ACTION ALERT

We succeeded to get foodstuffs and “international protection” into the Church of the Nativity! If you haven’t yet seen the reports, please see below.

The 13 of us that were detained after the action have just been released for a few hours, I think. We were 8 guys and 5 ladies. After over 7 hours of being detained and questioned by the Israeli military, we were finally hand-cuffed and escorted out of Bethlehem. At the Bethlehem checkpoint, the guys and girls were divided. The five ladies were pushed into the floor of a police jeep and our legs were bound. The Israeli police officers drove around for a while then stopped and pulled one girl out - Ida Fasten, from Sweden, cut her loose and left her, in the middle of we don’t know where, by herself. We were horrified! They had taken all of our phones and identification, and it was 2am. When I protested leaving a foreign woman out in the middle of unfamiliar territory in the middle of the night, with no phone and no ID, I was physically assaulted -- slapped hard in the face by one of the officers. Both officers in the jeep refused to give us their names and badge numbers, despite repeated requests.

When we realized that the officers were going to leave each one of us in a different place, the four of us left in the jeep agreed on a meeting place. Four of us are now safe in a hotel in Jerusalem, but we still don’t know where Ida is. We don’t know what happened to the guys. Again, none of us have our phones. We were told to report to a certain location, 24 Hillel, at 9am - in 4 hours. I pray Ida is there and that the guys are also safe.

We don’t know whether we face arrest or deportation; what we do know is that the presence of the international civilians now inside the Church of the Nativity is probably a lifesaver. We brought in food and are offering international presence as protection for the civilians inside the church from the indiscriminate shooting of the Israeli Army. We are international civilians upholding international law. Please contact your governments and ask them to do the same.

ISM ENTERS CHURCH OF NATIVITY
by International Solidarity Movement . Thursday May 02, 2002 at 10:03 AM
Bethlehem

10 ISM Members managed to enter the besieged Church with food and supplies

Contact (inside church): 011-972-65-622-017; 011-972-67-403-272;011-972-67-346-410
Other information: Huwaida: 011-972-52-642-709; Georgie: 011-972-840-767; IMC Palestine: 011-972-2-277-7558

BETHLEHEM (May 2, 2002) - Ten members of the International Solidarity
Movement (ISM) entered the besieged Church of Nativity at about 5:45 pm,
walking past Israeli occupation soldiers. A further thirteen persons,
working as decoys were arrested by the Israeli soldiers. All those inside
are determined to remain until the Israelis lift their siege on the city of
Bethlehem.

The ISM conceived of an intricate plan to move past Israeli soldiers outside
the Church in several separate but coordinated groups carrying placards
denouncing the ongoing Israeli occupation. In a move orchestrated with
contacts within, two ISM teams were able to reach the Church and enter its
main door before Israeli soldiers could respond. Every member carried with
them food and other critical supplies badly needed by the Palestinians holed
up inside. The Israeli army has denied the Palestinians, besieged since
April 1, 2002, sufficient amounts of food.

This constitutes the latest in a series of success by the ISM to defy the
Israeli occupation and to demonstrate to the world that the international
community takes a firm stance against the illegal Israeli occupation of
Palestinian territory. In light of the failure for the international
community, namely the United States and the United Nations to act to help
protect the Palestinian people and secure their universal rights, the ISM
has had to operate on its own. Prior to this, the ISM has twice circumvented
Israeli occupation forces to place activists inside of President Arafat's
compound in Ramallah.

Those inside and their respective nationalities are as follows:
Nauman Zaidi (USA), Robert O'Neill (USA), Alister Hillman (UK), Allan
Lindgaard (Denmark), Stefan Coster (Sweden), Erik Algers (Sweden), Larry
Hales (USA), Mary Kelly (Ireland), Kristen Schurr (USA), and Jacqueline
Soohen (Canada)

Those detained by the Israeli army are as follows:
Jeff Kingham (USA), Kate Thomas (UK), Marcia Tubbs (UK), John Caruso (USA),
Nathan Musselman (USA), Nathan Mauger (USA), Trevor Bammgartner (USA), Jo
Harrison (UK), Johannes Walilstram (Sweden), James Hanna (USA), Thomas
Kootsoukos (USA), Ida Fasten (Sweden), Huwaida Arraf (USA)

END

We need people to begin contacting their respective embassies/ consulates in order to protest the ongoing treatment of detainees by the Israeli govt. Detainees are being denied legal consul and are not being told what their ultimate fate is or when it will be carried out.

