April 05, 2002

Britons taunted for peace protest
By Chris Johnston



SEVEN British peace campaigners rescued from the fighting in Bethlehem were taunted when they flew home last night.
The four men and three women, among them the comedian and writer Jeremy Hardy, had been trapped at the Star of Bethlehem hotel for two days, before the British Consulate in Jerusalem negotiated their passage out of the town.

British Airways said that a “verbal fracas?had erupted on flight BA164 after some passengers became aware that the group was on board. Police met the flight. There was no violence and police took no action, a BA spokesman said.

At Heathrow, one Israeli passenger shouted: “They are supporting terrorists who have blood on their hands. They are a disgrace.?

One of the seven, Joanne Bird, 30, from Manchester, said that despite being shot at, she intended to return to the region.

“It’s good to be home but my main concerns are for my friends who have stayed out there and for the Palestinian people who are under very real threat,?she said.

Chris Dunham, 31, another protester, said: “We were fired at with live ammunition with a complete disregard for our safety and human rights.?

The group, which also included Emma Bleach and Kunle Ibidun, both from Bristol, and Ted Curtis and Lillian Pizzithini, from London, had joined about 150 members of the International Solidarity Movement protesting against the Israeli attacks.