ISM Demands Israeli Retraction An Apology
ISM Media Office c | 03.06.2003 17:33
PRESS RELEASE
June 3 2003
ISM Demands Israeli Retraction and Apology over Mike's Place Bombing
Allegations
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
MOVEMENT
PRESS RELEASE
June 3 2003
ISM Demands Israeli Retraction and Apology over Mike's Place Bombing
Allegations
The International Solidarity Movement demands a retraction of
statements made by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a
full apology.
The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website makes the following
accusations against the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "ISM members take an
active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At
times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under
the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations". This is
incorrect. The International Solidarity Movement does not and has
never worked under the auspices of, or in cooperation with, any
armed Palestinian resistance group. The ISM does not undertake any
activity in the Occupied Territories this is violent or illegal. On
the contrary ISM activists have been harmed by and threatened with
harm by Israeli army personnel.
In connection with the two British suicide bombers the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs states that "The two terrorists were careful to
establish their presence in Judea and Samaria by forging links with
foreign left wing activists and members of the International
Solidarity Movement (ISM)". This is incorrect. No ISM activist had
contact with the two men in the West Bank. Their sole contact was a
brief social encounter in Rafah in the Gaza Strip and no "links"
were "forged" in short time. See attached press statement for full
details.
Immediately after the suicide attack on Mike's Place Israeli
intelligence stated that the men had entered the Gaza Strip posing
as international peace activists with the ISM. In their report of
June 3 Israeli investigations now prove that "On April 24, 2003, the
terrorists entered the Gaza Strip via the Erez checkpoint, along
with the Italian woman journalist and additional Italian
journalists, which greatly assisted them in avoiding suspicion at
Erez". The ISM has been shown to be innocent of this false
accusation by the Israeli government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "It has become clear
from the investigation of the Italian journalist that the terrorists
exploited foreign left wing activists in the Palestinian Authority
(PA) areas for the purpose of covering their movements throughout
Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Even though the latter were unwitting, they
in effect were accomplices to terrorist activity". This is
incorrect. The Italian journalist was interrogated by the Israeli
authorities and has subsequently been found to be unaware of their
intentions and so is not guilty of being an accomplice. Similarly
the ISM activists in Rafah were entirely unware of the men's
intentions to commit an attack in Israel. Moreover ISM has not been
approached for questioning by the Israeli authorities in connection
with the contact they had with the suicide attackers. Further to
this the only contact ISM had with these men was a brief social
meeting in Rafah, not in the West Bank and it has been proved that
the men used a journalist as a cover for their movements. It is
important to state that since it's founding ISM activists have been
denied entry to the country and many have been deported. Moving
around the Occupied Territories is not made easier as a peace
activist.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "None of the persons
involved - neither Palestinian nor foreign - bothered to contact any
official body, despite their familiarity with the terrorists, even
after they understood that they were involved in the attack, until
they came under ISA investigation." This is incorrect. ISM held an
open press conference a few days after the attack on Mike's Place
and explained the circumstances under which the activists in Rafah
briefly met the British men. The ISM has never been approached by
the Israeli authorities in connection with an investigation.
MOVEMENT
PRESS RELEASE
June 3 2003
ISM Demands Israeli Retraction and Apology over Mike's Place Bombing
Allegations
The International Solidarity Movement demands a retraction of
statements made by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a
full apology.
The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website makes the following
accusations against the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "ISM members take an
active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At
times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under
the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations". This is
incorrect. The International Solidarity Movement does not and has
never worked under the auspices of, or in cooperation with, any
armed Palestinian resistance group. The ISM does not undertake any
activity in the Occupied Territories this is violent or illegal. On
the contrary ISM activists have been harmed by and threatened with
harm by Israeli army personnel.
In connection with the two British suicide bombers the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs states that "The two terrorists were careful to
establish their presence in Judea and Samaria by forging links with
foreign left wing activists and members of the International
Solidarity Movement (ISM)". This is incorrect. No ISM activist had
contact with the two men in the West Bank. Their sole contact was a
brief social encounter in Rafah in the Gaza Strip and no "links"
were "forged" in short time. See attached press statement for full
details.
