Updates From Nablus And Palestine

Updates From Nablus And Palestine

1) Nablus in the last twenty days _ Zeid in Nablus
2) The truth is out there, somewhere - Toronto Star 3) Support the refuseniks

1) Nablus in the last twenty days. January 8, 2004 Zeiad F.
Nablus Operation stagnant water began on the 16th December before this time the Israeli Army had been coming in to Balata or Askar every 3 or 4 days provoking trouble and playing their game of shooting at the children.But after the 16th the operation was intensified with about 500 troops backed up by 30 tanks and many jeeps surrounding Balata Camp. The troops started house to house searches using dogs, while others used explosives to blow holes from one house to the next.During this time jeeps were driving around shooting at the children who were throwing stones.

Before they left they completely demolished two houses of wanted men, these houses contained many family's. In this time the Israeli Army prevented the ambulances from going in to attend wounded people and also stopped journalists from entering and reporting what was happening.

By the 23rd December they had further escalated the situation by entering Nablus and killing 5 people. 4 of these people were killed after they had been taken prisoner. The occupation of Nablus intensified with Israeli soldiers occupying houses and the whole area of alqarion sealing off people from food and medical help.

Many houses were demolished and innocent civilians killed. All together 18 people have been killed and 264 injured so far, and the operation continues with two people being killed today. Many people are suffering from the cold and wet conditions as they try to repair their houses and get food stock piled in readiness for the next incursion by the Israeli Military who are still around Nablus .

2) The truth is out there, somewhere (Toronto Star)

Letters to the Editor via email to lettertoed@thestar.ca; via fax to 416 869-4322; or by mail to One Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1E6.
Letters must include full name, address, and phone numbers of sender. Street names and phone numbers will not be published.

TORONTO STAR Jan. 8, 2004. 01:00 AM

The truth is out there, somewhere ANTONIA ZERBISIAS

It is disturbingly easy to lose track of those who have fallen over the past few weeks in Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank and, reportedly, the breeding ground for most of the suicide bombers who have terrorized Israelis. A search of various databases turns up mind-boggling headlines that change every day, and sometimes every hour. "Three Palestinian militants killed by Israeli patrols during West Bank sweep'' read one yesterday, which followed another "Israeli troops kill Palestinian teenager in West Bank'' the day before and another "Five Palestinians killed in clashes" on Monday. We're looking at perhaps two dozen Palestinians dead and maybe 250 more injured since mid-December when the town came under a virtually uninterrupted Israeli military blockade. A 5-year-old was gunned down just before Christmas. This week, a 15-year-old was shot dead because, as IDF troops said, he was hurling concrete blocks at them from a rooftop. His 17-year-old cousin was killed during the burial because, as the Jerusalem Post reported, "soldiers spotted an armed Palestinian participating in the funeral." Don't be confused by the coverage cited here because chances are you have seen none of it, no matter how much of a media junkie you may be.

See… http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename==thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=—1358637177&c==Article&cid= 73517011288

3) Support the Israeli refuseniks [From the Refusers Parents Forum] 5 COs jailed to deter a generation of conscripts to the Israeli Army.

On 4 January, 2004 Five conscripted Conscientious Objectors were sentenced to an additional year in prison on top of the year they have been held for refusing to serve in the IDF. The sentence is, in effect, an unlimited one as the prosecution intends to jail them till they agree to serve. That's the price they will pay for refusing to be part of the brutal occupation.

The 5 COs are being punished because of their convictions - the severity of the punishment reflects the Israeli government's fear of those convictions. The Government needs programmed soldiers - its policy is to intimidate all conscripts by jailing these COs until they break.

We will not let this happen !! Sign the Petition for the immediate release of the 5 conscientious objectors at http://www.refuz.org.il/.

How many people will it take to convince the Israeli government that intimidation of people with a conscience is unacceptable ... 1,000? 100,000? Or a million?? Whatever it takes we intend to get it! Be part of our campaign!

Signing the petition will not be enough. We need you to open doors in your community - advise us who to approach - in what organization - perhaps using your name as an introduction -- and any other ideas that you have to spread the word. Together we can create "the great moral uprising" we need to get them out.

Send us an email at alexmaor@refuz.org.il the Refusers Parents' Forum Coordinator.

Join us in http://www.refuz.org.il/

CHANGE A HISTORY OF OPPRESSION - FORWARD THIS LETTER TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

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