Activism

Patch Adams: Clowning around in Gaza

1 July 2003



The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) hosted a fundraiser in Washington, D.C. on June 21, 2003 featuring special guest Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams. Dr. Adams — a medical doctor, professional clown, social activist, and D.C. native whose life was celebrated in a 1997 motion picture starring Robin Williams — led a clown delegation into Israel and the occupied Gaza Strip in December 2002 on a tour of schools and hospitals. 

Trial of ISM olive grove defenders begins

19 June 2003

The trial of Neta Golan and Shelly Nativ, Israeli citizens and members of the International Solidarity Movement, opened this morning in Hashalom court house in Kfar Saba. The two are accused of blocking IDF bulldozers in the village Dir Istya near Salfit to prevent them from uprooting Palestinian olive trees. Golan and Nativ are charged with interfering with police work, interfering with a public servant’s work (the bulldozer driver) and disobeying a decree of “closed military zone”. 

ISM coordinator Huwaida Arraf arrested at Huwara checkpoint

18 June 2003



ISM founder Huwaida Arraf was taken into custody at Huwara Checkpoint near Nablus on June 18th after she protested the abusive treatment Palestinians were receiving from Israeli forces. Huwaida began negotiating with soldiers to secure the release of two Palestinian men who had been detained in the sun with their hands tied behind their backs for over 3 hours. One of the men has a bad back and was detained while trying to cross the checkpoint on his way to an appointment with a physician. 

Photostory: Injured ISM activist Brian Avery returns home

Brooks de Wetter-Smith and Michael F. Brown 16 June 2003



On 5 April 2003, Israeli troops shot International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activist Brian Avery in Jenin. Avery, a 24-year-old American citizen from Albuquerque, New Mexico, experienced serious wounds to his face after Israeli troops shot at him with heavy machine gun fire from an armoured personnel carrier (APC). On 14 June 2003, Brian finally returned home after months of hospitalisation, to be greeted by a crowd of 60 people that included family and well-wishers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. Photos by Brooks de Wetter-Smith. 

My (almost) conversation with Colin Powell

Ali Abunimah 16 June 2003



“As soon as US Secretary of State Colin Powell sat down I decided to seize the moment to go and speak with him. I had been stewing in my seat, listening to Powell give an address to the packed banquet hall in which he offered Arab-Americans and Arab people no positive message, except for pro forma declarations of how valued Arab-Americans are as a part of US society.” EI’s Ali Abunimah recounts a brief encounter at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s (ADC) annual convention on 14 June, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Photos by Nigel Parry. 

Working her own road map

Ann S. Kim 15 June 2003

The Mideast was new territory for Mary-Lou Leiser Smith before her first trip to the Holy Land. Now, it’s the center of her heart’s work. These days, Smith is preparing for a conference in November at UNC-Chapel Hill — one focus will be the role of U.S. aid in the conflict. On Saturday, she was part of an enthusiastic group at Raleigh-Durham International Airport greeting peace activist Brian Avery on his return to the United States. Ann S. Kim of The News and Observer reports. 

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