Message: 1
Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 14:18:30 +0200
From: "ISM Media Alerts" ism-alert@palsolidarity.org
Subject: ISM PRESS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
May 2, 2003
For Immediate Release
***Press Release***


[ISM Media Office Bethlehem, Palestine]

The International Solidarity Movement supports non-violent resistance to the illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine. Palestinians have long been at risk of death, imprisonment and torture when they engage in acts of peaceful resistance. When internationals are present, that risk is somewhat reduced. But now the Israeli army is targeting international peace activists as well, violating international law and attempting to suppress all means of protest in the occupied territories.

On April 30, 2003 a suicide bomber and an accomplice tried to enter "Mike's Place" bar in Tel Aviv. One murdered three people in addition to killing himself. The other escaped. They both held British passports. These activities are in complete contradiction to the purpose and commitment of ISM to non-violent resistance.

There have been media reports trying to connect these two men to ISM. There is no connection. They never tried to infiltrate ISM. They never contacted the ISM. They could have attended a memorial service for Rachel Corrie in Rafah that was open to anybody. As far as we know, the reports of them attending a demonstration sponsored by ISM are wrong. However, that too would have been open to the public.

As a policy, ISM requires two days of training for all of its activists. This functions as a screening in addition to training in non-violent peaceful resistance and orientation to the ISM guidelines. All of our groups function by consensus. This process discourages any individuals from acting impulsively. We know our activists, and none have engaged in or have been accused of engaging in, any aggressive, confrontational, or illegal activity.

General Yaalon of the Israeli Army gave an order on the eve of the Jewish festival of Passover to remove ISM from the West Bank and Gaza. This order long preceded the bombing in Tel Aviv. The Israeli army wants us to leave because we are providing witness to the atrocities committed by the Israeli army. Israel and the United States have gone to great Lengths to ensure that no International Observers would be sent to Palestine by The United Nations or any other objective International Organization. ISM activists have come to provide witness to the cruelty, the brutality and the truth about this occupation and its' purpose.

Tom Wallace
ISM Media Coordinator
Beit Sahour, Occupied Palestine
ism-alert@palsolidarity.org
+972 -2-277-4602
+972-(0)52-360-241
+972-(0)67-862-439

Huwaida Arraf
+972-(0)67-473-308


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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 20:00:41 +0200
From: "ISM Media Alerts" ism-alert@palsolidarity.org
Subject: MEDIA Alert: March to Mas'ha to Defend the Peace Camp from the
Apartheid Wall

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
April 27, 2003
For Immediate Release


***Media Advisory***

Hundreds will March to Mas'ha to Defend the Peace Camp from the
Apartheid Wall

When: Saturday May 3, 2003
Where : Village of Mas'ha

On Saturday, May 3, Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals will unite and march from the village of Mas'ha to the site of a camp that was established a month ago to oppose the construction of the Apartheid Wall. Protesters from all three groups have maintained a continuous presence at the Mas'ha camp during this month, despite recent attempts to intimidate them by the use of dynamite and the building of a trench around the area.

The march will start near the roadblock between the illegal settlement of Elkana and the village of Mas'ha at 2pm and then proceed to the protest camp. Famous activists and poets, including Tanya Reinhardt, and Uri Avnery, will speak about the myth of the wall being for the security of Israel and the reality of the wall being about the transfer of Palestinians from their land. Hundreds of protesters are expected to attend, representing groups such as the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees, the Land Defense Committee, Mas'ha Village Council, the International Women's Peace Service, the International Solidarity Movement, Gush Shalom, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, the Alternative Information Center, Alternative Action, and Black Laundry. Together the groups will show an example of true peace and cooperation between peoples, fortify the existence of the Mas'ha Camp, and build an international campaign against the Apartheid Wall and the subsequent transfer of thousands of Palestinians.

The destruction of the olive groves and hillside upon which the camp is established is intended to make space for the Apartheid Wall, or so-called "separation fence." The wall, which strays far from the Green Line and effectively cuts off some of the most fertile land and richest water resources from the rest of the West Bank, is twice as high and three times as long as the original Berlin wall. The wall has already destroyed the livelihoods of entire villages in the West Bank, which will lead to the transfer of whole communities that have depended upon traditional agriculture for centuries.

"This wall is not about the security of Israel at all, it is about the confiscation of land and water resources," states Nazeeh Shalabi, a farmer whose land and that of the rest of his family is being destroyed and confiscated in order to make room for the wall.

In Mas'ha, 32 extended families will be affected by the wall - the whole village. 98% of the agricultural land from Mas'ha will either be destroyed or left on the other side of the wall, leaving it vulnerable to theft by the nearby settlements. Most of the families will lose about 50 dunums of land each, but some families will lose much more. Four houses are likely to be demolished in the area.

"This wall is the first wall of a prison for 3 million Palestinians," states Jonathan Pollack, an Israeli who participates in the Mas'ha camp.

