[Dryerase] Action Updates: Gaza, Qalqiliah and Bethlehem (December 29, 2002)

[ckln NEWS 88.1fm]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Action Updates: Gaza, Qalqiliah and Bethlehem (December 29,
2002)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 15:30:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Jaggi Singh <jaggi at tao.ca>
To: jaggisingh2003 at yahoo.com


ACTION UPDATES: Gaza, Qalqiliah and Bethlehem (December 29, 2002)

[The following reports provide basic info about some recent actions
involving the ISM. More detailed reports will be posted in the coming
days
by on-the-ground ISM activists.-- Jaggi (ISM volunteer in Beit Sahour)]



1)  Rafah-Mawasi (Gaza): IOF soldiers shoot at Palestinians attempting
to
deliver food and medical supplies; Palestinian photographer injured in
the
head

2)  Jayyous (Qalqiliah District): Palestinian farmers attacked by
private
security and soldiers in march against Apartheid Wall; Curfew imposed in
Jayyous

3)  Bethlehem: March to Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint to take place on
New Year's Eve; Rally demands an "Open Jerusalem"
-----


1)  IOF Soldiers shoot at Palestinians attempting to deliver food and
medical supplies

Today (December 29, 2002) more than 50 Palestinians, as well as 17
internationals, attempted to deliver food and medical supplies to
Mawasi,
a Palestinian town behind a checkpoint that is surrounded by illegal
settlements, near Rafah (Gaza). The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)
placed
roadblocks on the way to the checkpoint, and demonstrators weren’t able
to
remove them. In response, demonstrators emptied two ambulances full of
medical supplies and carried it themselves. At the Rafah-Mawasi
checkpoint, soldiers responded by firing rounds of live bullets without
warning. Still, many Palestinians tried to cross the checkpoint,
including
two elderly women from Mawasi who had not been back to their home
village
for almost two years. One Palestinian photographer, who works for
Associated Press, was wounded in the head by shrapnel, and was
hospitalized. He is in stable condition. Demonstrators plan to return
again to the checkpoint to try again to deliver the supplies. For info
on-the-ground, please contact Kristen at 067 341 268 or 059 357 526.



2)  Palestinian farmers attacked by private security and soldiers in
march
against Apartheid Wall

Up to 500 Palestinians, supported by more than 100 internationals,
converged on the village of Jayyous today (December 29, 2002), after two
separate marches passed through several villages in the Qalqiliah
district
in the occupied West Bank of Palestine. The rally was to demonstrate
clear
opposition to the building of Israel's so-called "security fence",
better
known as the "Apartheid Wall". A large section of the wall is being
constructed in Qalqiliah district.

During the marches through district villages, demonstrators were
confronted by soldiers who used tear gas against marchers. Still, the
marches continued to Jayyous, where speeches were given denouncing the
wall at a local school. From there, Palestinian farmers and
internationals
tried to march to the local fields, near where the wall is being built.
Private contract security for the wall were already present, armed with
loaded and pointed M-16 rifles. Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) soldiers
attacked the demonstrators -- who couldn't even leave Jayyous for the
local fields -- with tear gas, percussion grenades and rubber bullets
(there were also reports of live bullets). After opening fire, many
children threw stones at soldiers. One man was shot in the leg with a
rubber bullet, while one Palestinian journalist, with a media pass, was
arrested on the suspicion of throwing stones. Private security also
attacked demonstrators with batons.

Later, at least five army jeeps, accompanying over 30 soldiers on foot,
drove threw Jayyous trying to impose curfew. There were reports of
soldiers entering homes, and demanding to see IDs. There is one report
of
soldiers attacking a mother in her home who intervened in support of her
young son.

According to a report by the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network
(PENGON), the entire planned Apartheid Wall, which has begun to go up in
the Qalqiliah district, will effectively annex 10% of Palestinian land
in
the West Bank. In Jayyous alone 72% of local land will be lost. The land
in the Qalqiliah area is some of the most fertile in the West Bank, and
contains important water aquifers.

For more information on-the-ground, please contact Radhika at 052 574
754
or Patrick at 067 628 514 or 052 371 338.



3)  March to Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint to take place on New Year's
Eve

On Christmas Day, hundreds of Palestinians and international supporters
intended to march to the Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint, in opposition
to
the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and to demand open travel to
Jerusalem. The checkpoint march was postponed, mainly due to inclement
weather. At the demo, one organizer promised that before next Christmas,
a
march would be organized to the checkpoint.  A march is now being
organized before next year.

On New Year's Eve (December 31, 2002), local Palestinian groups are
organizing a march to the Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint, demanding an
end
to occupation, and an "Open Jerusalem." The march will begin at the
Ministry of Education Junction in Bethlehem, and will depart for the
checkpoint at 3pm, expecting to arrive at 4pm. At the checkpoint, there
are planned prayers, as well as the lifting of balloons.

For more info about the march, please contact the Rapprochement Centre
02
277 2018 or the Arab Educational Institute 02 274 4030.