The two teenagers Hillel Goral (18) and Noam Bahat (19) are conscientious objectors to compulsory military service. At present they are serving their second prison sentence for refusing to enter the Israeli army. Israel has no alternative civilian service and Hillel Goral and Noam Bahat are currently on hunger strike. Hillel Goral was sentenced to 28 days, his second sentence was for the same duration. Noam Bahat was initially sentenced to 28 days, his second sentence was for 42 days. Read more about Two Israeli teenage refuseniks on hunger strike
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"
Have you been wondering what has become of Palestinian life in the occupied territories as the world’s attention was turned towards Iraq? While there have been no Palestinian attacks inside Israel for ten weeks, Israeli attacks against Palestinians have not stopped for a single day. In the last two weeks alone, Israel has killed 21 Palestinians and injured 55 others. In an attack on Palestinian civilians and property yesterday, the Israeli military completely destroyed 18 homes in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, leaving 25 families (178 Palestinian civilians) homeless. AMJ calls for action. Read more about Israel kills 21, injures 55 in two weeks
Over the past month, the International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by PCATI and Defence for Children International/Palestine Section (DCIPA), another member of the SOS-Torture network, of the alarming situation of many other Palestinian children in detention. OMCT is gravely concerned by the high number of allegations of unlawful arrests and detention, torture and ill-treatment of children while in police custody or in Israeli detention facilities, as well as the poor and often inhuman living conditions there. Read more about Torture and ill-treatment of child detainees
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
