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Table of Contents:
Appeal from Siege of Ramallah & LAW report
Gita Hashemi <gita@yorku.ca>
Urgent PALESTINIAN Call to World Civil Society - BREAK The Conspiracy SILENCE -
Phil Graham <phil.graham@mailbox.uq.edu.au>
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 17:38:33 -0500
From: Gita Hashemi <gita@yorku.ca>
Subject: Appeal from Siege of Ramallah & LAW report
- --============_-1194508175==_ma============
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
This message is a forward:
- ------
Appeal from Siege of Ramallah & LAW report
APPEAL FOR HELP FROM THE SIEGE OF RAMALLAH
30 March 2002, Easter Weekend
We are members of the international and Palestinian
community trapped in the Siege of Ramallah.
On early Friday morning, 29 March 2002, Israeli forces
re-invaded the city of Ramallah. The Israeli forces
have occupied Ramallah completely and have established
tank positions throughout the city, in all civilian
areas. We can hear explosions, tank shelling and heavy
caliber gunfire throughout the night and day. Israeli
snipers are shooting regularly in civilian
neighborhoods at times when they are not under any
form of fire. As we write this, there are US-made
Apache attack helicopters overhead firing on the city.
Israeli bulldozers are creating permanent positions
for the tanks in and around private houses. There is
the constant sound of tank movements throughout
residential areas.
Israeli forces have attacked the Presidential
compound, and are now holding Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat hostage with no electricity, water or
phone lines. Members of President Arafat's bodyguards
have been killed, and others are still injured and
being denied medical care. Conditions in the city are
now deteriorating rapidly.
Some of us have had experience in other sieges, in
Sarajevo, Dili, and elsewhere. There is a familiar
pattern of emergency rapidly developing. This is the
beginning of a humanitarian crisis. Immediate
intervention is required to prevent a disaster.
No Movement Possible: Inhabitants of the city are
under complete curfew. There is absolutely no freedom
of movement, even for ambulances, doctors or
international agencies, such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). There is no medical
access. Palestine Red Crescent medical relief workers
have not been permitted to provide medical services to
the local population. Israeli forces are firing on
anyone walking out on the streets.
On Thursday, based on fears of an Israeli re-invasion,
more than 500 inhabitants, including foreign
nationals, lined up in the mud and rain at the
Qalandiya checkpoint-the only exit point from the city
allowed by Israel-begging Israeli soldiers to allow
them to escape. In response, Israeli soldiers fired
over their heads, exacerbating the panic and causing
most to simply return to Ramallah.
Israeli Forces Using Human Shields: Israeli soldiers
are occupying an increasing number of private
residences and detaining the residents collectively in
single rooms, with little or no access to telephone
lines, news coverage or even food and water. In some
cases, tens of civilians (including entire families)
are being held in one room. Meanwhile, Israeli
occupation soldiers have taken up armed positions in
the houses or apartments of these residents. Civilian
detainees include foreign nationals.
No Access to the City: The ICRC, the UN and other
humanitarian agencies are unable to access the city or
to access the civilian detainees and other prisoners.
Food Resources Limited: There is no food entering
Ramallah and no one is allowed to restock. There will
shortly be a food and drinking water crislis. Some
parts of Ramallah are already without water
altogether. Israeli soldiers are also eating the food
of residents while taking up positions in their
houses.
Electricity Being Cut: Large parts of Ramallah are
without electricity and heat. The weather has been
raining and unseasonably cold - residents have been
struggling to keep warm. The lack of electricity also
means that residents are without television and any
news reporting of the situation outside their homes.
Many residents of the city rely on cellular phones for
communication and without electricity they are unable
to recharge their phones. Therefore, the population is
being held in isolation and there is increasing fear
and confusion. Also, some telephone landlines have
been cut.
Prisoners Being Taken: Israeli forces are taking
Palestinians prisoner, in the streets and in
house-to-house searches. Israeli troops are calling
upon all male residents between the ages of 16 and 40
in some neighborhoods to "surrender". The wounded are
being treated roughly and being denied medical access.
