at last year’s Book Sale, a Peace Group event to a women’s project promoting peace. She also spoke of Dr Runa Mackay, a paediatrician who had worked in Palestine for many years and set up Medical Aid for Palestinians, another recipient of donations from the annual Book Sale.

The audience was taken on a journey to meet the many non violent activists whose “somoud” (steadfastness) and resilience in the face of violence and oppression is a living act of resistance. They spoke and sang movingly about the strength of the Palestinian women who defend their children’s rights to education by building schools, setting up nurseries and after school groups, with the aim of teaching them that their hearts and minds have the capacity to resist. The choir marched in Bethlehem with mothers who demand the release of the bodies of loved ones held by the Israeli State and together they sang “We shall overcome” in Arabic and English.

The choir told of the farmers whose lands are taken over by settlers to build homes and of the destruction of their olive groves. How they have to go through humiliating questioning and targeting at the numerous checkpoints just to be able to go and work on their land which is very often their only family income.

Many families live precariously in refugee camps often intimidated indiscriminately by the Israeli Army and yet the choir was welcomed into their homes with warmth and hospitality. What was striking about the Palestinians who had inspired San Ghanny was the dignity with which they conducted their lives on a daily basis despite the State of Israel’s determination to grind them down and to show them no humanity. Their request to San Ghanny was that they come back home and tell as many as possible about their situation, their fears, their dreams and their hopes for the future.

There are many ways of taking action in solidarity with Palestinians and San Ghanny can be contacted for further information on this by visiting www.facebook.com/SanGhanny

One Peeblesshire resident pointed out that whilst she had always supported the

Palestinian people the stories and songs she had heard “had brought to life the harsh reality of their daily struggles. “

A young woman from Walkerburn said “there is nothing more powerful than personal experiences and combining it with songs was both enlightening and moving”.

Liz Findlay added how honoured the group was to have hosted such a powerful and educational night. “Not only did we learn about the struggles of the Palestinians in the face of such adversity but we also heard of their strength and joy. We sang and danced with them tonight.”