Currently the men are being held at an illegal settlement in Hebron and Huwaida, Jo and Trever are refusing food and water in protest of this illegal treatment. You all know that if this was happening to citizens of a western country in any other country in the region it would be cause for massive protest but since Israel is doing it there seems to be apathy on the part of our respective governments.

Anything you can do from calling, emailing, showing up in front of the locations, etc. will be helpful in pressuring these governments to do something and take action to resolve the situation in a positive manner.

We are being held hostage by the State of Israel, without due process, without free access to a lawyer or a hearing. Nathan Musselman, Nathan Mauger, Tom Kaoutsoukos have begin a hunger strike in conjunction with Trevor Baumgartner, Huwaida Arraf and Jo Harrison who are in their 5th day. Today, 2 of them were hospitalised and despite the fact that blood test show their blood sugar level is dangerously low, they have been returned in to detention.

Our demands are clear. We want to leave this country voluntarily and we want a letter from the Ministry of Interior stating that we are not being deported and that there are no prohibitions on future travel to Israel. We will continue our strike until our demands are met. We are putting out a call to all those who stand for freedom and democracy to take action and help in the case of the internationals who are being held illegally by Israeli forces in Palestine and Israel. NONE of the internationals has so far been arrested, yet already at least two of them have been deported with NO due process. The rest have been denied access to legal aid and have been denied any information as to their ultimate fate.

The men are being held at Kiryat Arba, an illegal settlement in al-Khalil (Hebron) where their lives are in danger at this very moment due to the volitale situation brought about by IDF actions recently.

We URGE everyone to flood the embassies/ consulates with calls/ emails, showing up in person if needed to express their concern about this blatant violation of international law. If any country other than Israel was doing this, all states involved would have condemned the action. Why the double standard? In particular , the United States government is WELCOMING the

Prime Minister of a state that HOLDS U.S. NATIONALS AGAINST THEIR WILL ILLEGALLY!!!

The 5 American internationals who have been on hunger strike struck a deal with the Ministry of Interior regarding their ultimate fate. They agreed to leave voluntarily providing that they received a letter confirming that they were not deported and that there were assurances regarding their ability to return, should they wish to do so.

Huwaida Arraf, who has been on hunger strike since last Friday, received her letter late yesterday. Assurances were given to our legal advisers that the letter would be issued to all 5.

Early this morning Arraf boarded a plane back to teh States. We have now been informed by the authorities that the 'deal' does not cover the remaining 4 men.

Ths is yet another example of Israel's willingness to make hollow promises, as has been seen on countless ocassions with the Palestinians. The verbal assurances were taken in good faith and Arraf left solely on that basis.

The physical condition on the men is of great concern; Trevor Baumgartner is reported to be unable to move from his bed now. Today is the 6th day of his strike.

Hertzl Getz, Head of Department of the Population Registry in the Ministry of Interior has "more important things to do" than concern himself with the fate of 4 American men currently being detained against their will by the authorities.

The Ministry was informed that they would agree to leave voluntarily providing that they received a letter confirming that they were not deported and that there were assurances regarding their ability to return, should they wish to do so. This was accepted by the Israeli

One of the group, based on these assurances, signed her letter and is now en-route home.

We have now been informed that the Ministry has revoked the agreement, leaving the 4 others in detention. The lawyer representing the group called the Ministry to speak to Mr. Gitz. The following conversation was ugly and he ranted uncontrollably. He said "I do not want to speak to you. I do not want to hear from you, stop calling and bothering me." When it was pointed out that he has an obligation to these people he stated "I do not have to deal with these two and a half people", meaning 'peons'. He added that deportation orders had been issued but none of the

detainees have received them. The lawyer demanded that these papers be presented to them, in English and he refused. "Don't tell me what to do, they will be issued in our language" was his repsonse.

