Category: Press Releases

SOS – Stop the Wall!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank — Black smoke will be seen rising at 10 a.m. on Thursday July 28 along the path of the Apartheid Wall in the central West Bank region from Marda to Qalandia as an SOS to the world to take action to stop Israel’s annexation of land, and imprisonment of the Palestinian people.

In an era that witnessed the forces of freedom and world peace bring an end to the ideology and policies of racial segregation in South Africa and the United States, where the international community is focused on the defense of human rights, the Israeli Occupying Power continues building a of racial segregation which threatens the development of civilized humanity and violates international human rights law.

The International Court of Justice on July 9, 2004 issued an advisory opinion on the legality of the wall Israel is building in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, declaring it illegal, stating it “must come down. “To date, Israel continues to confiscate Palestinian land, demolish trees and erect a wall that locks Palestinians into ghettos, cutting them off from their source of livelihood and from each other.

Behind the smokescreen of the Gaza disengagement, the very foundations of peace are destroyed as the Apartheid continues to be constructed to the deafening silence of the international community. On Thursday, July 28 the people of the Salfit, Ramallah and northwest Jerusalem villages who have been using nonviolent resistance to combat the Wall from Marda (Salfit) to Budrus (Ramallah), Biddu (NW Jerusalem) to Bil’in (Ramallah), will light rubber tires on fire along the path of the Wall sending up an SOS to the world — STOP THE WALL!

We will also be placing black ribbons on our cars to symbolize the oppression, sadness and death caused by this Apartheid Wall. We call on those who see and hear us around the world to use this black ribbon to spread the word about the destruction and new Apartheid created with this Black Wall and to join the efforts of the Palestinian people, along with Israeli peace activists and people from around the world who seek true peace in this region.

For more information please contact: 054-792-4952 or 0599-57-52-57.

Israeli military targeting Palestinian leaders of non-violent resistance

ACTION ALERT
Update on three Palestinian leaders

I. Abdullah Abu-Rahme

Arrested in a nonviolent protest on July 15, 2005. A Judge at Ofer military base on Tuesday, July 26, ruled that Abu-Rhame was “too dangerous” to be released on bail and that he will be held until the end of the proceeding against him.

Abdullah is a prominent leader in the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements which organizes regular non-violent demonstrations. When he was arrested, he was inside a large prop constructed to look like a bridge along with Israeli and foreign peace activists that carried a banner which read “peace needs bridges not walls.” According to the evidence provided by the prosecution, he was arrested shortly after making the statement “I’m not leaving, this is my home. You go back to Tel Aviv.” He has been charged with assaulting a police officer, incitement, and disrupting public order.

In his initial statement, arresting Officer Yitzchaki claimed Abu-Rhame, hit him in the throat with his elbow and tried to grab his weapon. However, during his third questioning when asked if he was sure that Abu-Rhame tried to take his gun “on purpose.” He replied that he was not. The charge of trying to grab the weapon was subsequently dropped but surprisingly the rest of the testimony by Officer Yitzchaki was not brought into question. The other two charges remain vague.

Video footage clearly illustrating Abdullaha’s innocence had no effect on the judge. What becomes obvious is that Abu-Rhame was actually arrested for organizing non violent resistance to Israel’s annexation barrier in a peaceful manner that clearly illustrated the structure’s illegality. His Attorney Tamar Peleg will appeal the decision.

II. Tamer Al-Khatib

Arrested in a nonviolent action against the wall on July 20, 2005. Al-Khatib was released on 2,000 shekels bail July 26. He was also ordered to stay at least 300 meters from the wall’s route for the next 30 days by a military judge at Ofer military base.

Tamer was arrested after being beaten out of a metal cylinder that he locked himself into on the route of the wall in the West Bank village of Bil’in along with a group of foreign activists including Israelis. They were all charged with attacking Israeli soldiers.

Video footage taken at the protest absolved Israeli and international activists. Although given a chance to be released the same day, they declined. They chose to stay in jail in solidarity with Tamer who was transferred to a military detention center. He was not expected to see a judge for eight days.

