San Jose Activist & 17 Others Kidnapped by Israeli Navy

Previous indybay coverage: Breaking the Siege of Gaza http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/18/18527427.php

Photo of Darlene Wallach by Sharat G. Lin.

US citizen and activist Darlene Wallach, a British citizen and an Italian, have been detained with 15 Palestinian fisherman by the Israeli Navy.

The group was fishing seven miles off the coast of Deir Al Balah. The US and European citizens, who are human rights observers, were kidnapped with the Palestinians by the Israeli Navy, despite the fact that they were clearly in Gaza fishing waters and well within the fishing limit detailed in the Oslo Accords of 1994. The fishermen and the 3 international activists were transferred from 3 separate boats to the Israeli warships. Other Palestinian fishermen reported that the 3 boats were seen being taken north by the Israeli Navy.

San Jose, California based peace advocates say that Darlene Wallach is apparently being held at the detention facility at the Lod (Tel Aviv) Airport, probably with the intent of deporting her. Darlene's identical twin sister is also an activist in the Free Palestine movement. At last report Donna had been denied access to contact with her sister. Friends who know Darlene say it is likely she will contest her deportation as well as protest the incarceration of the Palestinian fishermen who were abducted along with her.

Israeli military officials told the AFP that the action was taken because the boats deviated from a fishing zone off the Gaza coast and the crews had refused to turn back.