Again his responsibilities were stressed, however he was adamant in his refusal to either deal with the issue or take the responsibility his position demands. Throughout the conversation he was rude and abusive - hardly the demeanour one expects of a high ranking official. She demanded that he respond immediately in writing, which he has refused to do. He cited a 14 day period in which he was obliged to make any response as his reason for not acting with any urgency.

American Jews populate the illegal settlements throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These Americans are armed and receive the full protection of the Israeli government. They also receive the benefits of the massive financial aid received from America, courtesy of each

American citizen. The 4 men, also American citizens, are being left to languish in jail, against their will and without any redress through the country's legal system. Their attempts to gain attention to their plight by engaging in a hunger strike have been ignored and their health is in danger. One man has now refused to take water in light of these events.

Even their own government is ignoring their plight. The American Consulate and Embassy effort to intervene on behalf of their citizens have had no effect. We believe that the pressure being exerted is by no means sufficient.

Jews have faced persecution for centuries and now, in the form of Israel, has become the persecutor. As a non-Jew in this country it is apparent that one has no rights whatsoever and can be held hostage at the behest of the authorities. This is certainly evident with the racist and discriminatory treatment meted out to Palestinians, both as citizens of the State of Israel as well as those living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Now, anyone entering the State of

Israel is in danger of becoming a non-entity and disappearing in to system to be abandoned. This is both illegal and immoral. Israel cannot claim to be a democracy whilst these flagrant abuses of human and civil rights continue. We demand that the 4 men are treated as humans beings and with equality.

Thank you to everyone that mobilized around the detention of the 13 ISM activists after the Thursday May 3 effort to take food and put an international human shield inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Here is a brief update about all of us, and a plea for more action: Ida Fasten (Sweden) - the young girl that never turned up after she was thrown out of an Israeli military jeep in the middle of the night with no ID and no phone - she is OK, in a Palestinian community and laying low. Jeff Kingham (USA), John Carusso (USA) - were forced on a plan on the morning of Saturday May 4 and are now back in the US. James Hanna (USA) - forced on a plane on Saturday May 4. Currently in Germany where he is residing. Johannes Wahlstrom (Sweden) - forced on a plane on Sunday May 5. Now in Sweden. Joanna Harrison (UK), Marcia Tubbs (UK) and Katie Thomas (UK) - forced on a plane on Tuesday May 7 Huwaida Arraf (USA) - I was approached by the Israeli Ministry of Interior with a response to my demand for a letter that I would leave the country of my own free will and that no ban would be placed on my returning. This was after my colleagues above were already deported. After we worked out the wording of the letter and both I and lawyer Leah Tsemel received assurances that the same letter would be given to four American men that remained in an Israeli prison, I agreed and was taken right from prison to the airport.

Only one hour after arriving in New York (Wednesday, May 8) I learned that the Israeli Ministry of Interior reneged on their agreement vis a vis the other four Americans. Now, four young American men remain in Israeli prison and are on hunger strike (one of them, Trevor, is on his 7th day and the other 3 are on their 5th day). They are: Trevor Baumgartner - Seattle, Washington Thomas Koutsoukos - Lake Forest, Illinois Nathan Mauger - Spokane, Washington Nathan Musselman - Roanoke, Virginia These four men need your help. They, like the rest of us, were never arrested by the Israeli authorities. They were dragged out of Palestinian territory (Bethlehem), by Israeli forces, held in detention and presented with deportation orders. For protesting this deportation and lack of due process, they remain prisoners - held without charge, hostages of the Israeli Authorities. The four men are asking to be allowed to go home, but of their own free will, for they will not accept the legitimacy of an occupation force to keep them from working with the Palestinian people, now and in the future.

As the government of Israel ramps up its efforts to "purify" Palestine, so too must we intensify our energies to bring visibility and eventually justice to the people here- Palestinians and Israelis alike.

