CPTnet
May 23, 2003
HEBRON: Updates on Rollins' incarceration, Hebron schoolchildren and
threats by government against Rabbis for Human Rights
May 23, Friday (noon Chicago time)
As Shabbat begins in Israel, Canadian CPTer Greg Rollins remains in the
Ramla prison, near Tel Aviv. Rollins' lawyers told Hebron project
coordinator Rich Meyer that he will not be deported and will be allowed to
remain until the Israeli High Court hears his case--which could take up to
a month. The High Court is requiring the Israeli government to give
reasons for his arrest and deportation. Currently, the government has not
brought charges against Rollins. A commission may meet on Sunday to
consider releasing Rollins.
The decision to continue holding Rollins, and decisions about deportations,
are the responsibility of the Israeli Ministry of the Interior. Avraham
Poraz, the Minister of Interior, presents himself as the most liberal
member of the government. He came into office saying he would NOT deport or
block entry of peace activists and human rights defenders. He wants to be
seen as modern, enlightened and democratic. Messages from
North America questioning repression of peace groups and attempts to remove
the international nonviolent presence can influence Poraz to change these
policies. We believe that your emails and faxes to Poraz now can help
preserve room for CPT and other groups to operate now and in the future.
In emails or faxes to Interior Minister Avraham Poraz, we suggest asking
questions: Why is Rollins being held? What does do the harassments and
restrictions imposed on humanitarian and human rights groups mean? Does he
know
how this looks to the world? Why does the Israeli military want no
witnesses to what it is doing in the Occupied Territories?
aporaz@knesset.gov.il or sar@moin.gov.il
Fax (from N. America) 011-972-2-566-6376
IN RELATED NEWS:
Schools in Hebron are in their final exam week. One day last week when the
schools near the CPT apartment were forced to close, the teachers moved
their students to a school in Abu Sneineh neighborhood where they could
take their exams. Students were able to write their exams yesterday.
Rabbi Arik Asherman was today called in for questioning by Israeli security
services. The director of Rabbis for Human Rights was warned that
rebuilding demolished homes in Jerusalem is illegal. He asked for this
ruling in writing and was not given anything.
Asherman writes, "The intent is not only to stop activities which can be
seen as 'illegal,' but to also prevent humanitarian activities, the work of
Taayush to accompany children to school, etc. Ultimately, it may be that
the goal is to prevent any 'seeing eye' witnessing what is happening in the
Occupied Territories." ("Seeing Eye" is a Talmudic reference to a teaching
that even when we try to do something in secret, God sees and knows what we
are doing.)
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Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among
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