Immediately after the suicide attack on Mike's Place Israeli
intelligence stated that the men had entered the Gaza Strip posing
as international peace activists with the ISM. In their report of
June 3 Israeli investigations now prove that "On April 24, 2003, the
terrorists entered the Gaza Strip via the Erez checkpoint, along
with the Italian woman journalist and additional Italian
journalists, which greatly assisted them in avoiding suspicion at
Erez". The ISM has been shown to be innocent of this false
accusation by the Israeli government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "It has become clear
from the investigation of the Italian journalist that the terrorists
exploited foreign left wing activists in the Palestinian Authority
(PA) areas for the purpose of covering their movements throughout
Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Even though the latter were unwitting, they
in effect were accomplices to terrorist activity". This is
incorrect. The Italian journalist was interrogated by the Israeli
authorities and has subsequently been found to be unaware of their
intentions and so is not guilty of being an accomplice. Similarly
the ISM activists in Rafah were entirely unware of the men's
intentions to commit an attack in Israel. Moreover ISM has not been
approached for questioning by the Israeli authorities in connection
with the contact they had with the suicide attackers. Further to
this the only contact ISM had with these men was a brief social
meeting in Rafah, not in the West Bank and it has been proved that
the men used a journalist as a cover for their movements. It is
important to state that since it's founding ISM activists have been
denied entry to the country and many have been deported. Moving
around the Occupied Territories is not made easier as a peace
activist.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "None of the persons
involved - neither Palestinian nor foreign - bothered to contact any
official body, despite their familiarity with the terrorists, even
after they understood that they were involved in the attack, until
they came under ISA investigation." This is incorrect. ISM held an
open press conference a few days after the attack on Mike's Place
and explained the circumstances under which the activists in Rafah
briefly met the British men. The ISM has never been approached by
the Israeli authorities in connection with an investigation.
ISM Media Office c
Homepage:
www.palsolidarity.org
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Realist asks why are we so one sided
03.06.2003 19:43
The game of pretending that it is the "terror" that is the outrage is almost up - realist baby.
People seem more and more convinced its the occupation, and the terror that comes with that.
Have a nice day!
Blimey
Really?
03.06.2003 20:27
Major Arab Terrorist Attacks against Israelis Prior to the 1967 Six-Day War
Palestinian and Arab spokesmen commonly claim that the recent Palestinian terrorism is the result of the Israeli 'occupation' of the West Bank and Gaza, adding that the violence will cease only when the 'occupation' is ended.
Despite this claim, it should be recalled that the many Palestinian and Arab rejectionist factions (such as the Hamas and the Hizbullah) repeatedly declare that even if Israel would fully withdraw from the territories they will continue their attacks, since they refute Israel's basic right to exist.
More importantly, however, the basic premise of the Palestinian claim - that the 'occupation' causes terrorism - is historically flawed. Arab and Palestinian terrorism against Israel existed prior to the beginning of Israeli control over the West Bank and Gaza as a result of the Six Day War of June 1967, and even prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948.
For example, Arab terrorism was rampant during wave of anti-Jewish riots in 1920-21 (which was characterized by the brutal murder in Jaffa of the prominent Jewish author Y. Brenner), during the 'Disturbances' of 1929 (which included the massacre of the Jewish community in Hebron), during the Arab Revolt of 1936-39, and in many other recorded incidents of wholesale anti-Jewish Arab violence throughout the pre-state period.
The Palestinian terrorism campaign was stepped-up on the eve of the UN Partition Resolution of November 1947, and led to the joint Arab invasion of 1948-49 which delineated the boundaries of the newly established State of Israel.
Indeed, this deplorable violence can be traced back to the beginning of the renewed Jewish settlement of the Land of Israel over a century ago.
After the War of Independence, Arab terrorism expanded in scope. In 1952, when 'fedayeen' terrorist border incursions reached their height, there were about 3,000 incidents of cross-border violence, extending from the malicious destruction of property to the brutal murder of civilians. In the years 1951-1955, 503 Israelis were killed by Arab terrorists infiltrating from Jordan, 358 were killed in attacks from Egypt, and 61 were killed in attacks originating from Syria and Lebanon. This anti-Israeli violence encompassed both frontier settlements and population centers, and was perpetrated, for the most part, against innocent civilians, most of them new immigrants.
In conclusion, the oft-repeated Arab claim that the Israeli 'occupation' is somehow to blame for the Palestinian terrorism is nothing more than an empty retort, repudiated by the facts, and disproved by a century of historical reality.
