Nonviolent demonstration in West Bank, violent IOF response

Palestinians injured, Israeli and international activists detained
after nonviolent demonstration in Hebron

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 1, 2005

[Hebron, West Bank] In the West Bank village of Khallet Al-Dar in the
Qalqas area of Hebron, hundreds of Palestinians with the support of
international and Israeli activists prevented Israeli bulldozers from
continuing construction of an illegal bypass road. Today's protest was
an effort to plant trees in the location where over 300 trees were
uprooted on Sunday, January 30.

Two Palestinians were injured during the nonviolent demonstration, one
of whom was hospitalized after Israeli soldiers forcefully pushed him
to the ground. One Canadian activist with the International Solidarity
Movement (ISM) was hit by Israeli soldiers in the head with the butt
of a rifle and then punched in the face. Israeli soldiers launched
tear gas and sound bombs. A number of Palestinians were treated for
respiratory problems as a result.

The Israeli military detained two ISM volunteers from Britain and
Canada and five Israelis from the Anarchists against the Wall. They
were brought to the Hebron central police station where they have been
held and interrogated since 2pm. The two ISM volunteers were released
at 8pm on the condition that they not return to the area for two
weeks. One Israeli minor has been charged with assaulting a police
officer and is still being detained. The remaining four Israelis were
offered to be released but have chosen to remain in police custody in
solidarity with the Israeli minor until his release. Today's assault
on peaceful protests continues the Israeli authorities' campaign
against nonviolent Palestinian, Israeli and international activists.

In the Hebron district alone there are more than 120 kilometers of
bypass roads connecting the Israeli settlements with one other and
with Israel. All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under
international law. If built, the new road will connect the two illegal
Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hagai. In effect these roads
carve up the Palestinian areas into isolated ghettos.

Photos available on request.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Aaron: +972.(0)546.486.398 (English & French)
Abed: +972.(0)59.676.087 (Arabic)
Raz: +972.(0)507.946.044 (Hebrew)
ISM Media: +972.(0)546.326.392

END

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palsolidarity/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
palsolidarity-unsubscribe [at] yahoogroups.com