news dall'International Solidarity Movement

["Michela La Perna" <michela.lp at katamail.com>]

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
Friday, May 9, 2003
For Immediate Release

ISRAELI FORCES RAID ISM OFFICE

[Beit Sahour, Occupied Palestine] Israeli forces raided the ISM
office this morning, confiscating equipment and material and
snatching three women. At 12:30pm on Friday, May 9, approximately 20
military vehicles, army jeeps and a large armored personnel carrier
(intended for many arrests) surrounded the ISM media office in Beit
Sahour. Dozens of soldiers, border police and civilian police
officers raided the ISM office, confiscating all computers, not only
in the ISM office but in the nearby office of the Palestinian Centre
for Rapprochement. Files, CD, and photos were all pillaged, while
soldiers broke equipment and damaged office space. Israeli forces
kidnapped Palestinian volunteer, Fida, American volunteer, Flo, and
a worker with Human Rights Watch visiting the office. At the time of
this writing, Fida has been released, and the internationals seem to
have been moved to the office of the Israeli Ministry of Interior,
most probably for deportation.

The Israeli government has declared an open war on international
peace and human rights workers. Israeli forces are doing everything
in their power to specifically prevent the nonviolent resistance to
their military rule. The stepped-up harassment of internationals and
journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is nothing short
of a further attempt to shield from the international community the
brutality of daily Israeli military actions against the Palestinian
people.

The ISM, however, has no plans to leave the Palestinian areas nor to
reduce our actions or our efforts. We need your help. Please protest:

In the US: Contact your congressperson, the State Department and the
White House using this link.
http://www.cflweb.org/congress_merge_.htm or http://www.congress.gov
Also call the State Department and demand action. STATE DEPARTMENT 1-
202-647-5150

For UK, Please call THE FOREIGN OFFICE 020 7008 1500, Also Contact
your MP and Prime Minister

For Israel Contact Israeli Minister of Interior, Tel: +972-2-629-
4701; Fax: +972-2-629-4750
Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom Fax: +972-2-5303704 e-mail:
sar at mofa.gov.ilIsraeli
Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz Fax: +972-3-6916940, 6976990 e-mail:
sar at mod.gov.il
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fax: (+972-2) 566-4838 or 651-3955 or
651-2631

For Canada: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham, House of
Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6; Fax 613-996-3443

Everyone, Contact the Israeli embassy in your country

See our website: www.palsolidarity.org for more ways to help or get
involved.

For more information, please call: +972-2-277-4602

END
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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
Beit Sahour, Occupied Palestine

Media Advisory

Update on Detention of Two British Activists at Erez Border Crossing

It has been twenty eight hours since, at 8:30 PM on Thursday
evening, May 8, 2003, two British Internationals were detained at
Erez border crossing at the entrance to the Gaza strip. The
Internationals are Nick and Alice. Both have been held at the
crossing with no arrest and no charges. The police have actually
refused to arrest them. There is no reason to arrest them. There are
no charges pending.

Neither Nick or Alice have had any sleep. There is no place to sleep
at the border crossing. Nick was interrogated for many hours by the
Shin Bet (Security Services).

They are being told that they are being deported. Alice has said
that their plans were to leave the country anyway. However, the pair
would like to go back to Rafah to collect the remainder of their
belongings, say goodbye to friends and then leave the country as
planned by boat from Haifa.

Nick and Alice are being held as part of the overall execution of a
plan to remove ISM from the West Bank and Gaza. The plan targets
Internationals heading to Gaza in particular. Upon arrival at the
border crossing, one is presented with a form to fill out. It
absolves Israel of all responsibility in the case an International
is injured or killed and in addition forces the International to
waive all basic rights.

Nick and Alice signed this document.

They have asked that people call Erez on 08 6741557 to inquire why
they are being held illegally and when they will be released.
For UK, Please call THE FOREIGN OFFICE 020 7008 1500, Also Contact
your MP and Prime Minister

For Israel Contact Israeli Minister of Interior, Tel: +972-2-629-
4701; Fax: +972-2-629-4750
Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom Fax: +972-2-5303704 e-mail:
sar@m...
Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz Fax: +972-3-6916940, 6976990 e-mail:
sar@m...
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fax: (+972-2) 566-4838 or 651-3955 or
651-2631

Tom
ISM Media Coordinator
Beit Sahour, Occupied Palestine
++972 2 277 4602