The following is a partial list of documented acts of Arab terrorism, all occurring prior to the beginning of the Israeli administration of the West Bank and Gaza in 1967:
Major Arab Terrorist Attacks against Israelis Prior to the 1967 Six-Day War
Jan 1, 1952 - Seven armed terrorists attacked and killed a nineteen year-old girl in her home, in the neighborhood of Beit Yisrael, in Jerusalem.
Apr 14, 1953 - Terrorists tried for the first time to infiltrate Israel by sea, but were unsuccessful. One of the boats was intercepted and the other boat escaped.
June 7, 1953 - A youngster was killed and three others were wounded, in shooting attacks on residential areas in southern Jerusalem.
June 9, 1953 - Terrorists attacked a farming community near Lod, and killed one of the residents. The terrorists threw hand grenades and sprayed gunfire in all directions. On the same night, another group of terrorists attacked a house in the town of Hadera. This occurred a day after Israel and Jordan signed an agreement, with UN mediation, in which Jordan undertook to prevent terrorists from crossing into Israel from Jordanian territory.
June 10, 1953 - Terrorists infiltrating from Jordan destroyed a house in the farming village of Mishmar Ayalon.
June 11, 1953 - Terrorists attacked a young couple in their home in Kfar Hess, and shot them to death.
Sept 2, 1953 - Terrorists infiltrated from Jordan, and reached the neighborhood of Katamon, in the heart of Jerusalem. They threw hand grenades in all directions. Miraculously, no one was hurt.
Mar 17, 1954 - Terrorists ambushed a bus traveling from Eilat to Tel Aviv, and opened fire at short range when the bus reached the area of Maale Akrabim in the northern Negev. In the initial ambush, the terrorists killed the driver and wounded most of the passengers. The terrorists then boarded the bus, and shot each passenger, one by one. Eleven passengers were murdered. Survivors recounted how the murderers spat on the bodies and abused them. The terrorists could clearly be traced back to the Jordanian border, some 20 km from the site of the terrorist attack.
Jan 2, 1955 - Terrorists killed two hikers in the Judean Desert.
Mar 24, 1955 - Terrorists threw hand grenades and opened fire on a crowd at a wedding in the farming community of Patish, in the Negev. A young woman was killed, and eighteen people were wounded in the attack.
Apr 7, 1956 - A resident of Ashkelon was killed in her home, when terrorists threw three hand grenades into her house.
Two members of Kibbutz Givat Chaim were killed, when terrorists opened fire on their car, on the road from Plugot Junction to Mishmar Hanegev.
There were further hand grenade and shooting attacks on homes and cars, in areas such as Nitzanim and Ketziot. One person was killed and three others wounded.
Apr 11, 1956 - Terrorists opened fire on a synagogue full of children and teenagers, in the farming community of Shafrir. Three children and a youth worker were killed on the spot, and five were wounded, including three seriously.
Apr 29, 1956 - Egyptians killed Roi Rotenberg, 21 years of age, from Nahal Oz.
Sept 12, 1956 - Terrorists killed three Druze guards at Ein Ofarim, in the Arava region.
Sept 23, 1956 - Terrorists opened fire from a Jordanian position, and killed four archaeologists, and wounded sixteen others, near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel.
Sept 24, 1956 - Terrorists killed a girl in the fields of the farming community of Aminadav, near Jerusalem.
Oct 4, 1956 - Five Israeli workers were killed in Sdom.
Oct 9, 1956 - Two workers were killed in an orchard of the youth village, Neve Hadassah, in the Sharon region.
Nov 8, 1956 - Terrorists opened fire on a train, attacked cars and blew up wells, in the North and Center of Israel. Six Israelis were wounded.
Feb 18, 1957 - Two civilians were killed by terrorist landmines, next to Nir Yitzhak, on the southern border of the Gaza Strip.
Mar 8, 1957 - A shepherd from Kibbutz Beit Govrin was killed by terrorists in a field near the Kibbutz.
Apr 16, 1957 - Terrorists infiltrated from Jordan, and killed two guards at Kibbutz Mesilot.
May 20, 1957 - A terrorist opened fire on a truck in the Arava region, killing a worker.
May 29, 1957 - A tractor driver was killed and two others wounded, when the vehicle struck a landmine, next to Kibbutz Kisufim.