I am engaged, along with three other US men, in a bitter struggle with the Ministry of the Interior. All we are asking is that they honor an agreement they have already made. Their response has been to dehumanize and punish us all with physical and psychological isolation.

We know that this struggle is more than about individual fates. As I write this the Israel government is detaining humanitarian aid workers and denying them entry, Ha'aretz recently reported that Israel intends to expel anyone who shows "solidarity" with Palestinians.

Despite these designs, and despite these attempts to force isolation upon us, we know you are out there! And this knowledge is the food and water that drives us forward! The day will come when we sit down and eat the fruit our work has produced.

Trevor Baumgartner For further information contact Georgina at (from US): 011-972-55 840767 Update: Nathan Mauger and Thomas Koutsoukos are now refusing to take water as well as food.

Approximately one hour ago, Trevor collapsed in Ramle prison. Although his current condition is unknown, we are gravely concerned for his wellbeing. Despite being in an incredibly weakened state, he was still in detention. Today is the ninth day of his hunger strike and the 5th without water.

His embassy have not exerted anything like the pressure on the Israeli authorities to resolve the case for Trevor and his three friends, despite the fact that Israel reneged on an agreement. His lawyer has tried to call them this evening but has reached no-one. She left a message informing them of the critical situation and the consequences of their failure to act.

It is vital that you all protest in the strongest terms to your representatives as well as calling the embassy here (011-972 3 519 7575).

for more information please contact: Georgina Reeves, 011-972 55 840 767

UPDATE May 11th, 10:15pm (Palestine Time): 10 Internationals Taken to Israeli Jail near East Jerusalem, At Least Two are Forcibly Deported

Yesterday, after the Israeli army removed the 10 internationals from the Church of Nativity, the internationals were told they were being taken to Ramle prison near Hebron. However, they were actually taken to the illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim (East of Jerusalem) and put into jail. Men and women have been separated.

Earlier today a supporter was able to apparently visit the international women detained though was denied access to the men. The supporter was told to come back tomorrow in order to see the men.

Two internationals have been forcibly deported: Alister Hillman, UK and Allan Lindgaard, Denmark. There is speculation that a third international male was deported though this has not been confirmed.

The list of the internationals remaining is as follows:
1. Nauman Zaidi, USA
2. Robert O'Neill, USA
3. Larry Hales, USA
4. Kristen Schurr, USA
5. Stefan Coster, Sweden
6. Erik Alger, Sweden
7. Mary Kelly, Ireland
8. Jacqueline Soohen, Canada

UPDATE May 13th: One International Confirmed Deported; The Remaining 11 Expect Deportation Soon

Coloradan Larry Hales, one of ten internationals illegally seized by the Israeli military at the end of Israel's siege of the Church of Nativity, was deported this evening. He joins Alister Hillman (UK) and Allan Lindgaard (Denmark) in being forcefully deported from Palestinian territory by the Israelis.

We have been informed by the lawyer of the ISM memebrs who were inside the Church of the Nativity that the Israeli Authorities will deport 14 [sic] of the peace activists to their countries. The activists said to the lawyer that they oppose the deportation but will not resist it physically. We have been informed that some of them will leave tomorrow May 14, 2002 at the early morning hours. The rest will also leave afterwards tomorrow. This will not discourage peace activists, they will continue to come to Palestine despite of the fact that the Israeli Authorities continues to prevent humanitarians from coming to Palestine by sending them back from the airport.

Seven internationals whose deportations have not been confirmed yet (as of 2:00am Eastern Standard Time, USA):

4. Stefan Coster, Sweden
5. Erik Alger, Sweden
6. Mary Kelly, Ireland
7. Jacqueline Soohen, Canada

On May 2nd, after delivering food to the starving people in the Church of the Nativity, we were illegally detained by the Israeli occupation forces in Bethlehem, where Israel has no juridical authority. Since then we have been held in an Israeli prison without any formal legal procedure.

