From Occupied Palestine

ISM activists released on bail
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
Press Release, 25 July 2003

Tel Aviv -- Rejecting the claims of the Israeli government prosecution, Judge Gabriel Kling ruled yesterday that three international peace activists do not represent a "security risk" to the state of Israel.

Continuing that "to protest is not illegal," Kling‚s statement appears to set a hopeful precedent in the case of three. Primarily, it allows them to be released on bail, until their next hearing, which will come before the Israeli High Court in October. At that point, the courts will again consider the claim of the Ministry of the Interior that the three represent a security risk and should be deported immediatly.

Deported? We Have Done Nothing Wrong
TAREK LOUBANI, BILL CAPOWSKI,
TOBIAS KARLSSON, and FREDRICK LIND
Alternet, 18 July 2003

Ariel Prison -- We write to you from cell #4 in a police station in the illegal settlement of Ariel. We are all together, in good health and in high spirits. We are determined to stand up for justice and human rights.

We are awaiting deportation although we have done nothing wrong. We were arrested while at the peace camp in Arrabony, a village of 900 people on the outskirts of Jenin. Israel has stolen more than half of Arrabony's 5000 dunams of land (4 dunams = 1 acre) since 1967, with the army stealing 800 dunams directly for the building of the Apartheid wall. The people of Arrabony are filled with rage and despair at the loss of their lands and their livelihoods. The people of Arrabony led a protest against the wall on July 6 2003, which was followed by the establishment of the peace camp. We, as internationals, stood with the people of Arrabony in reclaiming their land.

Four ISM activists arrested at peace camp
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
Press Release, 10 July 2003

Jenin Region -- Four international volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement were arrested today while maintaining a presence at the peace camp set up by Arrabony villagers and the ISM to protest the confiscation of Palestinian land for the Apartheid Wall. The four arrested are:

Eyewitness: Israeli forces shoot and nearly kill U.S. peace activist Brian Avery in Jenin
AMY GOODMAN, TOBIAS KARLSSON, DANNY MULLER
Democracy Now!, 7 April 2003

AMY GOODMAN, DEMOCRACY NOW!: Can you tell us exactly what happened and where it happened?

TOBIAS KARLSSON, INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT: This incident took place in central Jenin on Saturday. I want to give you some brief background to put this into context. Jenin had, at this point, been under curfew for over 48 hours and there had been some disturbances in the central part of the city with the children of Jenin throwing stones and other objects at the heavily armed Israeli vehicles in which they were firing live ammunition at the children. No one had been injured within these 24 hours, but less than two weeks before, they killed two boys -- 14 and 15 years old -- under similar circumstances. We here at ISM try to be out on the streets during situations to monitor and to try to prevent the Israelis from firing on these kids. They are still considered civilians under international law, even if they are throwing stones, and it’s a violation of the law for Israelis to fire live ammunition on civilians.

US peace activist shot in Jenin
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Independent, 6 April 2003

An American peace activist who was allegedly shot in the face by Israeli troops while acting as a "human shield" in the West Bank town of Jenin was seriously ill today in an Israeli hospital, a member of the International Solidarity Movement said.

Brian Avery, 24, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, a member of the Palestinian-backed International Solidarity Movement, was shot in the face Saturday by forces in an armored personnel carrier. said Star Hawk, a fellow activist.