Tag: Qalqilya

Threats and harrasment in Azzoun continue; Israeli army commander posts notice that he will “shoot to kill” rock-throwing youths

For Immediate Release

Lat night the Israeli army commander in the West Bank town of Azzoun posted photocopies of hand written death threats to town residents in various locations around Azzoun, as witnessed by a South Korean Human Rights Worker (HRW). In the note, the commander, identifying himself as Captain Joe, threatens to use live fire to kill the children who throw stones at the Israeli armored jeeps and Armored Personnel Carriers when they invade the village.

Abdullah Judi, an Azzoun resident, states “they come in most days, often positioning their jeeps near schools to provoke the stone throwers. They fire a lot of rubber bullets, tear gas, sound bombs and live ammunition. Sometimes they arrest some children, sometimes not.”

Below is a literal translation of the note into English:

Orders for the Azzoun Village

We order for all the people in Azzoun to stop throwing stones and molotovs and if you don’t stop this thing we will invade the village.

Captain Joe is coming to the village

He will start to shoot the fire to kill the people and to arrest the children and to close the stores and this is a final decision and if you don’t stop this thing you will collect your results

“this is the last warning”

“Captain Joe”

A fax copy of the orders, or the original orders themselves are also available upon request.

The author of the note ‘Captain Joe’ has verbally boasted many times over the last month to Palestinians and International Human Rights Workers of his willingness to kill, and how he has just come back from Gaza.

Recently, on Wed 16th January, he repeated these claims to a Canadian and an Australian HRW. Felicity Ryder, from Melbourne Australia, quotes Captain Joe as saying “‘I swear to God, don’t fuck with me. Tell these ‘poor’ people that the next time a kid throws stones at the road, the next time we enter this village, it will end in killing. Believe me.’

He then went on to ‘take credit’ for wounding Mohammed Faisel Sleem and Othman Mohamed Radwan on January 4th. The details of those shootings, along with a video, is available here:

https://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2008/01/06/israeli-army-invade-azzoun-again-shoot-boy-lying-defenceless-on-the-floor/

Watch for the shots at 3 minutes 10 seconds and 3 min 25 seconds. The other youth, Othman Mohamed Radwan, was also lying defenseless on the ground when he was shot in the leg when on the same day. Medical reports are available verifying the two boys were shot with live fire.

On Thursday 17th January Captain Joe repeated his threats to residents of nearby Izbat At Tabib. Musa Assad Hamed Tabib, a local resident, told HRWs that “they (the army) came in at about 1am, making approximately 70% of the villagers come outside. The leader called himself Captain Joe and was pointing his gun at the boys heads as he told them he would kill them if they threw stones”

For More Information

Jack Kazinsky (ISM Media Office – English) – 02 2971824
Abdullah Judi (Azzoun Resident – Arabic/English) – 0599649926

Israeli Army Invade Azzoun, Boy Shot With Live Ammunition

On 31 Jan 2008, at about 3 pm, two Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) jeeps and one Armoured Personel Carrier (APC) invaded the town of Azzoun, with another jeep creating a flying check point at the main gate to the town. With sirens blaring, one jeep and the APC circled the entire town announcing a curfew. Some young men were detained in the street and about one hour later, the APC blocked the small road from the main street to the newly built Mosque. Six soldiers got out in the small road and would not let International Human Rights Workers (HRWs) follow and film them, swearing at them and even threatening the HRWs by aiming their guns at them.

The six soldiers shot more than ten rounds of live ammunition. 18 years old Mahmood Mohammad Zakiradwan was shot with live ammunition, as confirmed by the Red Crescent Society, in his leg and sent to Qalqilya hospital by ambulance. Afterwards the six soldiers started to wander streets near the main square waiting for the chance to shoot stone throwing boys again. At about 5:30 pm the IOF withdrew from the town of Azzoun.

The same day at about 2:30pm, border police came into the nearby town of Izbat At Tabib. Hamad Assad Tabib, who has mental problems, was beaten very badly by the border police whilst working his land near the Apartheid wall. He was then arrested without any reason, and has not yet been released.

Israeli army continues threatening to kill youth in Azzoun.

The Israeli army have continued in their unprovoked harassment of the residents of Azzoun over the past week.

