July 6, 2003

Contact: Nancy Stohlman, 720-956-0700

                Jill Dreier, 303-393-2676

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Coloradans Arrive in Occupied Palestine

Delegation’s humanitarian mission begins at the Mas’ha Peace Camp

            Denver, Colorado – Four Coloradans have arrived today in the Occupied West Bank, on a mission to both document the effects of the Israeli Apartheid Wall on daily Palestinian life, which include the further isolation of Palestinians from food, water, and other much needed economic and agricultural resources, and to engage in nonviolent direct actions.

          The delegation is the fourth campaign initiated by CCMEP, and the activists arrive despite heightened threats against international peacekeepers from the Israeli government.

            Nick Sarchet, 33, is a single parent of a 9 year old and identifies as queer/gender queer. He currently serves as the Development Director of the Chinook Fund. 

            Erich Smeaton, 26, is currently pursuing his secondary teaching licensure from Metropolitan State College, and goes to Palestine with the support of his Jewish family.

          Blake Christiansen, 49, is a pharmacist, novelist, and father of a grown son.

          Paul Wilcher, 27, is a graduate student of International Law at DU, and is researching and filming a documentary of the Palestinian people.

            Working in conjunction with the International Solidarity Movement, who has recently been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, the group will initially join dozens of Palestinians and internationals, as well as former CCMEP organizer Nadya Waziri, at the Mas’ha Peace Camp. The Camp’s goal is to prevent the further building of the wall, and the subsequent destruction of the village and surrounding agricultural resources.

          For more information, including updates, bios and press photos, please visit the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace website at www.ccmep.org.