On May 6th we began a hunger strike in order to receive a letter from the Israeli Ministry of Interior. When the Minsitry of Interior reneged on its promise to give us the letter we stepped up the strike and 3 of us refused water.

We have now heard that the Israeli Government intends to expel us from Israel, against our will.

We are deeply saddened to leave Palestine and will miss all our loved ones there. We look forward, however, to continue the struggle in the United States for peace with justice for the Palestinian people.

Statement of Trevor Baumgartner, Thomas Koutsoukos, Nathan Musselman and Nathan Mauger.

UPDATE May 15th: Kristen Schurr, Detained NYC Journalist In Israel by Jordan Flaherty 9:57am Wed May 15 '02 (Modified on 10:11am Wed May 15 '02)

Since late March New York journalist and activist Kristen Schurr has been
reporting from the West Bank and Gaza for Democracy Now and Free Speech Radio
News. She was among 10 activists who made it into the Church of Nativity to
bring food. Today marks her fifth day in Israeli jail where she is being
illegally detained.

I just taked to Georgie at Indymedia Palestine (5/15, 4:30am East Coast
Time). The other women have been deported, and Kristen is now alone in
prison, on day six there. (The men are separate). They still have not given
her any word on IF she will be deported, much less when. Tomorrow (Thursday)
is a religious holiday in Israel, then Friday begins the Sabbath. The
American Embassy is then closed on Sunday. In other words, if nothing happens
today, sheâ€™ll probably be in there for several more days. Please take action
today!

>From Yesterdayâ€™s Phone call: She and the others from the church have been
â€œpoked, prodded, screamed at, and strip searched several timesâ€‌ (Kristenâ€™s
words). This is in addition to being beaten when they were arrested. The two
other women, Jacquie and Mary, have been told times that they are leaving
(they seem to get notice a day or two in advance), but Kristen has gotten no
such notice. So, Jacquie and Mary are now gone, and sheâ€™s alone in a military
prison. She has very limited access to legal council. She hasn't been charged
with any crime, and she has had almost no acces to a phone to call friends or
relatives. They keep promising to let her make calls, then going back on
their word. She is feeling very isolated right now.

When arrested, she was in "Area A" - supposedly not under Israeli influence.
She committed no crime. Just brought food.

She asks us to call this number to put on pressure: Please, call Mika at 011
972 55 512 515, or 011 972 3 519 7479. He is with the US consulate. You may
not reach anyone at first, but please, keep trying, and leaving messages. Ask
him what the Embassy is doing for Kristen. Ask if it's standard practice for
the US to do nothing when a foreign Government holds US citizens without
charges.

Kristenâ€™s Cogressional rep is Charles Rangel of New York. Her parents may
live in Jim McDermottâ€™s district, Iâ€™m not sure. Members of Congress can be
reached by calling the Congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121 and
224-3121. Then simply ask for your Representative or Senator. Itâ€™s helpful to
call Charles Rangel, Jim McDermott, and your rep as well. Ask them why Israel
doesnâ€™t want witnesses in Palestine, and ask them why their office is doing
nothing about this. Ask if its ok to treat citizens of their congressional
district this way.

More numbers:
Ed McKean - US Embassy - 011 972 3519 7551
Nica Cleaverly US Embassy - American Citizens Services
011 972 3519 7479
These are the direct lines that we have been flooding. Please continue to
call until we see Kristen in the US

Congressman Jim McDermott 206-553-7170
Senator Patty Murray 206-553-5545
Senator Maria Cantwell 202-224-3441
Also: Please fax your outrage now to: +972 (0) 3 517 3227 (Embassy) and +972
(0) 2 624 9462 (Consulate).

More info on Kristen (Biography From Kate Crane): Kristen Schurr is a
journalist with Free Speech Radio and Democracy Now! Kristen is from Seattle,
but currently lives in New York City, where she is well loved in many of the
cityâ€™s communities. Global justice concerns her deeply. She is especially
passionate about peace in the West Bank, a cause she has studied and worked
on for well over a decade. In her drive to achieve social justice, Kristen
uses her powerful skills as a writer, audio journalist and foreign
correspondent. Kristen is vibrant and sharp, and her voice is such that
people truly listen when she speaks. Kristen and her work are invaluable, and
her family and friends miss her dearly.

