Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association

Dundee–Nablus

Twinning Association

رابطة توأمة نابلس دندي

News

40^th Anniversary

Letter

Recognising the state of Palestine

Dundee City Council has passed a motion to recognise the state of Palestine. This marks the 40^th anniversary of our twinning with Nablus.

The Saltire flew in Nablus as a gesture of appreciation.

Dundee Women's Festival 2021

Anan Attereh is the Deputy Governor of Nablus Governorate. She will speak to us on "Overcoming Challenges: Women Entrepreneurs in Nablus, Palestine".

Tuesday 9^th March 2021 6:00pm-7:30pm
This will be an online event by zoom. Register in advance here.

Monthly Meetings

Moving online with zoom

Our usual monthly meetings are cancelled because of Covid-19. Instead, we are inviting speakers to join us by zoom. We can invite people directly from Nablus and this is working very well

To know about forthcoming speakers and registration details please subscribe to our mailing list (using the box on the right hand side of this page).

Notes on joining our zoom calls

40^th Anniversary Donations

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Supporting Nablus

Coronavirus caused cancellation of our Festival of Nablus 2020 so we looked for other ways to mark the important 40^th Anniversary of twinning between Dundee and Nablus.

Nablus is badly hit by Coronavirus so we have contributed £2,000 split between five projects.

Celebrating Forty Years of Twinning

Three politicians on a rostrum

between Dundee and Nablus

An historic and trend-setting link between our two cities was forged in 1980 when Dundee and Nablus agreed to form a twinning relationship.

Other cities have followed but Dundee was the first. The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association (DNTA) continues to strengthen and develop links between the cities.

Cultural Celebrations

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Cancelled by Covid-19

We had arranged a two week long cultural festival to celebrate our links with Nablus. The Nablus Mayor and Municipality arranged for traditional dancers to travel while we arranged events and exhibitions. It became clear that coronavirus would prevent the dancers travelling here. Even local events had to be cancelled. So we were left with nothing but dreams... and appreciation of all the people and organisations who had helped us.

Dundee City Council were extremely helpful with funding, waiving charges and giving us essential advice. The Lord Provost formally invited the dancers and arranged a Civic Reception. Westfest and the Scottish Parliament were both ready to host our delegation.

Generous funding and support came from trades unions, DNTA members, Scottish Palestinian Forum and Scottish Friends of Palestine. Others offered services, participation and advice.

We are very grateful to all of them - everyone is disappointed but still keen to develop our links with Nablus and to find new ways to develop links with Nablus.

Palestine and Israel – Britain’s role, then and now

This event planned for 17th March 2020 was cancelled because of covid-19 concerns. The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association and The Balfour Project are very disappointed and hope to reschedule it.

Questions and discussion

A significant opportunity to hear leading speakers address how British history influences current challenges in Palestine. Three people

In the 1917 the British Government's "Balfour Declaration" set in chain events which have resulted in what was then Palestine becoming today's State of Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Britain's role in the region still matters today. Our panel of speakers will sketch Britain's role and explore how Britain can take a responsible position in today's world.

Stitching Palestine

Women and embroidery

Palestinian Women and embroidery

In this film (directed by Carol Mansour) twelve Palestinian women talk of their life before the Diaspora, of their memories, of their lives and of their identity. Their narratives are connected by the enduring thread of the ancient art of embroidery. Drawn from disparate walks of life, they stitch together the story of their homeland, of their dispossession, and of their unwavering determination that justice will prevail.

After the film, Carol Morton led a discussion. She spoke about how and why she became a founder of Hadeel. Through the Hadeel shop and website, Carol offers support for Palestinian women through trade in UK sales of embroidery and crafts.

Friday 6^th March 2020 6:30pm-8:30pm
Lecture Theatre 2
Dalhousie Building
Old Hawkhill, Dundee DD1 5EN

Six Day War testimonies from Nablus

It is 50 years since the Six Day War of 1967, the invasion of Nablus and the start of an occupation which continues to this day.

The invasion was a terrifying experience for the people of Nablus. We asked six people to recall their memories of that time - they make very moving and compelling testimonies.

Our booklet with these testimonies is now available online

Read our booklet here (or as a PDF)

Older news

You can also read about some of our Older news and events

Some of the included items:

AGM 2016
Convener's report 2016
Palestinian literary festival 2015
Embroidery project 2014

About DNTA

Welcome to the Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association

We encourage friendship and understanding between the people of Nablus and the people of Dundee.

We welcome members who share our objectives. So for enquiries, to leave comments about the website, or to join the Association, please email our secretary, Mike Whitehead: secretary@dundee-nablus.org.uk

Current projects

Celebrating 40 years

It was in 1980 when Dundee District Council (as it was then) took the historic decision to twin with Nablus. We have a great programme of activities and visitors from Nablus planned as a celebration of this link between our two cities.

The main Festival of Nablus will take place in Dundee between 30^th May and 12^th June 2020. Further details will be posted once contributers and venues have been confirmed.

Schools twinning

Children in traditional Palestinian dresses

As part of the studies of Global Citizenship, pupils in Dundee are making contact with pupils in Nablus. They will be able to discuss their lives in their different cities, their favourite activities and their hopes.

Child Trauma Recovery - Nablus

Our project is training school counsellors in Nablus to deliver effective relief for trauma. They will be using the acclaimed manual on complex grief and trauma developed by the Children and War Foundation of Norway. Training will be delivered by Dr Ian Barron of the University of Dundee through the Palestinian Centre for Applied Research in Education (CARE). We are appealing for funding for this project.

DNTA Films

Our films about the people of Nablus shows the city and lets you hear about their lives in their own words. Making this film celebrated 33 years of twinning between Dundee and Nablus.