Hebron Urgent Action: Entry Of Greg Rollins

CPT Hebron Press Release May 17, 2004 For Immediate Release

HEBRON URGENT ACTION: ENTRY OF GREG ROLLINS, CANADIAN ADVOCATE OF NONVIOLENCE

Send faxes requesting the Israeli government to uphold a court order allowing Greg Rollins' re-entry into Israel

[Hebron] Christian Peacemaker Teams member Greg Rollins (Surrey, BC) is awaiting the result of a petition to the Israeli High Court charging "contemptuous violation of a court order."

Rollins was the center of a case before the Israeli High Court last year challenging an Israel military order barring all Israelis and internationals from Palestinian-controlled areas. The order was rarely enforced but had a chilling effect on the work of Israeli and international peace groups. Rollins was arrested under the terms of this order while observing the detention of a large number of Palestinian men in Hebron. The ruling on his case stated that the military order was too broad and should not be enforced in the absence of any specific illegal activity.

Sani Khoury, with the law firm of Kuttab and Khoury said, "Our settlement [regarding last year's case] is in writing and has the force of a court order. It says that there are no restrictions on Greg's entering Israel, any past restrictions in Interior Ministry computers must be removed, previous [attempted deportation] proceedings will not be held against him - no restrictions."

However, Rollins was denied entry to Israel at the Ben Gurion airport on March 11, 2004. The Interior Ministry admitted that they had no reason to deny Rollins entry into Israel, but the Israeli security services labeled him a security threat and claimed they had new reasons for denying him entry.

On May 20th at 9am, the High Court petition will be heard and the Israeli security services must present to the judge their reasons for denying Rollins entry into Israel.

For more information please contact the CPT Hebron team.
Tel: 02-222-8485
Cell: Kristin, 052-552-576; Diane, 052-737-098
Email: cptheb@palnet.com
Website: http://www.cpt.org

SAMPLE FAX:

Inav Golomb
Justice Ministry
State Attorney's Office
Fax: 011-972-2-646-6655

and

Silvan Shalom
Foreign Minister
Fax: 011-972-2-530-3367
Email: sar@mfa.gov.il

and

Avraham Poraz
Interior Minister
Fax: 011-972-2-670-1628
Email: sar@moin.gov.il

(date)

RE: ENTRY OF GREG ROLLINS, CANADIAN ADVOCATE OF NONVIOLENCE

Dear (add the name from above):

On May 20th the Israeli High Court will hear a petition pertaining to why the Israeli government is not upholding a court order. As you know, Mr. Rollins was the subject of a High Court case last year, where the final court order determined that he presented no security risk to Israel and should be free to come and go without restriction.

Mr. Rollins has been a strong advocate of nonviolence in Hebron, and by his example and influence must be seen as a constructive presence in the West Bank.

Blocking the entry of Mr. Rollins is against the best interests of Israel and makes it appear as if Israel does not want a reduction of violence in Hebron.

I urge you to uphold the previous court order and permit Mr. Rollins to enter Israel immediately.

(Signed)

--------------------------------

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an ecumenical initiative to support violence reduction efforts around the world. To learn more about CPT's peacemaking work, please visit our website at: http://www.cpt.org. Photos of our projects may be viewed at: http://www.cpt.org/gallery

© Scoop Media