Take Action NOW

ACTION REQUESTED Please call and / or fax the American Embassy in Tel Aviv, the US Consulate in Jerusalem, and the US State Department (especially the Bureau of Near East Affairsand ask them what they are doing to help these US citizens.), at the numbers below. Indicating your strong concern and objections to the treatment of the internationals. ASK why the Consulate is apparently doing very little help the internationals locked up by the Israelis. Your action is very important because the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a movement of nonviolent resistance which has done a lot to keep the IDF's treatment of Palestinians within the bounds of humanity, and to let the rest of the world know of violations of international law and common decency. It is clear that the Israeli government wants to discourage this movement. It needs to be made costly (in terms of public opinion) for them to do so.

For more information on their case, please contact: Georgina Reeves (ISM) at +972-55-840-767 IndyMedia Palestine at +972-2-277-7558 Advocate Allegra Pacheco at +972-50-387-570

For Calls to Israel & Palestine, CALL AROUND 6 to 7 A.M. (US Time Zones), or earlier, to get them during the workday.

US Embassy, Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer

PHONE: 011-972-3-519-7575

FAX: 011-972-3-517-3227

The two US Embassy staff persons that are familiar with the case of these four men are: Ms. Ingrid Barzel - +972-3-519-7534 (office) or +972-50-481-049 (mobile) Mr. Michael Cleaverly - +972-3-519-7479 (office) or +972-55-512-515 (mobile) If you live in the city and/or state of these US Citizens please contact your congressional representatives and ask them what they are doing to help their constituents being abused by a foreign government. If you have any media contacts, please alert them to the case of these internationals. We are doing what we can on our end, but we need much help with outside pressure.Protest to your US Senators and Representatives now. Israel cannot continue to be allowed to act as a rogue state.

For US Citizens, FAX Secretary of State Colin Powell: —(fax) 202-261-8577

US Consulate General-Jerusalem,Ronald Schlicher18 Agron Road, Jerusalem 94190 / 27 Nablus Road, Jerusalem 94190 CONSULATE PHONE - 011-972-2-622-7230 / 011-972-2-625-3288 CONSULATE FAX - 011-972-2-625-9270 US Consulate General- Jerusalem, Public Affairs Office Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telephone [011-972-2-628-2456] Fax [011-972-2-628-2454]. The following page has additional information (as of Oct 2001) about names, responsibilities, phone numbers and fax numbers at the Consulate in Jerusalem: http://www.foia.state.gov/mms/KOH/keypostdetails.asp?post=0&letter=I&id=72

* If you need information to decipher the abbreviations, try: http://www.foia.state.gov/mms/KOH/abbr_sym_start.asp

You may wish to call Assistant Secretary William Joseph Burns [see http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ ] Bureau of Near East Affairs (NEA) 2201 C Street, NW, Room 5256 Washington, DC 20520 Phone: (202) 736-7370 Fax: (202) 647-7837

Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs' Office of Public Affairs Room 6242 Department of State 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520 Tel: (202) 647-5150.

State Department Public Affairs

Kim Richter, 202-736-4995

If you want some phrases to use in your fax or phone call, or letter to the editor, you might look here, at a statement by William J. Burns, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the US Govt, at a meeting April 25 of aid donors to Palestine - he went to Jenin and saw the devastation: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/2002/9844.htm You might point out that the ISM has been taking action already to achieve the goals that are espoused in that statement - humanitarian assistance, and providing Palestinians with hope. (See Asst. Secy. Burns's office phone number, below, which you may want to call.)

You can fax Mr. Getz, Head of Israel's Department of the Population Registry in the Ministry of Interior on [from US] 011-972-2 629 4750 or call and ask to speak to him on [from US] 011-972-2 629-4701.

More information regarding these detainees, along with eight others who have already been forced to leave (American, British and Swedish), please contact: Georgina Reeves