On Saturday the 26th of January, at around 6pm, one jeep entered the village of Azzoun and circled the streets with sirens blaring. The soldiers positioned themselves in the main square, directly opposite the mosque as prayer was finishing. They proceeded to stop young men, searching their clothes and checking identification, detaining two men for approximately 30 minutes.

After they had finished their random ID checks, they remained in the square for a further 30 minutes, throwing sound bombs as youth began to throw stones. Meanwhile six heavily armed soldiers walked through the village, possibly with the aim of arresting someone. They shot at buildings in the centre of the village, seemingly at random. The jeep then returned at around 10pm, driving around the village with loud sirens for no apparent reason.

This follows on from a series of house occupations in the village. Early on Wednesday morning, at around 8am, soldiers forced entry into a home in the centre of Azzoun and detained the family. The region’s captain, referring to himself as ‘Captain Joe’, proceeded to threaten to the family, as well as repeating his threats to kill youth in Azzoun. Snipers were positioned on the top two floors of the house, which overlooked the home of a teenage boy, recovering from gunshot wounds to his leg from Israeli soldiers three weeks previously.

‘Captain Joe’ has claimed responsibility on several occasions over the past few weeks for his sniper skills in shooting this boy. Human Rights Workers (HRWs) were present outside of the occupied building, as well as in different positions around the village where two jeeps and one Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) were positioned.

After approximately two hours, the army left the home they were occupying, and attempted, although unsuccessfully, to arrest the five HRWs. The 2 jeeps and 1 APC eventually left the village, although it is clear that the aim of their visit was to harass, or possibly even kill, the wounded teenage boy or his friends visiting him at home.

The Arab American News: New York activists take on Israeli settlement builder

New York activists take on Israeli settlement builder

By Will Youmans
The Arab American News
Saturday, 01.19.2008, 02:49am

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=USA&article=538

A network of pro-Palestinian organizations in New York is working hard to expose Israeli businessman Lev Leviev’s sponsorship of Israeli settlement construction. The groups have engaged in creative protests and organized boycotts and pressured those linked with Leviev. Their boycott campaign is gaining strong momentum.

Leviev is a real estate magnate and diamond dealer. He is building strategic settlements in the occupied West Bank. These settlements violate international law, including U.N. resolutions and the Geneva Conventions.

Many are joining the movement against Leviev because his real estate projects in New York expel local, low-income residents from their communities, violate laws, and exploit underpaid laborers.

Leviev, who is one of Israel’s wealthiest businessmen, is building the Mattityahu East settlement on the lands of the village of Bil’in, and the Zufim settlement on the lands of the village of Jayyous. He is also involved in construction on the West Bank settlements of Har Homa and Maale Adumim around Jerusalem. The settlements are designed to divide the northern West Bank from the southern West Bank, and encircle and disconnect Jerusalem.

Notably, the people of Bil’in, Jayyous and the surrounding areas are mounting intense nonviolent protest campaigns against the settlement construction. Last Friday, villagers of Bil’in were joined by around 70 Israeli, international, and other Palestinian human rights activists in a protest against the Apartheid Wall.

The demonstration began as a march towards the gate in the Wall, where soldiers were standing with guns drawn. At the front of the march was the banner, “Leviev turns these rocks of apartheid into diamonds.” The soldiers opened fire with rubber-coated bullets and shot tear gas at the unarmed protestors, injuring several of the protestors badly.

These encroachments come at a time when Palestinian statehood is being held out as a possibility. Leviev’s activities undermine these prospects.

Leviev’s diamond trade topped Israel’s 30 Leading Exporters list in 2007, with net exports of $522 million. He deals in diamonds mined in Africa, has them polished in Israel, and uses the profits to help finance the illegal settlement construction.

Leviev’s diamonds are cleared through the Kimberley process, in which NGOs and the United Nations certify diamonds as “conflict-free.” However, New York activists allege his company benefits the repressive Angolan government and has been tied with the military junta in Burma. Funding clear violations of international law in Israel and Palestine is enough for them to protest.

When Leviev opened a jewelry store on Madison Avenue in New York, activists mobilized. They protested during a cocktail party in November, chanting “you’re glitz, you’re glam, you’re building on Palestinian land,” and, “occupation is a drag, just say no to your gift bag.” They wrote and performed political Christmas carols, and have held five protests in front of the store.