Now, their fate is unknown. There are reports of
summary execution of some prisoners. The ICRC does not
have access to them to ensure adherence to
international law, and specifically the Geneva
Conventions.
Gratuitous Vandalism and Destruction: There are
on-going spiteful acts of destruction. Most commonly,
Israeli tanks are driving over and flattening cars
whether on the streets or parked on pavements in front
of residences. Personal property inside houses is
being destroyed in house-to-house searches.
We, the besieged people of Ramallah, appeal to all
people of good conscience around the world to mobilize
immediately.
We particularly appeal to the people of Israel, in
whose name these actions are being taken, for help. To
keep the option of peace alive, we appeal to you to
ask your Government to immediately lift the siege.
We appeal for the safety of all individuals.
We appeal for freedom of movement within the city and
outside access to the city.
We appeal for food, medical supplies and access to
medical treatment, electricity, water, phone lines and
other necessary facilities.
We appeal for access of humanitarian agencies,
including the ICRC, to all detainees, prisoners and
hostages, including Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat, to ensure their well-being.
WE APPEAL FOR THE SIEGE TO BE LIFTED.
This appeal has been made to you by Palestinians, as
well as nationals of the United States, the United
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jordan and other
nationalities.
For More Information:
Due to fear of retribution, the names and contact
information of those authoring this appeal have not
been included. For their contact information, please
contact Michael (972-52-266-208).
International Committee of the Red Cross: Jer. (972-2)
582-8845, Tel Aviv (972-3) 524-5286
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
(UNRWA): (972-2) 589-0401
- --
======
We must organize against the seige of Palestinian people by the
Israeli army. Our silence implicates us in the genocide.
- --============_-1194508175==_ma============
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<html><head><style type="text/css"><!--
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { padding-top: 0 ; padding-bottom: 0 }
--></style><title>Appeal from Siege of Ramallah & LAW
report</title></head><body>
<div><font face="Times" color="#000000">This message is a
forward:</font></div>
<div><font face="Times" color="#000000">------</font></div>
<div><font face="Times" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Times" color="#000000">Appeal from Siege of Ramallah
& LAW report<br>
<br>
<br>
APPEAL FOR HELP FROM THE SIEGE OF RAMALLAH<br>
30 March 2002, Easter Weekend<br>
<br>
We are members of the international and Palestinian<br>
community trapped in the Siege of Ramallah.<br>
<br>
On early Friday morning, 29 March 2002, Israeli forces<br>
re-invaded the city of Ramallah. The Israeli forces<br>
have occupied Ramallah completely and have established<br>
tank positions throughout the city, in all civilian<br>
areas. We can hear explosions, tank shelling and heavy<br>
caliber gunfire throughout the night and day. Israeli<br>
snipers are shooting regularly in civilian<br>
neighborhoods at times when they are not under any<br>
form of fire. As we write this, there are US-made<br>
Apache attack helicopters overhead firing on the city.<br>
Israeli bulldozers are creating permanent positions<br>
for the tanks in and around private houses. There is<br>
the constant sound of tank movements throughout<br>
residential areas.<br>
<br>
Israeli forces have attacked the Presidential<br>
compound, and are now holding Palestinian President<br>
Yasser Arafat hostage with no electricity, water or<br>
phone lines. Members of President Arafat's bodyguards<br>
have been killed, and others are still injured and<br>
being denied medical care. Conditions in the city are<br>
now deteriorating rapidly.<br>
<br>
Some of us have had experience in other sieges, in<br>
Sarajevo, Dili, and elsewhere. There is a familiar<br>
pattern of emergency rapidly developing. This is the<br>
beginning of a humanitarian crisis. Immediate<br>
