CPTnet
May 10, 2003
HEBRON URGENT ACTION: Stop Israeli attempts to silence international human
rights observers

"This is an initiative to restrict what the world knows about what is going
on here," a friend of CPT's said over the phone after hearing about the
Israeli army's raid on the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) office in
Beit Sahour (near Bethlehem) on Friday. "ISMers are eyewitnesses to the
truths of the occupation, and tell people around the world what is going on.
This reality bothers the policies of the occupation." Soldiers confiscated
the organization's computers, photographs and CDs and arrested two
internationals that were in the building, an American volunteer named Flo,
and a worker for Human Rights Watch. Both internationals are currently being
held, and questioned by the Israeli Ministry of Interior. They also went
to the nearby office of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement, which
promotes Palestinian-Israeli dialogue, and confiscated that organization's
computers as well.

CPT and many other international groups in the West Bank and Gaza, are
asking for your help. U.S. citizens should contact their congressperson
about these recent developments and Canadians should contact the Canadian
Minister of Foreign affairs. Both Americans and Canadians can also send
letters to some of the Israeli officials listed below. Let them know you are
aware of the situation regarding the treatment of internationals in Israel
and that such harassing of nonviolent organizations is not a step towards
peace.

In the past several weeks the Israeli army has stepped up its harassment of
nonviolent international peace groups such as ISM and CPT. In addition to
raiding the ISM and Rapprochement offices in Beit Sahour, soldiers have shot
ISMers and refused to allow members of Amnesty International to enter the
Gaza Strip. Just as this release was ready to be posted, the team in
Hebron learned that the military had arrested three more ISM volunteers in
the northern West Bank.

The following is a sample letter you can e-mail or fax to your local
representative.

Dear ______,

In a situation of violent conflict, international observers act as the eyes
of the world. Please make sure that the Israeli government does not deport
international people who work or volunteer with nonviolent peace
organizations such as the International Solidarity Movement.

(signed)

In the US: Contact your congressperson, the State Department and the
White House using this link.
http://www.cflweb.org/congress_merge_.htm or http://www.congress.gov
Also call the State Department and demand action. STATE DEPARTMENT 1-
202-647-5150

For UK, Please call THE FOREIGN OFFICE 020 7008 1500, Also Contact
your MP and Prime Minister

For Israel Contact Israeli Minister of Interior, Tel: +972-2-629-
4701; Fax: +972-2-629-4750
Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom Fax: +972-2-5303704 e-mail:
sar@mofa.gov.ilIsraeli
Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz Fax: +972-3-6916940, 6976990 e-mail:
sar@mod.gov.il
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fax: (+972-2) 566-4838 or 651-3955 or
651-2631

For Canada: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham, House of
Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6; Fax 613-996-3443