Upon viewing the video footage, the civil judge who dealt with the three foreign peace activists said “it was apparent that it was the soldiers who had beaten the demonstrators and not the other way around”.

III. Rateb Abu-Rahme

40 year old Abu-Rahme was arrested with his younger brother, Abdullah Abu-Rahme, also at a nonviolent demonstaration. Charges of throwing stones at soldiers were subsequently dropped for “lack of public interest”. A military judge this week dropped the case against Rateb without acknowledging the fact that the military police officer who accused Rateb of throwing stones had confessed to giving false testimony.

After viewing video footage of the Bil’in demonstration, the military judge Captain Daniel Zamir, stated: “there was no reason for the defendants arrest; there was no reason for the shooting that wounded him or the blows he received from the soldier”, adding that “the reality was strangely different, to put it mildly, from the testimony of the prosecution witnesses”.

Please call and fax:
Tzipi Livni
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
29 Salah al-Din Street
Jerusalem 91010, Israel
Fax: +972 2 628 7757
E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il

Menahem Mazuz
Attorney-General/Legal
Advisor to the Government
Ministry of Justice
29 Salah al-Din Street
Jerusalem 91010, Israel
Fax: +972 2 628 5438
+972 2 627 4481

Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit
Chief Military Attorney
6 David Elazar Street
Hakirya
Tel Aviv
Israel
Fax: +972 3 569 4370
E-mail: c/o arbel@mail.idf.il

Trio of protests against the wall set for communities across the West Bank

A trio of demonstrations are planned for Friday in villages and cities around the West Bank. If the Israeli military’s history is any indicator, violent response to the peaceful protests is expected.

I. PROTESTING THE “BARRIER” IN JENIN:
Israel’s illegal barrier near the northern West Bank town of Jenin consists of a patrolled labyrinth of chain fences. At noon Friday, residents of the town will be joined by several organizations and foreign activists as they head toward the barrier which cuts across agricultural land to protest the lack of access to their own territory.

People will gather at the city center of Jenin at 10 a.m. to travel to the nearby village of Zububa, which is close to the green line, the Israeli/Palestinian border that was stipulated in 1967. At noon, the demonstration will begin with a prayer in the agricultural fields near the fence. Following that, participants will march toward the fence to display banners and Palestinian flags. In the past, protesters approaching the fence have met with a violent response from Israeli soldiers.

II. REMOVING ROADBLOCKS ON THE ROAD TO ASIRA:
Peace activists are planning to remove roadblocks from the road directly connecting Nablus to the small farming village of Asira on Friday. The road has been blocked since the start of the Palestinian uprising against the occupation. The Popular Committee of Asira has requested the presence of Israeli peace activists.

The people of Asira are prevented from farming even their land that has not been confiscated by Israel. The road from the village to the land has been blocked. Five families live outside of this are unable to reach their homes by vehicle. Israeli army jeeps patrol the area and prevent people from accessing their land. Students, workers and the sick are all adversely affected. Even ambulances are not allowed a quick passage to the village.

Last Friday, as villagers demonstrated to demand their freedom of movement, the army launched an assault that progressed from teargas, live ammunition. They confiscated cameras and film. Seven Israeli activists were arrested, and international activists and the press were detained on their way from Nablus.

Contact: Mohammed Ayyesh (ISM Nablus) at 052-222-3374 or 054-621-8759, or email m_need@hotmail.com.

III. SURPRISE THEME FOR BIL’IN PROTEST AGAINST THE “BARRIER”:
A nonviolent protest against the building of the illegal separation barrier near Bil’in is set for Friday at 1 p.m. The protests are known for their nonviolence and dramatic themes. Last Friday, a group of villagers wore masks of U.S. President George W. Bush and Condoleeza Rice. This Friday’s theme has not been announced.

Israeli military targeting Palestinian leaders of nonviolent resistance: update

I. Abdullah Abu-Rahme:
Arrested in a nonviolent protest on July 15, 2005. A Judge at Ofer military base on Tuesday, July 26, ruled that Abu-Rhame was “too dangerous” to be released on bail and that he will be held until the end of the proceeding against him.

