Aggiornamenti dalla Palestina

["Edvino Ugolini" <edvinoug@tin.it>]

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
October 12, 2003; 1430 hrs Jerusalem Time

For Immediate Release

FIVE ISM VOLUNTEERS SNATCHED BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS

[AWARTA, Nablus]  Five international ISM volunteers were snatched by the
Israeli military at approximately 1230 hrs local time, while harvesting
olives with Palestinian farmers in the village of Awarta, near Nablus.  Two
US citizens, one Briton, once Swede and one Irish national were standing on
the side of the road, providing accompaniment to Palestinian farmers trying
to harvest olives on their land despite the ban on Palestinian movement by
the Israeli military, when they were taken.

The entire West Bank has been under lockdown since Wednesday, October 7,
2003 with no Palestinian vehicles allowed anywhere on main roads, gates to
farmlands through the separation fence completely closed, and Palestinians
not allowed outside their towns and villages.  This lockdown is expected to
remain in place until October 22, 2003.  The siege was imposed less than
two days after a complete closure, imposed on the Palestinian community
while Jews celebrated Yom Kippur, was lifted.  Despite this and persistent
denial to Palestinians of access to their land, Palestinian farmers are
determined to resist by making it to their fields.

On Wednesday, October 8, Palestinian farmers in Jayyous broke through the
gates locking them out of their land to pour into their olive groves.
International and Israeli civilians accompanied them and will continue to
accompany farmers throughout the West Bank in their simple act of
resistance.  In some areas, the ISM is delivering food through barbed wire,
gates and fences, to farmers sleeping out on their land.  Meanwhile Gaza is
completely closed to international witnesses as the Israeli military
invades, bombs, demolishes and kills.

At the time of this writing the internationals have been released.  The
Israeli military has declared the olive groves of Awarta, a closed military
zone.

For more information:
ISM Office - +972-2-277-4602
Huwaida - +972-67-473-308
Ghassan - +972-54-369-975

END



INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
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