CPTnet
April 12, 2003
URGENT ACTION: Hold Israeli government accountable for killing and injuring
human rights workers

On Friday, April 11, Israeli soldiers shot International Solidarity Movement
(ISM) volunteer Tom Hurndall, in the head. Doctors at Rafah hospital in
Gaza described the 24-year-old from the United Kingdom as brain dead,
according to the London Times. Hurndall is the third member of ISM injured
or killed by the Israeli military in the last four weeks. All three were
wearing fluorescent orange vests identifying them as human rights
accompaniers.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is asking supporters to wear bright orange vests
(the ISM uniform) through Holy Week from Sunday April 13 through Saturday
April 19 and to ask for independent investigations of these attacks on human
rights workers.

On March 16, an Israeli soldier killed ISM member Rachel Corrie (Olympia,
WA) when he drove over her with a bulldozer. Earlier this week in Jenin,
soldiers shot ISM member Bryan Avery (Albuquerque, NM)in the face. Hurndall
was standing between Israeli troops and a group of Palestinian children when
soldiers opened fire from a tank mounted machine gun. ISMers hurried to
move the children to cover. Hurndall had just taken the hand of a small
child when soldiers shot him in the head.

Witnesses, including an Associated Press photographer, reported that there
had been no shooting, stone-throwing or any violence directed at the Israeli
soldiers.

"It feels like open season on peace activists," said CPTer LeAnne Clausen
(Mason City, IA.) "It's been open season on Palestinians all along, now the
lack of accountability in the Israeli military has reached a new level. For
Palestinians, the threat of "transfer" (ethnic cleansing) looms large; the
Israeli attacks on human rights workers accompanying them seem to be part of
a move by the Sharon administration in this direction. If the
internationals can be chased away, what will happen to the Palestinian
civilians?"

"It feels like one of us was shot," said CPTer Mark Frey (Chicago, IL.) Both
Hurndall and Corrie participated in ISM trainings with which CPTers have
assisted. Christian Peacemaker Teams is asking for your support in three
forms this week:

1. Wear a bright orange vest this week. When you wear this vest to
church, work or school, be prepared to explain why you are wearing the vests
and invite participation of others THROUGH the following

2. Letters to your Minister of Foreign Affairs/Secretary of State, asking
them to schedule a meeting with the Israeli Ambassador to your country to
ask for an investigation of these assaults and an end to Israeli live-fire
attacks on unarmed civilians (addresses are at the bottom.) Draft a letter
with room at the top for an address and room at the bottom for a signature.
Carry a stack with you this week.

3. Organize a group (in orange vests) to deliver a call for Israeli
military accountability and investigations into these assaults to an Israeli
Consulate or Embassy, or a legislator's office. Be prepared for a sidewalk
press conference if you are denied entry.

(For US residents: There is a resolution in the House of Representatives,
House Concurrent Resolution 111, calling for an investigation into Rachel
Corrie's death. This resolution needs more Congressional co-sponsors before
it will move. If you have not contacted your Representative to ask him or
her to
co-sponsor, you now have more evidence that this is necessary. Sign on to
www.congress.org and enter your zip code for your representative's contact
information.)

Please keep the ISM and CPT members and their families in your prayers.

ADDRESSES
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham, House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

Fax 613-996-3443

Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520
Fax: (202) 261-8577