Press Advisories from Nablus and Qalqilia

Press Advisories from Nablus and Qalqilia

In addition to these two press advisories, reports and pictures from today's roadblock and checkpoint actions in Qalqilia and Jenin should come out tomorrow.

**********

1) Qalqilia: Israeli Military Threatens Demonstrators after Peaceful Protest

2) Nablus: Israeli Soldiers Kill Unarmed Palestinian in Balata

**********

1) Israeli Military Threatens Demonstrators after Peaceful Protest

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT 17 July 2004 For Immediate Release

Israeli Military Continues to Provoke the Unrecognized Village Residents of Izbat Tabib after Today's Peaceful Protest

[Izbat Tabib, Qalqilia] Israeli border police and soldiers continue to enter the village of Izbat Tabib and threaten the residents with arrest and home demolitions after a nonviolent demonstration confronted the roadblock on the western side of the village. The Israeli military has said it will arrest and harass the residents late at night and remove and arrest all international activists from the area that has now been deemed a "closed military zone."

At approximately 11:30 AM, 175 Palestinians were joined by 70 international and Israeli peace activists from groups such as Ta'ayush and ISM for a peaceful action calling for recognition of Izbat Tabib and its 300 residents and basic human rights for the local Palestinian population. After many speeches, including those given by MKs Jamal Zahalka and Mohammed Baraki, the demonstrators marched towards the roadblock cutting off Izbat Tabib from vehicles entering from the western side of the village.

The demonstration was met by approximately six jeeps and one hummer of Israeli soldiers and border police officers. The villagers attempted to negotiate for the removal of the roadblock, but the soldiers and police prevented such an action from occurring.

After the failed negotiations, five to ten young boys began throwing stones towards the military. After everyone was back in the village, the military announced the closed military zone and threatened to enter homes and arrest Palestinians, demolish homes and remove all international activists. The villagers believe eight Palestinian children between the ages of 12 and 16 have already been detained.

Izbat Tabib has never been recognized by the Israeli government, and as a result, 16 of the 40 homes in the village are scheduled to be demolished. The Apartheid Wall, which runs close by the village, took 50% of the lands of Izbat Tabib.

Today's demonstration was a peaceful means to protest the strangulation of this small, 300-person village and the attempts of the Israeli government to transfer the local population. However, the Israeli military would not allow for such a protest and it continues to suppress the voices of Izbat Tabib that demand recognition and human rights.

Israeli soldiers and border police are currently in the village, and over a dozen international activists are still there documenting the situation.

2) Israeli Soldiers Kill Unarmed Palestinian in Balata

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT 17 July 2004 For Immediate Release

International Medical Volunteer Witnesses the Execution of Unarmed Palestinian

[Balata, Nablus] At approximately 7:20 PM, Israeli soldiers shot and killed Yasser Khalil Tantawi, an unarmed 20 year-old Palestinian man in the streets of Balata. Eyewitnesses report that Yasser was shot once by the soldiers and then shot nine times as he lay in the street unable to move.

Henrik, a Swedish national and fifth-year medical student volunteering with the Palestinian Medical Relief Societies, was running towards Yasser after he had been shot once, and Henrik shouted to the soldiers that he was an international medical volunteer. The soldiers ignored this announcement and shot Yasser nine more times, with wounds ranging from his chest to his legs. By the time the medical volunteers could reach Yasser and transport him to the ambulance, he was dead.

The soldiers entered the Balata refugee camp at 7:00 PM. Their intentions are still unclear at this moment, but eyewitnesses report that the Israeli military left Balata at approximately 8:30 PM.

In addition to Yasser, another young Palestinian man was shot in the hand this evening in Balata. Yesterday, at approximately 7:30 PM, Bashar Zuriek, a 16 year-old from Balata was shot in the eye by a rubber coated steel bullet and is currently being treated in Jerusalem. He will most likely lose his eye sight.

In the past month, between 25 and 30 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Nablus. While the Israeli forces may claim that they are continuing these daily incursions to collect and kill 'wanted' men, many innocent, unarmed Palestinians are being killed.

Among the others killed, 20 year-old Mahmoud Alawi was shot dead in Balata on July 3, only two weeks after his younger brother Salah (18) was killed by Israeli forces.

© Scoop Media