With the announcement by Sharon to build a second wall along the Jordan valley, many regions of the West Bank will be encircled and access cut off to the other parts of the West Bank. Israeli officials have hinted that the planned expansion of the Apartheid Wall will provide the outline of the possible borders of a Palestinian 'entity' when the 'road map' is unveiled. Many Palestinians feel that this would kill any chance of an independent Palestinian state.

In the words of Rizik Abu-Nasser with PARC, "The construction of this wall is the death of any possibility for peace in the Middle East. We must mobilize international efforts to stop its construction."

For further information on the wall and photos, see
www.pengon.org
www.btselem.org
www.gushshalom.org


Tom
ISM Media Coordinator
Beit Sahour, Occupied Palestine
ism-alert@palsolidarity.org
972 -2-277-4602
011-972-52-360-241
011-972-67-862-439



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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 02:24:07 +0200
From: "Huwaida" Huwaida@palsolidarity.org
Subject: Article on Tom Hurndall + important Corrections

Friends,

Below is a link to a Haaretz article by Joseph Alghazzy on Tom Hurndall and his family. It is a good article that fairly represents the feelings of the Hurndall family. I was with them a few days ago and am amazed by their strength and determined pursuit for justice for all people, just as I am in awe of the Corrie family and Brian Avery and his family -- all determined not to let their sacrifice go in vain and not to let anger rule their judgements. Tom still lies comatose, without too much hope for a recovery. I conveyed to him all the blessings and support that we have received from you, with the hopes that he could hear and feel them. I told him just what an inspiration he is to all of us that will continue the struggle....

The Hurndalls would like to be able to fly their son and brother home soon, but they are still working out the logistics. haaretz.com

The International Solidarity Movement would like to make sure that all who received the originial "update on Tom Hurndall" that was circulated and published on our site on April 15, also received the following correction and apology that we issued:

Correction and Apology

The piece entitled 'Update on Tom Hurndall' by Joe Smith and Lora Gordon has been removed. ISM apologizes for any distress caused to the family and friends of Tom Hurndall by the posting on this web site of the article. In hindsight we fully accept that it was a mistake to post the article - which contained references to privileged medical information, without having first consulted members of Tom's family. We continue to send them all our support and best wishes.


===================
Friends, the International Day of Action Call contained a few typos:

Rachel Corrie was killed on March 16, 2003 not April 16
Tom Hurndall was shot on April 11, not April 12
It didn't mention the Palestinian journalist shot dead in Nablus by name. His name, Nazih Darwazeh

The corrected call is pasted below. We do apologize for the mistakes/typos.
....................................

Call to Action:

International Day of Action for Justice in Palestine June 5, 2003

On June 5, 2003, the thirty-sixth anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, we call for linked actions by Palestinian, international, and Israeli peace groups to protest the escalating violence against the Palestinian community and international human rights workers in the occupied territories. We demand protection for Palestinian civilians and for internationals, a moratorium on construction of the apartheid wall and its associated land confiscations and home demolitions, and an end to the occupation.

I. Who is Initiating this Call?

The Middle East Committee of United for Peace and Justice is proposing that United for Peace and Justice initiate this call together with Palestinian based, Israeli, and other international peace groups. Committed convening groups include the Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA), the International Women_s Peace Service, and the International Solidarity (ISM) Movement, which attempts to protect civilians and supports the nonviolent resistance within Palestine, We seek and welcome endorsements by all groups and individuals that support our points of unity.


II. What Would Happen on and around June 5?

... Demonstrations and acts of nonviolent resistance by Palestinians and internationals within the occupied territories of Palestine.

... Sister demonstrations, vigils and nonviolent direct actions by Israeli ... peace groups within the pre-1967 borders of Israel.

... A massive campaign of lobbying at the United Nations and of the U.S. Congress culminating on June 5.

... Teach-ins and educational programs in communities around the world.

... Demonstrations, vigils, and nonviolent occupations of Israeli embassies ... and consulates worldwide, and at offices of corporations that profit from the occupation.


