1. Frederick Batzler Released

January 7, 2004

Frederick Batzler, a Swedish activist volunteering with the
International Solidarity Movement, was released today after seven
days incarceration.

Mr. Batzler was arrested while participating in a peaceful
demonstration in the village of Budrus on December 31. He was
charged with being in a closed military zone and a deportation order
was issued against him.

Frederick was released with a 5000 NIS Israeli bank guarantee and
ordered not to return to the Occupied Territories. He is currently
awaiting a deportation hearing.

For further information, please contact:

Frederick Batzler: +972-55-446-875
Attorney Gaby Lasky: +972-54-418-988

2. Budrus Update - Village Now Declared Closed Military Zone

January 7, 2004

The Israeli army has declared the entire village of Budrus (West
Ramallah) to be a closed military zone.

This declaration came today during a peaceful demonstration attended
by over 400 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against
the Apartheid Wall. The International Womens Peace Service (IWPS),
International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Israeli Anarchists against
the Wall and other Israeli activist groups have been maintaining a
presence in Budrus for the past two weeks in solidarity with the
village's non-violent resistance to the Apartheid Wall.

During the demonstration held in the main street of the village, an
Israeli army hummer attempted to enter Budrus and drive through the
crowd in an effort to disperse the demonstration. After the
demonstrators successfully negotiated the hummer's retreat, two more
arrived with an order declaring Budrus a closed military zone for the
day and that all international and Israeli activists must leave the
village within five minutes.

Internationals have vowed not to leave Budrus, but will continue to
support the resistance of the village to the Wall. We are calling on
activists and delegations to come to Budrus to witness the land theft
and destruction that is going on in Palestine.

For further information, please contact:

Ayed (Arabic/Hebrew/English) 067 924 952
Ethan (English) 066 478 674

END