Update on hearing of 8 ISMers / ACTION ALERT

Update on hearing of 8 ISMers / ACTION ALERT

1) Update / Appeal / ACTION ALERT 2) Press release: Eight peace activists threaten Israeli security 3) Letter from an Israeli prison cell 4) Notes from jail July 13, 2003 Friends,

No decision was reached today in the deportation hearing for the 8 imprisoned ISMers. The lawyer for the State asked for a postponement and according to our lawyers will push to make an issue about the ISM, seeking to have us declared "illegal". Therefore the deportation of the 8 peace activists will be on the basis that they are part of the ISM and less about the activity that they were arrested for. The next hearing date will likely be on Tuesday, July 15, but we were not given an exact time yet.

Also, the ISMers were NOT released on bail, the prosecution being adament about depicting them as "great dangers to state security." SEE THE PRESS RELEASE AT THE END

We're asking for your assistance in two areas:

1) If you can help us with some of the legal fees that we're incurring, please consider donating in one of the three following ways:

- Via paypal on our website

- Check or money order via our fiscal sponsors: The Africa Fund c/o Huwaida Arraf 1734 19th Street, NW #2 Washington DC 20009

- Bank transfer to the following account: G & G & H & N (ISM) Bank Hapoalim - Main Branch Tel Aviv 600 Account No. 360883 Swift HAPOALILIT Palestine Investment Bank 76-411 Account No. 78266

PLease help us protest by writing to:

Mr. Abraham Poraz Minister of Interior By Facsimile: 972-2-5666376

SAMPLE LETTER: Dear Sir,

Re: Imprisonment of 8 human rights activists

I have been informed that your office has ordered the arrest and deportation of eight international human rights activists, who are now incarcerated in Ariel Police Station, where they have been detained since July 10 without any charges filed against them.

I kindly request you to release the eight human rights activists from their prison cell .I kindly request you to cancel any deportation proceedings being conducted against them. From the information we have gathered from them and their lawyers, they were arrested solely for doing humanitarian work in the West Bank, notwithstanding the fact they were not involved in any violent action.

We are very much concerned about the imprisonment and deportation of international humanitarian activists. It has been seen, time and again, that the presence of an international observer subdues, if only slightly, what is often the aggressive behavior of occupation soldiers and settlers against Palestinian civilians.

Deporting non-violent human-rights activists can only give ammunition to those who seek to ridicule and undermine the State of Israel.

I would kindly ask you to inform me of your decision, and will continue to follow developments regarding this case.

Sincerely,

-------------------------- copies: Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein, by Fax 972-2-6274481

Important: After sending fax, confirm arrival of fax by the following numbers: Ministry of Interior - 972-2-6701402 Attorney General - 972-2-6466521

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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT July 13, 2003

EIGHT PEACE ACTIVISTS THREATEN ISRAELI SECURITY Trial postponed; Bail denied

[Tel Aviv] No decision was reached today in the case of the eight peace activists slated for deportation by the Israeli authorities. The prosecution asked for more time and the hearing was postponed until Tuesday July 15, though no specific time has been set yet. In addition, the 8 imprisoned ISMers were NOT released on bail - the prosecution, representing the state, being adamant on depicting them as "great dangers to state security." They were all transferred back to the Ariel settlement police station, where they will be held until the next hearing.

Israeli and international peace activists packed the Tel Aviv courtroom this afternoon, for a 1:30pm hearing, as the eight internationals were brought in. Lawyers for the 8 activists were: Shamai Leibowitz, Leah Tsemel, Gaby Lasky and Yoni Lehrnman. After approximately 5 minutes of proceedings, the prosecution asked for more time and the court was recessed. Advocate Shamai Leibowitz informs that the prosecution is looking to make this case more about the ISM and less about the individual activities of those arrested, seeking to deport the eight internationals based on their affiliation with the ISM.

Tobias Karlsson (SWEDEN)

Tarek Loubani (CANADA) Fredrick Lind (DENMARK) Bill Capowski (USA) All arrested on Wednesday July 9 for sitting in a peace camp in Arrabony village near Jenin, to peacefully protest the confiscation of Palestinian land and the building of an apartheid wall, and:

Daniel Knutsson (SWEDEN) Alex Perry (UK) Saul Reid (UK) Thomas Pellas (FRANCE) All arrested on Thursday, July 10 for joining Palestinians in removing a roadblock that denies Palestinians the basic right of freedom of movement.

The State of Israel is grasping at straws in its attempt to brandish the ISM illegal. This strategy follows a list of efforts aimed at breaking the phenomena of international solidarity - from slander, denial of entry and deportations (approximately 60 in the last 15 months),to intimidation, physical threats, injury and even death. The Israeli government calls us a "threat to the security of the state"; Our most dangerous weapons are our eyes, ears, mouths and the truth.

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