Jul 5, 2004 • 1 min read

Pro-Israel groups in Denmark not impressed with Roskilde protest

A replica of Israel's West Bank barrier built by Dan Church Aid at Roskilde Festival drew criticism from the Israeli embassy and Denmark's Danish People's Party.

Festival-goers are used to seeing large fences these days, but a large fence at this weekend's Roskilde Festival has caused some opposition from political groups in Denmark.

A replica of the fence constructed by Israeli security forces between Israel and Palestinian Authority land, the Roskilde fence was a built by humanitarian charity Dan Church Aid and contained the slogan 'Make Peace, not Walls'. The installation was the centre point to the organisation's fund raising activities at the music festival.

However the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen and Denmark's' right-wing ruling Danish People's Party, among others, hit out at the protest saying it was inappropriate for the humanitarian charity to make such a political statement at a music event.

However a spokesman for the charity told reporters: "We have taken a political stand, but we are not opposed to the Israeli state. We have to react, because this wall entails serious humanitarian consequences for the Palestinians whose land has been confiscated."

The charity hoped to raise £27,000 (GBP) through various fund raising activities at Roskilde. The festival's organisers had said they would make a donation that matched whatever was raised from festival goers.

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