intervention is required to prevent a disaster.<br>
<br>
No Movement Possible: Inhabitants of the city are<br>
under complete curfew. There is absolutely no freedom<br>
of movement, even for ambulances, doctors or<br>
international agencies, such as the International<br>
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). There is no medical<br>
access. Palestine Red Crescent medical relief workers<br>
have not been permitted to provide medical services to<br>
the local population. Israeli forces are firing on<br>
anyone walking out on the streets.<br>
<br>
On Thursday, based on fears of an Israeli re-invasion,<br>
more than 500 inhabitants, including foreign<br>
nationals, lined up in the mud and rain at the<br>
Qalandiya checkpoint-the only exit point from the city<br>
allowed by Israel-begging Israeli soldiers to allow<br>
them to escape. In response, Israeli soldiers fired<br>
over their heads, exacerbating the panic and causing<br>
most to simply return to Ramallah.<br>
<br>
Israeli Forces Using Human Shields: Israeli soldiers<br>
are occupying an increasing number of private<br>
residences and detaining the residents collectively in<br>
single rooms, with little or no access to telephone<br>
lines, news coverage or even food and water. In some<br>
cases, tens of civilians (including entire families)<br>
are being held in one room. Meanwhile, Israeli<br>
occupation soldiers have taken up armed positions in<br>
the houses or apartments of these residents. Civilian<br>
detainees include foreign nationals.<br>
<br>
No Access to the City: The ICRC, the UN and other<br>
humanitarian agencies are unable to access the city or<br>
to access the civilian detainees and other prisoners.<br>
<br>
Food Resources Limited: There is no food entering<br>
Ramallah and no one is allowed to restock. There will<br>
shortly be a food and drinking water crislis. Some<br>
parts of Ramallah are already without water<br>
altogether. Israeli soldiers are also eating the food</font></div>
<div><font face="Times" color="#000000">of residents while taking up
positions in their<br>
houses.<br>
<br>
Electricity Being Cut: Large parts of Ramallah are<br>
without electricity and heat. The weather has been<br>
raining and unseasonably cold - residents have been<br>
struggling to keep warm. The lack of electricity also<br>
means that residents are without television and any<br>
news reporting of the situation outside their homes.<br>
Many residents of the city rely on cellular phones for<br>
communication and without electricity they are unable<br>
to recharge their phones. Therefore, the population is<br>
being held in isolation and there is increasing fear<br>
and confusion. Also, some telephone landlines have<br>
been cut.<br>
<br>
Prisoners Being Taken: Israeli forces are taking<br>
Palestinians prisoner, in the streets and in<br>
house-to-house searches. Israeli troops are calling<br>
upon all male residents between the ages of 16 and 40<br>
in some neighborhoods to "surrender". The wounded are<br>
being treated roughly and being denied medical access.<br>
Now, their fate is unknown. There are reports of<br>
summary execution of some prisoners. The ICRC does not<br>
have access to them to ensure adherence to<br>
international law, and specifically the Geneva<br>
Conventions.<br>
<br>
Gratuitous Vandalism and Destruction: There are<br>
on-going spiteful acts of destruction. Most commonly,<br>
Israeli tanks are driving over and flattening cars<br>
whether on the streets or parked on pavements in front<br>
of residences. Personal property inside houses is<br>
being destroyed in house-to-house searches.<br>
<br>
<br>
We, the besieged people of Ramallah, appeal to all<br>
people of good conscience around the world to mobilize<br>
immediately.<br>
<br>
We particularly appeal to the people of Israel, in<br>
whose name these actions are being taken, for help. To<br>
keep the option of peace alive, we appeal to you to<br>
ask your Government to immediately lift the siege.<br>
<br>
We appeal for the safety of all individuals.<br>
<br>
We appeal for freedom of movement within the city and<br>
