ISM Call For Volunteers In Palestine

ism_manchester | 23.05.2003 19:44

People are now well aware that the ISM has come under attack in Palestine. One activist has been killed, another is in a coma, and a third has had a serious injury to his face. In addition, the IDF has raided the ISM offices and has deported a number of activists.

However, it is still possible for people to come to Palestine. It is unlikely that activists will be refused entry into Israel, providing they have a good story. Once they are in the Palestinian areas, there is still plenty that can be done without undue risk of arrest or of being killed by the IDF.

Most of the work that the ISM did and still does is not confrontational and is not "human shield" work. There has been much discussion within ISM about how the situation now affects the kind of work that we do. Basically it is up to activists to make consensus choices about what they do. When I was on the West Bank I monitored checkpoints, stayed in houses at risk of demolition, stayed at the Israeli-Palestinian-International run peace camp at the site of the wall, and I stayed in a small village where the villagers felt intimidated by local settlers. None of this work was confrontational, and it can all still go on with minimal risk of arrest or deportation.

Although sometimes activists wonder whether they are helping, the fact is that the Palestinians want us to be there, if only as observers. One of the most important functions of the ISM is to observe, write, and take photographs: this is the only way the world will know what is happening. Israeli activists are often afraid to travel to Palestinian areas, and are not allowed in Area A. So information gathered by the international activists is a vital resource for the Israeli peace movement.

The ISM has issued an urgent call for internationals to join them in Palestine. In particular, they are looking for people prepared to go for up to three months to act as coordinators. They have also asked for Jewish people (it is more embarrassing for Israel to deport them) and older people (who are more respected by soldiers). But everyone is welcome.

So please, don't think that it is not possible to do ISM work any more - this is what the Israeli government wants us to think! They are only taking action against us because we have proven to be effective - now is the time to step up activities.

Contact:

http://www.palsolidarity.org

http://www.ism-london.org.

We are organising a training weekend in Manchester for those thinking about going, on June 14-15. For further details please contact

ism_manchester@riseup.net.

ism_manchester
e-mail: ism_manchester@riseup.net

Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

the spoilt, rich, 'trendy' radicals at ISM

23.05.2003 22:43

"The International Solidarity Movement seems to believe that the Western citizenship of these activists gives them the immunity to do whatever they wish within Israel - treating them as criminals or terrorists would cause too much controversy for the Israelis in the international community. Using this 'first-world privilege', the International Solidarity Movement has temporarily taken over Israeli military checkpoints, interfered with the arrests of Palestinians charged with terrorism, and attempted to prevent the destruction of homes containing tunnels for weapons smuggling."

rupe the trustafarian

hey rumpy

24.05.2003 01:09

"the immunity to do whatever they want within israel", you been asleep for the past two months? maybe Fox News had too many other stories when people were getting murdered?

mark

not realy revevent to the debate

24.05.2003 10:33

Hi there,

I do not wished to called a spammer on the newswire, buut I have some information that will help you contact the ISM easier and cheaper in Palestine.

A company called telediscount are offering 2p per minute on calls to both landlines and mobiles in palestine, no call cards nothing just a dailup number you can use from any phone.

Please do not condemn me for publishing this info on indymedia, im just trying to help you lot out with the administration.

www.telediscount.co.uk palestine access number is 0844 4 620 620

I do not work for telediscount, i only discovered the rates after looking for cheap calls to Brasil to contact family.

I hopw this will help members of the ISM and their families to stay in touch.

Kind Regrads,

Carl

Carl James

ISM, the vanguard

24.05.2003 21:15

ISM activists represent the best of our societies. Young, committed brave and unarmed people decided to risk their life in order to expose the daily routine of the genocide perpetrated by Apartheid Israel against all non jews. Rachel Corrie or Tom Hurndall will never be forget.

My stronger support for them.

The fact that Zionists hate them underlines the importance of their incisive action. No other activists group has done more to win the propaganda battle against Zionist racism in recent times. Contrary to the drunk-paranoic-baby-killers of the IDF death squads, ISM activists defend innocent civilians without firing a single shot.

Sisters and brothers it is of the utmost importance that we all support them. Should they be able to continue their actions for half a year more it is very likely that the Israel Government would have to stop their actions in Cis-Jordania due to inside and outside pressure.

Thousands of jews inside and outside Israel who are horrified by the Zionists criminal and racist treatment of the Palestinians are working hard to defeat the Zionist machine. These Jews regard Israeli Independence Day as one of the greatest tragedies in Jewish history.

Network with them. See for example:

http://www.jewsnotzionists.org/

UNITED WE ARE STRONGER!!!

PS: To all Zionists posting hate against ISM: I love to see how it hurts you. You re done bigots and you know it.

Stop Israel Apartheid

Otherwise engaged but my best wishes

25.05.2003 15:46

I am fully involved in work opposing the fascist and incidentally pro-Israel generals and assorted scumbags who run Turkey. If I weren't, I would love to become actively involved in ISM, as you are doing good work, and the squeaks of rage directed at you by the odd (very odd) Zionists on this site prove it. ISM have shown that Westerners too can lay down their lives in the fight against injustice, oppression and tyranny. Good on you. You make us proud.

The Crimson Repat

:D

25.05.2003 19:20

I couldn't give a toss about the ISM personally - they don't do any good, and their terrorist activities are usually stopped by the IDF. It does amuse me to see sad, bitter, hatefilled ISM activists getting their just desserts though, whether that's a bullet in the head like Hurndall, or being crushed under a bulldozer like the Nazi Pancake (particularly funny).

Brian Avery was ugly anyway

hi

26.05.2003 11:31

ISM supports all palestinians. Innocent palestinians. Militant palestinians. Actual terrorist palestinians. Freedom-fighting palestinians. Anti-semitic islamic extremist palestinians. No matter how nice or not nice, no matter how sane or crazed, ISM is on their side and protects them however they can.

ISM are anti-"zionist."

Zionism means supporting the existence of israel as a jewish state.

"Anti-zionists" are people who want Israel to be defeated, something arab countries tried repeatedly to do in the past and failed. Entire countries don't try to make Israel die anymore, now it's just terrorist organizations with tens of thousands of members who have guns and bombs but no jets or nukes, so as they spend every day of the intifada trying to kill any jew they can, they usually fail.

"Anti-zionists" want muslims to succeed in taking over israel and ending it as we know it, which would result in the millions of jews there having to flee, or risk death.

how do you sleep at night?

29.05.2003 11:40

You may think ISM activists are misguided, even dangerous. But you know damn well they aren't terrorist or Nazis.

How on earth can you be so flippant about a young woman crushed to death under a bulldozer? 'Pancake'?? Oh yeah, big laughs all round. Have you given even a moment's thought to her family? How do you live with yourself?

kurious