INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT

For immediate release Saturday 22 December 2001
PRESS RELEASE

Britons confront Israeli army to march in West Bank city of Nablus

Today, December 22, at 9 a.m. GMT (11 a.m. local time) fifty UK and US human rights campaigners from the International Solidarity Movement will try to carry banners through the West Bank city of Nablus, in Occupied Palestine ('Israel'). They will meet the Governor of Nablus, Mahmoud Al-aloul Al-jihad and a delegation will meet the family of a Palestinian killed by an Israeli tank shell at home.The marchers are calling for an end to the Israeli occupation [2].

The march will start on the outskirts of Nablus at Pell and head for its centre. Banners will call for 'The occupation kills', 'No peace without justice' and 'End the occupation'. This is the sixth day of non-violent solidarity actions with the Palestinian people in a two-week visit [1].

Mr Kunle Ibidun, a Bristol resident and one of the marchers said
“We are here to highlight the brutal and illegal occupation is killing Palestinians. We urge our government to step in and bring an end to these injustices”
ENDS

CONTACT: Mr Kunle Ibidun in Nablus 00 97 25 67 04 639
press liaison in UK Andrew Wood: 07973 953 446

Editors Notes
[1] The UK nationals include residents of London, Oxford, Bristol and Manchester. The coalition calls on Israel to implement UN resolutions and abide by international law.

Yesterday Friday, They removed an army roadblock at the village of Diristya and Kesel Haris about 15 km (10 miles) from Nablus. The roadblocks were of rubble, rock and concrete piled six feet high across the road to prevent traffic from passing. The campaigners used shovels and other hand tools. Police arrested an Israeli settler for assaulting UK nationals. For independent reporting at roadblocks call AP reporter Abed Khabeisa 00 97 25 02 66 819 or Reuters photographer: 00 97 25 77 87 976.

Thursday roadblocks in Hares and Yassouf villages in the Salfit region near Nablus roadblocks were removed. A US national was arrested and released after 5 hours.
Wednesday the campaigners visited local people who told of the hardships they face, and brutality when they resist. In the Salfit area, where today's action took place, most villages are cut off completely by roadblocks and are effectively under siege. Villagers told the campaigners they couldn't get to work, school or hospital.
Tuesday, when they sat between Israeli tanks and the compound of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat shots were fired. Later Arafat welcomed and thanked them.

[2] Israel has occupied the Palestinian Territories of West Bank and Gaza Strip for over 34 years. In contravention of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention, Israel has illegally housed over a quarter of a million of its own people in settlements in Palestinian lands despite condemnation by the UN.