Palestine Solidarity Updates:

Palestine Solidarity Updates:

1.Press Conference in Ramallah as Prisoners Begin Hunger Strike 2.Freedom March Against the Wall Builds as it Nears Jerusalem 3.Update on Nablus

1. Press Conference in Ramallah as Hunger Strike Begins:

Sunday, August 15 a press conference was held in Ramallah on the first day of the Palestinian political prisoners hunger strike. The strike is open ended and includes over 7,500 prisoners. On Friday, two days before the strike began, Public Secretary Minister Tzachi Hanegbi made statements about the hunger strikers. He stated that prisoner on hunger strike "can starve death." See Haaretz Service and Agencies: http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/464469.html

In response to Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi comments about letting prisoners "starve to death," Spokesman of the Higher Committee of Prisoners, Helmeh el Araj stated: "Given the apartheid- style statement of Tzachi Hanegbi, who wants to let the prisoners starve, we expect the strike to be tough."

Mahmoud Ziadi, secretary general Committee for the Families of Political Prisoners and Detainees in the West Bank, responded to questions concerning the demands of the prisoners: "The prisoners want to be allowed to meet with their relatives, to see them, to talk to them. Most of them do not have this basic human right"

The prisoners began an open-ended hunger strike yesterday. A parallel hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian political prison is also taking place in Lebanon among families and supporters. Scheduled Activities to Support the Hunger Strikers:

1.A press conference at noon in Ramallah will kick off the campaign Sunday, August 15.

2.Hunger strike solidarity tents will be set up in the centre of all the cities in the West Bank and in all the Red Cross Centers and will be occupied by the public around the clock for as long as the prisoners' strike lasts.

3.August 18:The Palestinian Prime Minister's office has declared this day a National Day for Prisoners for all Palestinians to show solidarity with the prisoners. All government ministers, members of the Palestinian National Council and heads of all political parties will join the public in the Solidarity Tents and fast in support of the prisoners.

4. August 20; after Jum'a prayers at mosques processions will march towards the Solidarity Tents.

5. August 21st; Palestinians in various Israeli cities will march, together with other supporters, to the prisons where Palestinian political prisoners are being held

6. August 22; after church services, processions will march to the Solidarity Tents. These processions will be held every weekend during the campaign.

7. August 23; children of the prisoners will lead a procession.

8. August 25; all professionals involved in the Justice system in Palestine will congregate at the Solidarity Tents in their official legal gowns and will lead a procession to the centre of their cities.

9. August 26; the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Arun Gandhi, will lead a mass procession in Ramallah and Bethlehem.

10. August 28; candlelight processions will be held at 8:00 p.m.

11. August 29; all members of the public are invited to join the open hunger strike.

September 4, 2004: International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

For photos of the first day in solidarity with the prisoners see:

http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_16Aug04_03_10_16RamallahPete.htm

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