June 23, 1957 - Israelis were wounded by landmines, close to the Gaza Strip.
Aug 23, 1957 - Two guards of the Israeli Mekorot water company were killed near Kibbutz Beit Govrin.
Dec 21, 1957 - A member of Kibbutz Gadot was killed in the Kibbutz fields.
Feb 11, 1958 - Terrorists killed a resident of Moshav Yanov who was on his way to Kfar Yona, in the Sharon area.
Apr 5, 1958 - Terrorists lying in ambush shot and killed two people near Tel Lachish.
Apr 22, 1958 - Jordanian soldiers shot and killed two fishermen near Aqaba.
May 26, 1958 - Four Israeli police officers were killed in a Jordanian attack on Mt. Scopus, in Jerusalem.
Nov 17, 1958 - Syrian terrorists killed the wife of the British air attache in Israel, who was staying at the guesthouse of the Italian Convent on the Mt. of the Beatitudes.
Dec 3, 1958- A shepherd was killed at Kibbutz Gonen. In the artillery attack that followed, 31 civilians were wounded.
Jan 23, 1959 - A shepherd from Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan was killed.
Feb 1, 1959 - Three civilians were killed by a terrorist landmine near Moshav Zavdiel.
Apr 15, 1959 - A guard was killed at Kibbutz Ramat Rahel.
Apr 27, 1959 - Two hikers were shot at close range and killed near Massada.
Sept 6, 1959 - Bedouin terrorists killed a paratroop reconnaissance officer near Nitzana.
Sept 8, 1959 - Bedouins opened fire on an army bivouac in the Negev, killing an IDF officer, Captain Yair Peled.
Oct 3, 1959 - A shepherd from Kibbutz Heftziba was killed near Kibbutz Yad Hana.
Apr 26, 1960 - Terrorists killed a resident of Ashkelon south of the city.
Apr 12, 1962 - Terrorists fired on an Egged bus on the way to Eilat; one passenger was wounded.
Sept 30, 1962 - Two terrorists attacked an Egged bus on the way to Eilat. No one was wounded.
Jan 1, 1965 - Palestinian terrorists attempted to bomb the National Water Carrier. This was the first attack carried out by the PLO's Fatah faction.
May 31, 1965 - Jordanian Legionnaires fired on the neighborhood of Musrara in Jerusalem, killing two civilians and wounding four.
June 1, 1965 - Terrorists attack a house in Kibbutz Yiftach.
July 5, 1965 - A Fatah cell planted explosives at Mitzpe Massua, near Beit Guvrin; and on the railroad tracks to Jerusalem near Kafr Battir.
Aug 26, 1965 - A waterline was sabotaged at Kibbutz Manara, in the Upper Galilee.
Sept 29, 1965 - A terrorist was killed as he attempted to attack Moshav Amatzia.
Nov 7, 1965 - A Fatah cell that infiltrated from Jordan blew up a house in Moshav Givat Yeshayahu, south of Beit Shemesh. The house was destroyed, but the inhabitants were miraculously unhurt.
Apr 25, 1966 - Explosions placed by terrorists wounded two civilians and damaged three houses in Moshav Beit Yosef, in the Beit Shean Valley.
May 16, 1966 - Two Israelis were killed when their jeep hit a terrorist landmine, north of the Sea of Galilee and south of Almagor. Tracks led into Syria.
July 13, 1966 - Two soldiers and a civilian were killed near Almagor, when their truck struck a terrorist landmine.
July 14, 1966 - Terrorists attacked a house in Kfar Yuval, in the North.
July 19, 1966 - Terrorists infiltrated into Moshav Margaliot on the northern border and planted nine explosive charges.
Oct 27, 1966 - A civilian was wounded by an explosive charge on the railroad tracks to Jerusalem.
mardutha
mardutha
03.06.2003 21:26
I see no terror there - just low-level inter-community fighting.
Your list is long, but it omits the tit-for-tat raids (after a while, it's hard to say who's retaliating against whom) carried out by both the IDF and groups of armed Israelis during the same period.
Your omission of the terrorism of Irgun and the Stern gang against the British during the period of the Mandate is also noteworthy.
If the Israelis had stolen my land, I'd be willing to take up arms too.
As it is, I'll just keep on pointing out the stupidity of one-sided arguments like yours.
Bri.
Brian