Today 13 Israeli reservists from the Israeli army’s top commando unit, “Sayeret Matkal” announced they would no longer serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, reflecting growing unease with Israel’s occupation of Palestine. The reservists, including three officers, made their announcement in a letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. “Sayeret Matkal” is the top commando unit in the Israeli army. In September, Israeli pilots wrote a similar letter, refusing to take part in air strikes on Palestinians living in the occupied territories. Read more about 13 Israeli reservists from elite unit refuse to serve the occupation
The courtroom at the Jaffa Military Court had never been so overcrowded. Special benches had been dragged in, filling the aisle and leaving hardly any room for passage. Activists, family members and journalists crowded into every available corner (there were four TV crews, who were chased out after the judges came in) and still as many as were in had to wait outside. At long last, the verdict in the trial of Noam Bahat, Matan Kaminer, Adam Maor, Haggai Matar and Shimri Tsameret was going to be delivered. Read more about Doing things the hard way - the verdict of five "refuseniks"
The main aim of this event is to raise awareness of the plight of the Palestinian people due to the continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, which is denying peace and security to all the people of the region. The ride will start in London (probably Trafalgar Square) on either 7th or 14th August 2004. It is intended that the start will coincide with a big rally for Palestine, to be organised with the support of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, The Friends of Al-Aqsa and other pro-Palestinian groups. As much media coverage as possible will be arranged at the start, with high profile supporters in attendance. Read more about The Peace Cycle 2004: London-Jerusalem Bike Ride
A group of Palestinian, international, and Israeli activists have chosen the village of Deir Ballut, in the Salfit Governorate, as the site for the next round of activities in opposition to Israel’s continued building of Phase II of the Apartheid Wall. Building on the lessons of the successful Mas’ha camp, which brought enormous international attention to the political motives behind the wall, these activists will create a two-week continual presence on their land that is threatened by the building of the wall. The International Womens’ Peace Service report on the activities of the villagers of Deir Ballut. Read more about Deir Ballut Camp against the Wall
More than 500 academics, civil society leaders, activists, and journalists signed a public statement “The Reality of the ‘Geneva Accord’ ” expressing their opposition to the document. The undersigned, consider the “Geneva Accord” as “inconsistent with the prerequisites of a just and durable peace”. The petition will be presented to, among others, all US members of Congress, the European Union, the Arab League, and various international organizations and figures. Read more about Academics, activists and writers oppose "Geneva Accord"
Pro-Palestinian activists made a checkpoint in the midst of exit S104 and S105 of the A10 ring road around Amsterdam. Motorists were checked. At the end of the checkpoint the motorists were handed a flyer in which explanation was given about the checkpoint and the occupation in the daily lives of ordinary Palestinians. During this action four activists were taken into custody. The action took place in commemoration of the start of the Intifada, the Palestinian popular uprising in 1987. Read more about Activists commemorate Intifada anniversary in four European cities
Montreal-based solidarity activist and alternative journalist was barred from entering Israel this past Saturday. Stefan Christoff, who is a member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and a media activist, attempted to cross into Israel from Jordan. Border officials held Stefan for several hours, where he was interrogated and thoroughly searched before finally being barred entry by Israeli border guards. Stefan was unilaterally deemed a “security threat” to Israel; no proof or explanation was provided. Border guards threatened to remove Stefan by force if he did not return to Jordan. Read more about Montreal-based solidarity activist and journalist barred from Israel
The Canada Palestine Association and ISM Vancouver hosted an evening of solidarity with the Palestinian People on Saturday November 29 at the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver. Guest speakers included Cindy and Craig Corrie, parents of slain 23 year-old American peace activist Rachel Corrie, and co-founder of Electronic Intifada EI’s Laurie King-Irani, and discussion and video showings by recently returned ISM activists from British Columbia. The evening also featured a LIVE phone report from Rafah in the Gaza Strip by Melissa, an ISM Vancouver volunteer. Read more about Vancouver International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an international humanitarian service organization, joins Palestine, Israel, and organizations and coalitions around the world for the International Week of Action Against the Wall, November 9-16. During the next week groups are mobilizing their communities for a series of educational activities and actions to bring down this Wall and other walls and barriers. The American Friends Service Committee is has worked for a just U.S. policy in the Middle East for decades. Read more about AFSC joins worldwide action against the separation wall
Approximately 150 New Yorkers converged at Bryant Park, Manhattan, carrying three sixty-yard mock “walls” depicting the 25-ft.-high wall enclosing the Palestinian peoples in the West Bank. The protesters marched down 42nd street to Grand Central Station where they carried the wall inside to display it for passer-bys, while chanting “Tear Down the Wall.” “We are sending a message to our governments to stop their support of this hideous act of ethnic cleansing veiled behind ‘security’ rhetoric,” said Omar Jamal of SUSTAIN-NYC. Read more about New Yorkers erect a "Separation" Wall in Midtown Manhattan