outside access to the city.<br>
<br>
We appeal for food, medical supplies and access to<br>
medical treatment, electricity, water, phone lines and<br>
other necessary facilities.<br>
<br>
We appeal for access of humanitarian agencies,<br>
including the ICRC, to all detainees, prisoners and<br>
hostages, including Palestinian President Yasser<br>
Arafat, to ensure their well-being.<br>
<br>
<br>
WE APPEAL FOR THE SIEGE TO BE LIFTED.<br>
<br>
This appeal has been made to you by Palestinians, as<br>
well as nationals of the United States, the United<br>
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jordan and other<br>
nationalities.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
For More Information:<br>
<br>
Due to fear of retribution, the names and contact<br>
information of those authoring this appeal have not<br>
been included. For their contact information, please<br>
contact Michael (972-52-266-208).<br>
<br>
International Committee of the Red Cross: Jer. (972-2)<br>
582-8845, Tel Aviv (972-3) 524-5286<br>
<br>
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees<br>
(UNRWA): (972-2) 589-0401</font></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div>======<br>
<br>
We must organize against the seige of Palestinian people by the
Israeli army. Our silence implicates us in the genocide.</div>
</body>
</html>
- --============_-1194508175==_ma============--
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 09:22:51 +1000
From: Phil Graham <phil.graham@mailbox.uq.edu.au>
Subject: Urgent PALESTINIAN Call to World Civil Society - BREAK The Conspiracy SILENCE - Israeli Supporters
From: "Ruth Wodak" <ruth.wodak@univie.ac.at>
To: "A. Galasinska@Wlv. Ac. Uk" <a.galasinska@wlv.ac.uk>
Cc: "Alfred. Ebenbauer@Univie. Ac. At" <alfred.ebenbauer@univie.ac.at>,
"Aimee Kreger" <ARK@cbsnews.com>, "Adam Jaworski" <senaj@cf.ac.uk>,
"Aaron Cicourel" <cicourel@cogsci.ucsd.edu>,
"722693 C. de Waele" <C.E.A.deWaele@kub.nl>
Subject: FW: Urgent PALESTINIAN Call to World Civil Society - BREAK The
Conspiracy SILENCE - Israeli Supporters
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 22:46:01 +0200
:
:
:
:
:
:
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 8.5, Build 4.71.2173.0
Importance: Normal
:
:
- -----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Giora [mailto:giorar@post.tau.ac.il]
Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2002 11:58 AM
Subject: Fw: Urgent PALESTINIAN Call to World Civil Society - BREAK The
Conspiracy SILENCE - Israeli Supporters
Urgent Call to the World Civil Society - Break The Conspiracy of Silence!
- Israeli Supporters
We the undersigned Israeli citizens support the enclosed by urgent appeal
issued by our Palestinian colleagues.
We hereby call upon our fellow citizens to join us:
Prof. Aharon Eviatar, Hoffit
Dr. Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin
Prof. Avraham Oz, Tel Aviv
Prof. Baruch Kimmerling, Jerusalem
Dr. Daphna Levit, Tel Aviv
Dr. Daniel Amit, Rome
Dr. Edeet Ravel, Toronto,Ca.
Haim Hanegbi, Journalist, Tel Aviv
Dr. Ilan Pappe, Haifa
Dr. Lev Grinberg, Jerusalem
Pnina Feiler, Kibbutz Yad Hanna
Dr. Ruchama Maton, Tel Aviv
Adv. Tamar Pelleg-Sryck, Tel Aviv
Dr. Tikva Honig Parnass, Jerusalem
Yehudith Harel, Ramat Hasharon
Dr. Yossi Amitay, Kibbutz Gvulot
Uri Avnery, Journalist, Tel Aviv
Prof. Rachel Giora, Tel Aviv
Please send your signature to: Raji Sourani - pchr@pchrgaza.co.il
and cc to: ye_harel@netvision.net.il
And PLEASE: circulate this appeal as widely as possible.
29 March 2002:
Urgent Call to World Civil Society
Break the Conspiracy of Silence, Act Before it is too Late
We, the undersigned, believe that a full-scale Israeli offensive
throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) is imminent and that
such an unprecedented attack demands from global civil society an
unprecedented response. For this reason, we urge global civil society –
including human rights organisations, solidarity groups, and individuals
– to take immediate direct action to stop Israel’s all-out war against
the Palestinian people and its 35-year belligerent military occupation of
the Gaza strip and West Bank, including east Jerusalem.
