Forty kites mark Middle East war

Forty children's kites are due to be flown in London and the West Bank to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Middle East war.

Children's writer Michael Morpurgo, poet Mike Rosen and actress Miriam Margolyes will be among those flying kites at Parliament Hill, north London.

Kites will also be flown by children in the West Bank town Abu Dis.

The event is organised by UK-based human rights campaign group Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

As a result of the war, commonly known as the Six-Day War, Israel was left occupying the West Bank, Gaza strip and Syrian Golan Heights, reshaping the political landscape of the Middle East.

Israel also occupied the Sinai Peninsula, but this was returned as part of a peace deal with Egypt 30 years later.

Organisers said they are marking the occasion with kites due to the popularity of kite flying with Palestinian children.

Drawings and paintings by children from West Bank towns and refugee camps will also be displayed during the London event as part of the joint Israeli-Palestinian project.