[mgj-discuss] From Erick Laursen: INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS DETAINED, BEATEN BY ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE

[Robert Weissman]

Direct Action for a Free Palestine=20
International Solidarity Movement

Contact: Amanda Ream, (212) 541-4226, x241

Eric Laursen, (917) 806-6452

April 17, 2002

For Immediate Release

From: "Eric Laursen" <laursene at earthlink.net>

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS DETAINED, BEATEN BY ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE

A group of 28 international activists were detained for over three hours
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and beaten by Israeli Defense Force troops outside the Palestinian city
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of Nablus yesterday. The abuse included having shots fired at the ground
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in front of them as well as physical beatings with fists, boots, and =
guns. At least one female activist was thrown violently against a wall.
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The activists responded with non-violent civil disobedience tactics, =
lying on the ground and refusing to react to the abuse.

The activists were attempting to deliver food to Palestinians trapped in
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Nablus by the IDF, who have now been without food, water, and urgently =

needed medical attention for weeks as the Israelis have continued to =
effectively seal off the town even after intense fighting there ended. =

They include five UK citizens, 15 French, five Danish, and three =
Americans - two from New York City and one from Chicago. They are =
members of the International Solidarity Movement, which has been sending
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groups of activists to the occupied territories since last summer to =
provide aid and act as a buffer of non-violent civil disobedience for =
the Palestinians. A group of Palestinian citizens who were with the =
internationals also were subjected to abuse.

ISM members said the IDF actions were similar to tactics the army has =
used against Israeli peace activists, and against ISM activists who =
attempted to enter Gaza on an aid mission last December. Earlier this =
month, several activists were hit by shrapnel when IDF troops fired at =

an ISM team in Bethlehem, one requiring hospitalization. Beatings and =
violent shakings are also common practice in the IDF's dealings with =
Palestinians on the streets of the occupied towns and cities of the West
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Bank.

American ISM activists who returned from Palestine last weekend are =
available for interviews with the press. Zaid Khalil can be reached at =

(917) 535-1563. For an interview with New Yorkers in the West Bank, call
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011-972-67-341-268.