Today, Israeli occupying forces invaded the compound of PNA President
Yasser Arafat in Ramallah as part of a systematic and longstanding campaign
to undermine, humiliate, and destroy the Palestinian political leadership.
Israeli troops have also seized complete control of Ramallah and imposed a
total curfew. At the same time, Israeli officials have begun a massive
military build-up, including the mobilization of 10,000 army reservists, in
preparation for an openly declared war throughout the OPT that promises to
be widespread, prolonged, and bloody.
Earlier this month, escalating Israeli attacks – including willful
killings, indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombardment, complete economic
and social suffocation, and mass destruction of housing and agriculture –
culminated in full-scale invasions of Palestinian refugee camps and
villages that killed hundreds of civilians. Statements by Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon today referring to Arafat as the “enemy” and
speaking of the need to “extirpate Palestinian terrorism everywhere it
exists” indicate that such attacks are set to resume, with greater
ferocity and scope, leading to disastrous consequences.
Palestinian civil society groups have warned for years that Israel’s
freedom to act as a state above the law would severely undermine chances
for a just and lasting peace. After decades of occupation, apartheid, and
ethnic cleansing and 18 months of all-out war against a civilian
population, we call for the international community not to wait for
massacres on the scale of those in Sabra and Shatila in 1982; the time for
action is now.
The support for the Palestinian people shown by international solidarity
groups, manifested in numerous statements, visits, and actions, has proved
invaluable throughout this crisis. Now is the time for global civil
society to use the momentum it has generated and the ethical integrity it
has demonstrated to forcefully demand immediate action from governments to
end the occupation, which is the root cause of the conflict.
Governments, including those currently meeting at the UN Commission on
Human Rights, must face direct and unambiguous pressure from their own
people to immediately secure Israel’s respect for the Fourth Geneva
Convention and its complete withdrawal from the OPT as necessary steps
towards achieving a just and lasting peace.
To this end, we call upon all those who oppose occupation, apartheid,
ethnic cleansing, and war crimes, who are committed to justice and peace,
who are willing to speak truth to power, to:
Raise your voices to break the conspiracy of silence among governments
that allows Israel, which enjoys the unlimited and unconditional support of
the US, to commit war crimes and other violations of international
humanitarian law with impunity.
Clearly, vigorously, and publicly demonstrate before governments and
international organisations to demand immediate and effective protection
for Palestinian civilians in the OPT, through protests, marches, media
campaigns, and other peaceful means.
Demand that governments end military assistance to Israel, suspend
economic ties, and support the prosecution of war criminals, and urge other
states to do so.
Continue and intensify your activities as part of a sustained and
systematic campaign to end the occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and
war crimes in the OPT and to support the legitimate rights and aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
Now is the time for immediate and direct action, as the pattern of
escalating oppression and brutality that we have experienced over the past
18 months moves inexorably towards a disaster whose consequences we can
only begin to imagine. In this dark hour of suffering and determined
resistance, we are sure that the worst is yet to come, but we are equally
sure that, with the support of global civil society at this crucial time,
peace and justice will prevail.
Signed:
Dr. Heydar Abdel-Shafi
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti
Dr. Azmi Bishara
Rana Nashashibi
Dr. Eyad Sarraj
Khader Shkirat
Raji Sourani
......................................................................................................
Opinions expressed in this email are my own unless otherwise stated.
If you have received this in error, please ignore and delete it.
Phil Graham
Senior Lecturer
UQ Business School
www.uq.edu.au/~uqpgraha
Current Events
Towards Humane Technologies, UQ, July 15-17, 2002
www.uq.edu.au/gsm/biomediaindex.html
Norman Fairclough CDA Master Classes, UQ, July 2002
http://www.uq.edu.au/gsm/NFindex.html
......................................................................................................
------------------------------
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