[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [GushShalom] Eight international peace activists to be deported

Fri Jul 18 08:45:32 CDT 2003

>From: "Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)" <info at gush-shalom.org>
>Subject: [GushShalom]  Eight international peace activists to be deported
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>Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 02:53:06 +0200
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>GUSH SHALOM  pob 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033 www.gush-shalom.org
>
>Tobias, Tarek, Fredrick, Bill, Daniel, Alex, Saul and Thomas - eight 
>peace activists of nearly as many countries will be deported from 
>Israel/Palestine as "dangerous to state security". The efforts 
>invested by their four lawyers, Leah Tsemel, Gabi
>Laski, Shammai Leibowitz and Yoni Lerman - all in vain. We didn't 
>stop this - even with several US diplomats present in the courtroom. 
>It is clear that there has been a high-up decision to get rid of the 
>ISM. The fact that this actually proves the
>effectiveness of their method of non-violent action is meagre consolation.
>
>The trial itself was truly a farce.  From the outset the attitude of 
>the judge was evident.  He was aggressive, particularly with Leah 
>Tsemel.The state insisted that the ISM endangers soldiers' lives by 
>interfering with their activities.  But no proof was
>given of this occurring for any of todayís defendants.  Yet both the 
>state and the judge reiterated the broad powers given to the 
>Minister of
>Interior to grant or deny visas, and to deport--all without having 
>to furnish a reason.  And indeed, the judge omitted furnishing any 
>reason for his verdict, as though he were a clerk sent by the 
>Ministry of the Interior rather than an impartial observer
>carefully weighing on the
>scales of justice the arguments of both sides. 
>
>[in the above was made use of the report of Dorothy Naor 
><dor_naor at netvision.net.il> of New Profile]
>
>Below find the ISM report.
>
>Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 18:16:42 +0000
>From: Rapprochement Centre <ism-alerts at palsolidarity.org>
>Subject: [palsolidarity] Israel to Deport Eight International Peace Activists
>
>International Solidarity Movement
>July 17, 2003
>For Immediate Release
>
>Israel to Deport Eight International Peace Activists
>
>Today Tel Aviv District Court Judge Nissim Yeshaya upheld the 
>deportation orders of eight Internati
>onal Peace activists who were
>working with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).  Of the 
>eight activists, Tobias Karlsson
>(SWEDEN), Tarek Loubani (CANADA),
>Fredrick Lind (DENMARK), Bill Capowski (USA), Daniel Knutsson 
>(SWEDEN), Alex Perry (UK), Saul Reid
>(UK) and Thomas Pellas (FRANCE)
>
>Four were arrested on July 9 while at a camp on Palestinian land in 
>the village of Arrabony near Je
>nin slated to be confiscated by Israel for the building of the 
>separation wall, and four on July 10
>  while helping to remove roadblocks near the city of
>Nablus calling attention to the restrictions on Palestinian freedom 
>of movement under the
>occupation. 
>
>They were subsequently issued deportation orders by the Ministry of 
>the Interior. 
>
>The Israeli military has claimed that the ISM and all peace 
>activists are a security threat and the
>  lawyer for the state used this as the argument for why the 
>activists should be deported.  No evide
>nce as to the illegality of the defendants' actions
>was presented.
>Signed affidavits that the presence and work of ISM is important 
>were submitted by prominent Israel
>i organizations and individuals such as Bat Shalom, MK Yossi Sarid 
>and several Israeli professors.
>  The judge sided with the state lawyers saying
>that under Israeli law the Ministry of the Interior has unlimited 
>power to deport and revoke visas
>of
>internationals.
>
>The policy of punishing international peace activists without any 
>evidence other than labeling them
>  a security threat is an expansion of Israel's policy of using 
>administrative detention to punish P
>alestinians the military labels a security threat. 
>Currently there are over 1,000 Palestinians being held in 
>administrative detention after having sec
>ret
>evidence used against them.  Administrative detention is an 
>indefinitely renewable six months of ca
>ptivity.  Many Palestinians have now been held in detention for 
>years without any charge or knowled
>ge of when they might be released.
>
>After the ruling, a lawyer for the eight defendants requested a 
>one-week stay on the deportations t
>o allow time to file an appeal.  The request was denied. 
>
>Two Israeli citizens were also arrested with one of the groups of 
>activists.  Both were released wi
>thout charge.  Some of the activists reported being kicked and 
>otherwise abused while interrogated
>after the arrests and at least one was severely
>beaten after they stopped eating in protest two days ago.
>
>For a picture of the eight in court please see our website: 
>www.palsolidarity.org
>
>For more information please contact:
>Huwaida: +972-67-473308
>ISM Media Office: +972-2-2774602
>
>
>--
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>
>http://www.gush-shalom.org/actions/barghouti_eng.html
>
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>
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>http://www.gush-shalom.org/thewall/index.html (English)
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-- 

Al Kagan
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