The Jewish Voice for Peace group called out movie star Susan Sarandon after she crossed its picket line to attend the cocktail party. The group asked her to “publicly sever ties” with the jeweler. Sarandon, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, denies being connected with Leviev.

Recently, media reports surfaced claiming that Leviev was a financial supporter of Oxfam, a major “group of non-governmental organizations from three continents working worldwide to fight poverty and injustice.” It was claimed on the website of a Jewish community group group Leviev heads.

The coalition group Adalah-NY heard from Oxfam that “Leviev has not been a donor to Oxfam.” Oxfam explained that it does not “knowingly accept funds from any business involved in any illegal activity, or operating in any illegally occupied territory, including settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

Adalah-NY spokesperson Ethan Heitner commented, “We are unable to explain why articles praising Leviev and touting his charitable contributions, including an article on the news site of an organization he heads, claimed a link with Oxfam which Oxfam has now verified doesn’t exist. We are gratified that Oxfam has reiterated its longstanding opposition to Israeli settlement construction and refusal to accept donations from businesses like Leviev’s that are involved in violations of international law.”

Adalah-NY is a leading force behind the boycott campaign. Adalah-NY is joined by the U.S. organization Jewish Voice for Peace, Israel’s Coalition of Women for Peace, and leading Palestinian civil society organizations.

The group formed as a response to the escalation of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip at the end of June, 2006.

For more information on Adalah-NY visit www.mideastjustice.org.

Ma’ariv: Leviev Boasts A Contribution That Never Existed

Business tycoon Lev Leviev’s website boasts a contribution to a human rights organization, but there was no contribution at all.

by Gal Karniel

January 21, 2008

Economics Page

Ma’ariv On-Line (NRG)
http://www.nrg.co.il/online/16/ART1/685/919.html

Lev Leviev, known for his wealth and philanthropy, volunteered misleading information regarding the destination of his charitable donations. 

On December 28th, 2007, Lifestyles Magazine conducted an interview with the philanthropist Leviev. During the interview, several organizations were mentioned as recipients of donations from Leviev, among them Oxfam-US. The donation to Oxfam was also noted in profile pieces and other interviews with Leviev, for example in Women’s Wear Daily on September 5th, 2007. The Lifestyles interview was quoted in full within the magazine of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS (Common-wealth of Independent States), an organization that supports Jewish communities in Russia, Israel, Germany, and the United States. Leviev is currently serving as the organization’s president. 

Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working in cooperation with more than 3,000 partners in more than 100 states, attempting to find long-term solutions to poverty and injustice.

Following the supposed connection between Leviev and Oxfam, the organization Adalah-NY addressed Oxfam in a letter dated January 8th, 2008, which requested that Oxfam not accept donations from Leviev due to his involvement in settlement construction in the West Bank territories, in violation of international law. The letter also referenced Leviev’s exploitation of the Angolan population working in the diamond trade, as well as the employment of workers and craftspeople under exploitative conditions in his Manhattan and Brooklyn enterprises, where many do not receive minimum wage and have complained of wage withholding. 

Across from Leviev’s Madison Avenue diamond store, human rights groups hold frequent demonstrations in denunciation of him and his activities.

Following this, Oxfam released a statement on the 13th of January 2008, stating that the organization maintains no connection whatsoever with Leviev. The statement, signed by Alex Renton of Oxfam-Great Britain and Adrienne Smith of Oxfam America, asserts that: “Contrary to various citations, Lev Leviev is not a donor to Oxfam America and has never been one. To the best of our knowledge Mr. Leviev has not been a donor to Oxfam or any of its affiliates. Oxfam International is an organization of 13 national affiliates working in 100 countries, and we are checking thoroughly whether any Oxfam has had any relationship with Mr. Leviev.”

The statement goes on to explain that “Oxfam’s policies on donations are clear. We do not accept donations from businesses involved in illegal activities, or operating in occupied territory, including settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The Lev Leviev Group transmitted a letter to human rights groups on the 15th of January 2008, stating: “Having fled the yoke of communism as a teenager living in Uzbekistan, Lev Leviev knows oppression firsthand and has used his self-made success to alleviate suffering around the world. His generosity to numerous groups and organizations is motivated by the wish to do good things for others. Despite the negative characterization of his philanthropy by some political groups, Lev Leviev continues to use his philanthropy solely toward that goal.”

Leviev’s response did not arrive prior to the publication of this article. 

Translation: Adalah-NY