1) There was a typographical error in the Palestinian plan for work against
the Apartheid Wall sent out yesterday. Point #4 mentioned July 23rd
where it should have been written February 23. We apologize for this error.

=============
2)
February 20, 2004

"MESSAGE TO THE FREE WORLD"
Hundreds March Against Apartheid Wall in Beit Surik

[Beit Surik, NW Jerusalem] Nearly 1000 Palestinians gathered in the village
of Beit Surik today to protest the planned building of the Apartheid Wall in
this region. Joined by Palestinian political figures and dozens of Israeli
and International peace activists, the people of Beit Surik, men and women,
old and young, led a march through their village onto a hilltop overlooking
the area where they gathered to deliver a message to the "conscience of the
world."

"This wall is not being built for security, it's an attempt to ethnically
cleanse us from our land" said Mohammad Ayyash, head of the Biddu village
council. Fadwa Khader, a member of the Popular Committee to Resist the
Apartheid Wall, northern Jerusalem, asserted that the path of this wall and
its ramifications will lead to violations of international humanitarian law,
not to mention basic human rights. "We will resist the Israeli government's
attempt to wall us into little cantons and continue to struggle for our
right to live in freedom" she said. Also speaking were: Jamal Nasser, the
Governor of Jerusalem, who delivered a message on behalf of President
Arafat, Ziad Abu Zayyad, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
representing Jerusalem, Mohammed Rabie, member of the Popular Committee to
Resist the Apartheid Wall, northwest Jerusalem, Ishai Minuchim an Israeli
from the Yesh Gvul (Refusenik) movement and Jenny from the International
Solidarity Movement.

A joint press release from the North / Northwest villages of Jerusalem:
Qatanna, Beit Anan, Beit Surik, Beit Dukko, Biddo, Beit Ija, Nabi Samuel,
Beit Ikssa, Bir Nabala, Rafat, Qalandia, Al-Gadeera and Al-Jeeb called on
"all Free Nations in the world to take part in this human struggle to tear
down this Apartheid Wall the same way that you united to end the apartheid
ideology of South Africa."

For more information:
Please see the appeal from the Beit Surik village council below and / or
call:

-Mohamed Khalid, head of the Beit Surik village council (Arabic and Hebrew):
+972-50 494 083 or +972-2 247 3255.
-Tariq Alsheikh, Beit Surik (Arabic and English): +972-67 544 919
-Huwaida, ISM (Arabic and English) : +972-67-473-308

END

===============
3) Appeal from Beit Surik

For a map (1.02MG) of the planned path of the wall in Beit Surik,
please email  info@palsolidarity.org

Palestinian National Authority
Ministry of Local Government
Jerusalem Governorate
Tel./Fax 00-972-2-2473255

Date: 19 February 2004

Open Appeal for Assistance Concerning The Forthcoming Construction of a
Separation Wall around the Village of Beit Surik

Beit Surik is a small village to the north-west of Jerusalem, situated in
the West Bank and close to the 1967 border. During the 1980s the Occupation
Forces seized 1,500 dunums (about 400 acres) from the western lands of the
village. They destroyed about 500 dunums (125 acres) of agricultural land,
uprooting
fruit trees in order to expand the local settlements.

In 2003, the Occupation Forces seized another 500 dunums (125 acres) of
agricultural land located near the Har Adar settlement. In the same year,
they also seized another 700 dunums (175 acres) of land north of Beit Surik.
All such lands belong to the villagers of Beit Surik.

In addition, we have been told of the building of a train line that will go
through the villages and down to "Mudein" settlement to the south of our
villages where the train line will also connect Jerusalem with Tel-Aviv,
confiscating more Palestinian land.

This year, the people of Beit Surik and the surrounding Palestinian villages
have been informed by military order that the Israeli authorities will seize
350 dunums (up to 90 acres) for the construction of the Separation Wall.

The construction of such a wall will spell disaster for the villagers of
Beit Surik: up to 6,000 dunums (1,500 acres) will be lost, including the
eight water sources that supply the village and other surrounding villages.
Even our local garbage dump will be expropriated.

Beit Surik has 4,000 inhabitants- with the constuction of this fearsome
wall, we will be left with a mere 1,400 dunums (350 acres).

We cannot stress enough the catastrophe that awaits us. Over the years we
have been prevented from building houses on our lands while land has been
taken for the further expansion of local settlements.

The roads in and out of our villages have been blocked off, thus limiting
our freedom of movement and trade and leading to rising unemployment.

What we see now is equal to that of 1948: the land of Israel will come right
up to our front doors. All the surrounding Palestinian villages shall be
physically cut off from each other. Our appeal also concerns the villages of
Biddu, Beit Idesh, Beit Iksa, Nabi Sumi'weil, Kubeiba, Beit Anan, Qataana,
Beit Dukku and Kherbet Um El Lahem.

We are helpless villagers, eager only to earn our living and live in dignity
on the lands that our forefathers carefully nurtured.
Dare anyone call this wall a "Security Wall"!! It is nothing else but the
final stage in the complete annexation of our land.

. We ask you to FAX this information onto your national and local newspapers
. Pass it on to relevant national and local NGOs
. Pass it on to your friends.

. We ask you to FAX and PETITION your national government and local
politicians
. We ask you to FAX Israeli embassies and consulates
 http://www.info.gov.il/eng/sub-TZRS-embassies.asp
. We ask you to FAX the Israeli government
-Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom Fax: 011-972-2-5303704 e-mail:
 sar@mofa.gov.il
-Israeli Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz Fax: 011-972-3-6916940, or
011-972-3-6976990 e-mail:  sar@mod.gov.il
-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fax: 011-972-2-566-4838 or
011-972-2-651-3955 or 011-972-2-651-2631 email:  sar@pmo.gov.il


On 20 February 2004, the people of Beit Sureik, together with the people of
the surrounding villages will hold a peaceful demonstration in protest. We
hope to count upon the participation of Israeli citizens and internationals.
Just as the people of Budrus have already shown, we shall endeavour to
counter this calamitous threat together.

We depend on your support and solidarity.

The Wall is slowly becoming a reality for us. Please do what you can before
our humble voice is smothered forever.

Yours Sincerely,
The People of Beit Surik


INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org

"For the tyrant has the power to inflict only that which we lack the
strength to resist"... Krishnalal Shridharani