III. Why This Call?

There can be no true peace or security in the Middle East without justice for the Palestinian people. In the wake of the war on Iraq, the Sharon government has stepped up a campaign of land confiscation, enclosure and isolation of Palestinian communities, and attacks on nonviolent human rights workers. The Sharon government is rapidly moving ahead on the second phase of construction of a mammoth OEsecurity fence_in reality an apartheid wall which dwarfs the Berlin wall. A thirty-foot high concrete wall with gun towers in some areas, in others, a giant electrified fence surrounded by a wide swathe of "no-man's land", it strays far from the 1967 borders to confiscates more than thirty percent of the proposed Palestinian state. It encloses the illegal settlements that have undermined peace negotiations since Oslo, annexes water resources and the traditional lands of Palestinian villages without compensation, and will turns Palestinian cities into giant, open-air prisons. In Gaza, construction of the security zone along the Egyptian border has resulted in destruction of olive groves and homes. On March 16, Rachel Corrie, a human rights worker with the International Solidarity Movement, was deliberately killed by an Israeli Occupation Forces bulldozer driver while trying to prevent home demolitions. The Israeli military has refused to seriously investigate her death, and the United States government has declined to pressure them. The result has been tacit encouragement of attacks on nonviolent peace workers and inconvenient witnesses. In Jenin, Brian Avery was shot in the face on April 5 by soldiers in an armored personnel carrier that opened fire on clearly visible, unarmed members of the ISM. On April 11, ISM member Tom Hurndall was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier on the Rafah border as he attempted to rescue children who were under fire from Israeli sniper tower. On April 20, Palestinian journalist Nazih Darwazeh, was shot dead by a gunman from an Israeli tank as he attempted to cover an incursion into Nablus. These attacks on human rights workers make visible the ongoing violence against Palestinian civilians. In Rafah, more than two hundred and fifty people have died since the beginning of the intifada - forty-five of them were children. Unless the international community responds strongly to these attacks, no human rights workers, medical personnel, journalists or NGOs will be able to operate safely in the occupied territories. Without those who are prepared to intervene against, witness, or report on acts of aggression by the Israeli military, the way is open for even further escalations of violence and repression against the Palestinian people. Linked actions by groups within the territories, within Israel and by the international community would send a powerful message to the Israeli government. Moreover, they would break the isolation of the Palestinians, encourage and support the nonviolent resistance within Palestine, making that aspect of the struggle more visible, highlight the ongoing violence against Palestinian civilians and shift the climate of public opinion that allows this injustice to continue.

IV. Demands:

1. Protection and Accountability: ... We demand that the U.S. and British governments, the United Nations, and the world community hold the Sharon government and the Israeli Occupation Forces accountable for the death of Rachel Corrie and the shootings of Brian Avery, Tom Hurndall and , which make visible the ongoing violence against Palestinian civilians. We demand a full and impartial investigation of these and other attacks on nonviolent human rights workers. ... We call for an immediate deployment of UN international observers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

2. Moratorium on the Wall: We call for a moratorium on the building of the so-called OEsecurity wall_, An end to the land theft, home demolitions, appropriation of water and resources, destruction of villages and of livelihoods that this apartheid wall requires.

... End the Occupation: We call for an end to the policies of control and de facto imprisonment that violate the human rights of Palestinians: closures, curfews, checkpoints, roadblocks, incursions, snipers, and ongoing attacks on civilians. An end to attacks on the Palestinian economy and civil society, the obstruction of education, health care, emergency services that are part of an ongoing assault on daily life. An end to the occupation.

V. Points of Unity

Nonviolence For this campaign, we ask that groups that participate commit to nonviolent actions that maximize respect for life, and that embody the openness, creativity and compassion we are calling for.

Palestinian focus --Attacks on international human rights workers are an important focus of this campaign, but we ask that they always be seen in the context of the overwhelming daily violence directed against the Palestinian population.

Diversity We represent a very broad coalition of groups that may hold out different visions for this issue. As a coalition, we can unite around the specific goals named for this campaign. Individual groups are free to pursue their own broader goals and demands in their own names.

Independence We welcome support from a broad variety of political groups and organizations, but as a coalition we do not identify with or align with any political party or affiliation.

Tolerance Jewish and Israeli peace groups are part of this campaign, and allies in this struggle. Charges of anti-Semitism are often hurled at anyone who challenges the Israeli government. We refuse to be silenced or intimidated by those charges, while we also recognize that some recent attac Ks on jewish institutions do betoken a resurgence of actual anti-semitism. Our campaign is directed against the policies of the Sharon-led Israeli government and military, and the U.S. funding and support for those policies, not against Jews or Israelis as a people. Only justice for Palestinians can assure real security in either Palestine or Israel. We cherish the lives of Israelis and Palestinians. While we especially condemn attacks on civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli, we understand that attacks on Israeli civilians are a response to the conditions of the occupation, that are only furthered by the policies of collective punishment and brutality practiced by the Sharon government. At the same time, we understand that such attacks stir fear and rage among Israelis that lends a spurious legitimacy to brutal actions of the Sharon Government. We encourage participating groups to be proactive in reaching out to their local Jewish communities to begin dialogues and discussions around this issue, and to hold out the hope that even those who are now our opponents may change their views.

Autonomy Within the framework of these points of unity, local groups are free to plan their own actions and campaigns. Local groups know best how to organize in their own areas, and how to speak to their own communities.

VI. Structure

The June 5 coalition would be a loose network of affiliated groups, providing coordination and support for autonomous actions within the framework of the points of unity. Convenor groups would take responsiblility for coordination nationally or regionally, in Palestine, Israel, the U.S., Europe, and other regions. A central website would be created and maintained, where support materials could be posted and where a list of planned actions and contacts could be maintained. Media coordination could be centralized regionally.

Funding would be sought for the website and to support media centers. Groups would fund their own actions independently.


For more information contact:

Website:
www.peacejusticestudies.org

or:

Starhawk at stella at mcn.org
www.starhawk.org

Simona Sharoni at sharonis@evergreen.edu; 360-867-6196

ISM press office (Beit Sahur, Palestine): info@palsolidarity.org
972-2-277-4602



INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org