Help ISM stop revenge on innocents (6 Bethlehem houses blown already)
November 24, 2002
STOP THE HOUSE DEMOLITION - THIS IS NOT DOING JUSTICE
Started as "reaction" after Thursday's terrorist attack in Jerusalem, the IDF actions against Bethlehem and in the Gaza Strip are continuing. The Israeli media give some
glimpses; there are press releases from Palestinian organizations; the following comes from Huwaida Arraf, International Solidarity Movement and since it describes
something which did NOT YET happen you may try to write a short sharp letter (sample follows) to:
Acting Foreign Minister Benyamin Netanyahu sar@mofa.gov.il
(or even better:) fax (+972-2) 5303506 / 5303896 5303367
and: Spokesperson Defense Ministry info@mail.idf.il
+copies to:
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ecu@un.org, coi@un.org, inquiries@un.org, commond@un.org
US President George W. Bush president@whitehouse.gov
"Secretary of State, Colin Powell" secretary@state.gov,
Vladimir Putin, President, Russia rusun@undp.org
Jacques Chirac, President, France fraun@undp.org
Jiang Zemin, President, China chnun@undp.org
Tony Blair, Prime Minister, Britain (Fax +44-207-925-0918)
"Mr. Terje Rod Larsen Personal Representative of the Secretary General to the United Nations in Palestine" unsco@palnet.com, lemore@un.org
Ms. Mary Robinson UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
European Parliament Belgian Office epbrussels@europarl.eu.int
Jean Chretien Prime Minister of Canada pm@pm.gc.ca
+BCC to otherisr@actcom.co.il
[following is what you can use at it is - or as inspiration]
The senseless ongoing brutality of the IDF against unprotected civilians under its custody (as the occupying force) are not unnoticed. How are you going to explain to the world this ongoing collective punishment, especilly the convenient house demolitions (convenient for settler expansionism) making whole families homeless, because of what one member, now dead, has done? This will not bring back the dead, and not prevent future acts of hatred, on the contrary.
STOP THE HOUSE DEMOLITION - THIS IS NOT DOING JUSTICE
------- Forwarded message follows -------
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
BOMBING THE INNOCENT
The 4-story home of Mohammad Al-Ikhress, in the Dheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, is refuge for 20 people, 8 of whom are children aged 2-weeks to 13 years. The Israeli authorities want to demolish this home to leave these 20 already - refugees, homeless. Why? Because Mohammad is the father of Aayat Al-Ikhress, an 18-year old girl, who back on March 29, 2002, decided to turn herself into a human bomb and detonate in Jerusalem. No one knew of Aayat plans to become a "suicide bomber" and her family and friends still grieve for her, but no one is surprised or asks why. "The Israeli government sows the seeds of hatred in our people. They invade, bomb, demolish, strip, humiliate, shoot, and kill our people, and then call us terrorists when we respond" said Aayat’s older brother.
Last night at 3am, Israeli soldiers invaded the Al-Ikhress home, took all of Aayat’s pictures that her family had around the house, then left, promising to return to
demolish the home. "They took away Aayat’s photos, but they can’t take away the memory of her" said Aayat’s mother, Khadra.
The Israeli military has already demolished 6 Palestinian homes in the Bethlehem area in the past two days and whereas this practice is in direct violation of international law, the mainstream media neglects to mention this, and foreign governments signatory to the Fourth Geneva Convention, fail to condemn this.
International humanitarian law states that collective punishment is illegal: "No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed." (Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention).
This afternoon, 7 international volunteers from the International Solidarity Movement arrived at the Al-Ikhress home and will stay with the family through the night. The
volunteers, equipped with video and still cameras will record the actions of the Israeli military.
We urge the international community to live up to its responsibilities to the Palestinian people. Left with no other way to defend themselves and knowing that international laws are null when it comes to Israel, it is reasonable to expect that the Palestinian people will resort to any means necessary in their struggle for freedom. Failure on the part of the international community to take quick and decisive actions to force Israel to comply with UN Resolutions and international law is allowing the cycle of violence to continue.
Huwaida Arraf
From: Huwaida Arraf
November 23, 2002
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org
"If the people lead, the leaders will follow"
