IN A LETTER to the British press, fourteen leading UK playwrights and theatre directors, have condemned the destruction of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Centre in Gaza, which was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes six days earlier.
They wrote: ‘As theatre practitioners who have worked closely with Palestinian artists, we write to condemn the bombing and total destruction of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Centre in Gaza on 9 August by an Israeli airstrike. We support our dear friends and colleagues who describe their great rage and deep pain at the obliteration of this symbol of Palestinian culture and identity as they mourn the destruction of one of the few large venues for theatre and music performances in besieged Gaza …
‘We are deeply shocked that this act of destruction has not been widely reported in the British press.’ ‘Mike Bartlett Playwright, Jonathan Chadwick Director and playwright, Caryl Churchill Playwright, EV Crowe Playwright, April De Angelis Playwright, Elyse Dodgson International director, Royal Court Theatre, Vicky Featherstone Artistic director, Royal Court Theatre, David Greig Playwright, artistic director, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Stephen Jeffreys Playwright, Phyllida Lloyd Director, Rufus Norris Director, National Theatre, Penelope Skinner Playwright, Richard Twyman, Artistic director, English Touring Theatre, Sacha Wares, Director.’
• The Palestinian Authority (PA) has reacted strongly to the recent approval by the Israeli authorities to the building of 20,000 new settler units in the occupied holy city of Jerusalem al-Quds.
Speaking on Thursday, PA spokesman Yousef al-Mahmoud called the move ‘an Israeli declaration of war against occupied Jerusalem’.
Further illegal Israeli construction ‘will lead the region and the world into more conflicts and violence’, he said, stressing that Israel and the United States were responsible for any deterioration that could result from further expansion of settlements. Mahmoud said the Israeli violations were being carried out with the ‘full support’ of the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Under the new settlement plan for Jerusalem al-Quds which was announced on Wednesday, around 12,600 new living units and an additional 8,000 units will be built as part of an ‘urban renewal initiative’ in existing structures. The plan would also include industrial areas and hotels.