Abdullah is a prominent leader in the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements which organizes regular nonviolent demonstrations. When he was arrested, he was inside a large prop constructed to look like a bridge along with Israeli and foreign peace activists that carried a banner which read “peace needs bridges not walls.” According to the evidence provided by the prosecution, he was arrested shortly after making the statement “I’m not leaving, this is my home. You go back to Tel Aviv.” He has been charged with assaulting a police officer, incitement, and disrupting public order.

In his initial statement, arresting Officer Yitzchaki claimed Abu-Rhame, hit him in the throat with his elbow and tried to grab his weapon. However, during his third questioning when asked if he was sure that Abu-Rhame tried to take his gun “on purpose.” He replied that he was not. The charge of trying to grab the weapon was subsequently dropped but surprisingly the rest of the testimony by Officer Yitzchaki was not brought into question. The other two charges remain vague.

Video footage clearly illustrating Abdullaha’s innocence had no effect on the judge. What becomes obvious is that Abu-Rhame was actually arrested for organizing non violent resistance to Israel’s annexation barrier in a peaceful manner that clearly illustrated the structure’s illegality. His Attorney Tamar Peleg will appeal the decision.

II. Tamer Al-Khatib:
Arrested in a nonviolent action against the wall on July 20, 2005. Al-Khatib was released on 2,000 shekels bail July 26. He was also ordered to stay at least 300 meters from the wall’s route for the next 30 days by a military judge at Ofer military base.

Tamer was arrested after being beaten out of a metal cylinder that he locked himself into on the route of the wall in the West Bank village of Bil’in along with a group of foreign activists including Israelis. They were all charged with attacking Israeli soldiers.

Video footage taken at the protest absolved Israeli and international activists. Although given a chance to be released the same day, they declined. They chose to stay in jail in solidarity with Tamer who was transferred to a military detention center. He was not expected to see a judge for eight days.

Upon viewing the video footage, the civil judge who dealt with the three foreign peace activists said “it was apparent that it was the soldiers who had beaten the demonstrators and not the other way around”.

III. Rateb Abu-Rahme:
40 year old Abu-Rahme was arrested with his younger brother, Abdullah Abu-Rahme, also at a nonviolent demonstaration. Charges of throwing stones at soldiers were subsequently dropped for “lack of public interest”. A military judge this week dropped the case against Rateb without acknowledging the fact that the military police officer who accused Rateb of throwing stones had confessed to giving false testimony.

After viewing video footage of the Bil’in demonstration, the military judge Captain Daniel Zamir, stated: “there was no reason for the defendants arrest; there was no reason for the shooting that wounded him or the blows he received from the soldier”, adding that “the reality was strangely different, to put it mildly, from the testimony of the prosecution witnesses”.

Trees for peace along a settler-only road

ISM PRESS RELEASE ON UPCOMING ACTION — A week of nonviolent resistance in the besieged West Bank city of Nablus and surrounding areas will continue Sunday, July 24 when ISM volunteers and Israeli peace activists travel to the village of Salem to assist locals in planting trees on the land separated from the village by a road only settlers are allowed to use.

Salem is a farming village, population 5,000, to the east of Nablus. Since the start of this Intifada, Salem and its neighboring villages Asmut and Deir Al Hatab have been closed from Nablus town to the west and Beit Furik to the southeast by ditches several kilometers in length, at points 3 meters deep and 5 meters wide. At times sewage from the settlement floods part of the land and prevents people crossing the fields. The road across is controlled by a part time checkpoint. On 18th July ISMers were present when soldiers at the part time checkpoint shot a man crossing the field.

Elon More settlement has confiscated much of the land belonging to these farming villages. The land still nominally belonging to the Palestinians is subject to severe restrictions by the Israeli army, who only allow the people to work their land on a few specified days.

Earlier this year a further 85 dunums of land was taken from Deir Al Hatab, which has now lost all of its land up to 30m from the last house. Officially Israel says the land is taken for “security of the military base” rather than settlement expansion but the base is only there for the expanding settlement.

Elon More settlers have a history of making violent attacks on Palestinians. In April this year a group of 40 Elon More settlers were rounded up by soldiers in Al Bidan Valley. Another group set light to a large area of olive grove.