Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace * CCMEP
901 West 14th Avenue, Suite 7 * Denver, CO 80204
720-956-0700 * ccmep@hotmail.com * www.ccmep.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT INFORMATION:
In Bethlehem: Nancy Stohlman, 011-972-56-501-412
Gary Anderson, 011-972-56-621-963
* (best times to call are between 11pm and Noon, MST)
In Denver: Mark Schneider, 720-956-0700
COLORADANS IN BETHLEHEM EYEWITNESS TO ISRAELI INVASION
SPEND GOOD FRIDAY SURROUNDED BY TANKS, AWAITING BOMBING
BETHLEHEM - Coloradan peace activists Nancy Stohlman and Gary Anderson are currently surrounded by Israeli tanks in Bethlehem, Palestine, awaiting invasion. A group of internationals will serve as human shields tonight in the nearby Christian Palestinian town of Beit Jala, and the Deheishe Refugee Camp, where an Israel Defense Force (IDF) attack is believed imminent.
Stohlman and Anderson are among several hundred internationals in the West Bank for two weeks calling for an end to the Israeli military occupation. Today, learning that the IDF had fired upon Red Crescent ambulances, they attempted to join other internationals there serving as human shields by traveling with the ambulances. The Israeli army has surrounded Bethlehem and they were unable to leave the city.
They then visited the Deheishe Refugee Camp, witnessing the devastation caused there during the last Israeli invasion of the camp two weeks ago, and expressing solidarity with the besieged Palestinian refugees.
Tomorrow, March 30, they plan to march peacefully to Deheishe, which they fear will be under attack by the Israeli army.
Nancy and Gary are members of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace, and are part of a non-violent direct action campaign aimed at ending the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They are available for interviews by telephone live from Bethlehem via cell phone at the numbers given above, and digital video and photographs are available.
There are also six other Coloradans recently returned from Palestine in state and available for interviews.
For more information, please contact the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace at 720-956-0700.
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