Taybeh OctoberFest to continue despite arson attacks

Oktoberfest Press Release, Taybeh Municipality, Taybeh-Ramallah, Palestine Coordinator: Dr. Maria C. Khoury,  Tel:  054 5 465 845 or 0599 318 347  Email:  Khourymaria@hotmail.com (Interviews: Nadim Khoury +972 2 289 8868)  Sep 28, 2009

Taybeh Municipality will host the Oktoberfest as planned although during the regular Monday Municipality Meeting in Taybeh, Sept 28^th, 8:45 pm, the mayor’s car was set on fire and totally burned causing damage to the municipality building but no one was hurt.  A successful 2005 first time event initiated by Taybeh Brewing Company, the Oktoberfest in Palestine promoting all local products produced in Taybeh also occurred immediately after the worst tragedy in the history of Taybeh in having 14 houses completely burned. Taybeh will continue to be a flame of peace and have peaceful resolutions to conflict.  Non violent action is part of the peaceful resistance in celebrating one’s existence. 

Taybeh Oktoberfest, 5th annual village festival scheduled, Sat and Sun, Oct 3 and 4, 2009 in Taybeh-Ramallah, Palestine, 11 am to 10 pm with the opening celebration, 11am at the Taybeh Municipality on Sat, Oct 3rd including the Brazilian band, Clube do Choro performing for the first time in Palestine. Other bands from Greece, RASCASSE from Berlin and Two Down from London and Japanese Traditional Dance from Japan will perform during the two day Oktoberfest, Palestinian Style under the patronage of the Minister of National Economy, HE Bassem Khoury. The festival is the cooperative work of Taybeh Municipality (www.taybehmunicipality.org for directions and schedule) and its mayor David Canaan Khoury with all local civic organizations. 

Entertainment will include Spafford Children’s Center; Al Harah Theater, “The Red Apple;” Sanabel Theater, “Happiness City”; CultureShoc, Rock-Rap Band; Ramallah Underground; G-Town: Palestinian Hip Hop Makers; Anger Boys with Dj Shahbari; Sarab for Dance; Baladi Group/Bethlehem; Ramallah Orthodox Club; Alrowwad Cultural & Theater Training Center; and local Dabkeh with the Taybeh Folklore Group also including a Karate Demonstration from Japan. The Beit Jala Lions Rugby Club will host TAG Games in Taybeh on Sunday at 3pm.

Taybeh Municipality expresses sincere appreciation to all sponsors:  Royal Danish Representative-Ramallah; Representative Office of Finland-Ramallah; Representative Office, Federative Republic of Brazil; Consulate General of Greece in Jerusalem; Representative of the   Federal Republic of Germany-Ramallah; Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS); Goethe Institute-Ramallah; Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC); Pontifical Mission; Spafford Children’s Center; National Beverage Company Coca Cola/Marawi; Wataniya Palestine Telecom; Caritas Jerusalem Youth Volunteers; Dr. Tony Nazzal.