Britons chase Israeli tank out of town!
Andrew Wood | 24.12.2001 12:35
Today, December 23, at 7.30 GMT (9.30 a.m. local time) fifty UK and US human rights campaigners in the West Bank city of Nablus pasted banners and posters on to a Israeli tank protesting at the killing of Palestinians. The tank drove off pursue by the foriegn nationals. There were no arrests. The demonstrators oppose the Israeli occupation and US armament of Israel.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
For immediate release Sunday 23 December 2001
PRESS RELEASE
Britons chase Israeli tank out of town!
Today, December 23, at 7.30 GMT (9.30 a.m. local time) fifty UK and US human rights campaigners in the West Bank city of Nablus pasted banners and posters on to a Israeli tank protesting at the killing of Palestinians. The tank drove off pursue by the foriegn nationals. There were no arrests. The demonstrators oppose the Israeli occupation and US armament of Israel [1].
It ends the first week of non-violent direct action in a two week visit [2].
For the remainder of today the foreign nationals are helping to rebuild the home of a Palestinian in the town of Salfit near Nablus. The house was bulldozed by the Israeli army nine days ago as it housed a Fatah activist.
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 banner read “Return to $ender”[‘return to sender’]. The A3 poster was of a Palestinian man killed in his home by an Israeli tank shell three days ago. The Palestian was Deeb Al-Sqrawi, a thirty nine year old. He leaves a family of three children . His wife was shot in the incident. She is eight months pregnant. Yesterday the foreign nationals joined their wake.
[2] The UK nationals include residents of London, Oxford, Bristol and Manchester including lawyer, company director, bank manager. The coalition calls on Israel to implement UN resolutions and abide by international law.
Yesterday Saturday They marched through Nablus past Israeli tanks with banners calling for an end to Israeli occupation. They were welcomed by the Governor of Nablus, Mahmoud Al-aloul Al-jihad.
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 roadblocks were removed on Thursday, most villages are cut off and are effectively under siege. Villagers told campaigners they couldn't get to work, school or hospital.
Tuesday, They sat between Israeli tanks and the compound of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Shots were fired. Arafat later meet with them.
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.
For immediate release Sunday 23 December 2001
PRESS RELEASE
Britons chase Israeli tank out of town!
Today, December 23, at 7.30 GMT (9.30 a.m. local time) fifty UK and US human rights campaigners in the West Bank city of Nablus pasted banners and posters on to a Israeli tank protesting at the killing of Palestinians. The tank drove off pursue by the foriegn nationals. There were no arrests. The demonstrators oppose the Israeli occupation and US armament of Israel [1].
It ends the first week of non-violent direct action in a two week visit [2].
For the remainder of today the foreign nationals are helping to rebuild the home of a Palestinian in the town of Salfit near Nablus. The house was bulldozed by the Israeli army nine days ago as it housed a Fatah activist.
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 banner read “Return to $ender”[‘return to sender’]. The A3 poster was of a Palestinian man killed in his home by an Israeli tank shell three days ago. The Palestian was Deeb Al-Sqrawi, a thirty nine year old. He leaves a family of three children . His wife was shot in the incident. She is eight months pregnant. Yesterday the foreign nationals joined their wake.
[2] The UK nationals include residents of London, Oxford, Bristol and Manchester including lawyer, company director, bank manager. The coalition calls on Israel to implement UN resolutions and abide by international law.
Yesterday Saturday They marched through Nablus past Israeli tanks with banners calling for an end to Israeli occupation. They were welcomed by the Governor of Nablus, Mahmoud Al-aloul Al-jihad.
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 roadblocks were removed on Thursday, most villages are cut off and are effectively under siege. Villagers told campaigners they couldn't get to work, school or hospital.
Tuesday, They sat between Israeli tanks and the compound of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Shots were fired. Arafat later meet with them.
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.
Andrew Wood
e-mail:
co101anw@gold.ac.uk