Discuss action on Palestine in Ireland here. What to do?

by James Bowen Tue Apr 02, 2002 18:54 j.bowen at cs dot ucc dot ie

We need to start a boycott campaign like the BIG campaign that started in the UK last year -- see related link.

by Joeboy - GR Tue Apr 02, 2002 19:13

I put it to the posse that we demand the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador, and build for a massive rally similar to the one at the US/UK embassies when East Timor was being attacked by the militias and Indonesian army prior to the UN referendum on independence. However, I don't think the rally should be sombre, sad or have the air of a funeral about it, like the Timor one had. The one for Palestine should be loud, angry and vocal, and I personally think it's time the Israeli embassy was shut down. After all, these people go round occupying other peoples embassies, government buildings and land. Who do they think they are?

by Joeboy - GR Tue Apr 02, 2002 20:17

Palestine Monitor in Ramallah is inaccessible to everyone - so we are
currently working in Beit Hanina, and have only now got our system up
and
running.

Many demonstrations have been held, and they have been reported here.
International pressure may be the factor that may finally stop Sharon
from
doing whatever it is he has planned.

Thank you

The Palestine Monitor,
A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

March 30, 2002

URGENT CALL

To : Solidarity Groups Worldwide

Dear Friends,

The unprecedented, massive, full-scale Israeli offensive in the
Occupied
Palestinian Territories demands from global civil society an equal,
unprecedented response.

Therefore, it is with utmost concern that I am calling upon you to
resort to
all your resources and to organize, immediately, demonstrations,
sit-ins,
blockages and/or protests in front of every Israeli Diplomatic Mission
across the globe. We would also thank you for all your media efforts
regarding coverage of our issues.

Sure of your prompt readiness and determination, I would like to thank
you
all.

In the belief that peace and justice shall prevail,

Regards,
PNGO /GIPP Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians

P.S: Should you need any further information, please call : +972 59
208258
or, alternatively, write to : [email protected] or
[email protected]

-------------
The Palestine Monitor, A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

URGENT UPDATE
House to house searches, Detainment and Executions
A Worsening Crisis
31st March 2002

The Israeli army continues to occupy cities in the West Bank; soldiers
are
currently engaged in house-to-house searches, indiscriminately
detaining
people and destroying property. The prisoners are being held in
concentration camp like places in the nearby Israeli military base of
Beit
El, without water, food or shelter.

Even more worrying is what may happen to the arrested individuals.
Israeli
soldiers executed five Palestinian policemen the day before yesterday.
The
policemen, four of who were aged in their 50s and over, were found
lying
close to one another, with gunshots to their heads; before they were
killed
there was no gunfire coming from the building, they did not appear to
be
resisting the Israel soldiers who had surrounded and entered the
building
they were in. Four more corpses have just been found in another
building in
Ramallah; they were also executed in the same manner.

Two men were killed in a similar manner in Sayda, near Tulkaram.

The house-to-house searches and indiscriminate detaining of civilians
present an imminent threat to the lives of many Palestinians.

It is also becoming obvious that Israel intends to re-occupy the whole
of
the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Furthermore it appears Sharon is
preparing to
execute Mr. Arafat ­ a move which will cause an explosion in the whole
region.

Throughout the past 19 months Sharon has been allowed to conduct his
plan to
kill the peace process, destroy the peace agreements, annihilate the
Palestinian Authority and to reoccupy the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He
has
been able to do so because the international community has permitted
him; he
cannot be allowed to hurl us into a more dangerous situation.

The Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians (GIPP) has
issued a
call for people from all over the world to come to Palestine and
participate
in the defense of Palestinians whose lives are threatened by the
Israeli
military.

For more information contact the Palestine Monitor at +972 (0)59 208258

---------------

The Palestine Monitor, A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

URGENT UPDATE
Imminent Humanitarian Crisis as Israel Re-Occupies West Bank
Internationals Take Action in Ramallah
March 31st 2001

As the Israeli army starts it process of reoccupation, they are
creating a
humanitarian crisis. The main problem is a lack of water as water tanks
have
been destroyed and the main water supply cut, electricity and
telephones
have also been cut, the injured and ill are unable to receive medical
care,
and food is in short supply. The assault on medical services continues,
with
instances of medics being arrested and beaten on the street.

Meanwhile the Israeli soldiers continue their massive scale
house-to-house
searches detaining men, destroying personal property and terrorizing
the
civilian inhabitants - nine Palestinians have thus far been executed.

As the plan to re-occupy is carried out, the assault on Palestinian
infrastructure continues ­ both at the PA and civil society levels. The
Ramallah Municipality has been attacked and burned, as have the Chamber
of
Commerce building, Al-Amal Rehabilitation Center, and others. This
morning
the Human Rights Organisation, Al Haq, was invaded; currently the army
is
invading Ramallah hospital.

Furthermore, in an attempt to prevent information about events on the
ground
from being reported, members of the press are being deliberately
impeded
from working.

The situation is dire - the Israeli army is carrying out a war against
the
Palestinian people. Sharon is implementing complete occupation of the
West
Bank, and it is probable that these criminal actions will continue for
weeks.

Word has just reached us that 40 members of the Grassroots
International
Protection for Palestinians (GIPP), including nationals of France,
Italy and
Ireland, have managed to enter the PA headquarters (the ŒMuqataa¹) and
refuse to leave. This means that whatever happens to Mr. Arafat will
also
happen to them. 15 other internationals have joined medical teams and
are
moving around the town protecting the medical teams as they provide
medical
assistance.

Palestinians are calling for more people to come to Palestine as
volunteers
as we anticipate that the events occurring in Ramallah will also happen
in
other Palestinian areas.

For more information contact Juliana at The Palestine Monitor, +972
(0)2
5833510
---------------
The Palestine Monitor,
A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

URGENT UPDATE
Appalling Accounts from Ramallah
30th March 2002

Today is the second day of Sharon’s appalling war
against the Palestinian civilian population in
Ramallah, and the first day of attacks, siege and
curfews in the Bethlehem area.

Throughout the day, thousands of new soldiers were
deployed inside Ramallah and, as we write, even more
are heading towards the already besieged and occupied
city. Israeli snipers sit on the top of all the high
buildings, and a complete 24-hour curfew is being
enforced across the town. Hence, no one is able, or
willing to leave the homes or other buildings. Since
yesterday afternoon a total of five members of the
Palestinian Police have been assassinated; the
policemen, who were on duty at the time, did not shoot
at or display any resistance to the Israeli soldiers,
however they were shot dead at point blank range.

Attacks on medical staff and services continue. The
Arab Care Hospital has been attacked and searched; the
only two ambulances available to medical relief teams
were both confiscated by the Israelis (one yesterday
at 10 PM and the second this morning with its driver,
Mr. Mahad al-Qadi, who, at the time of writing, is
still under Israeli detention). We have been
receiving alarming news about Israeli soldiers using
the ambulances in their raids against Palestinians.

Since yesterday Israeli soldiers have been carrying
out house-to-house searches. In addition to the terror
caused by armed soldiers forcibly entering the
premises and removing fathers and brothers, soldiers
are also causing the utmost possible material damage,
destroying all furniture, fixtures and ransacking all
belongings. It has also been reported that some
soldiers are stealing money and mobile handsets.
Several witnesses are available, who also intend to
make formal complaints

Soldiers have also taken control local television
station, and have been broadcasting racist material
with anti-Arab content as well as pornographic videos.

The overall mood is of despair and apprehension and
Palestinians feel completely vulnerable.

Today scores of women together with international
grass-root solidarity teams (GIPP and ISM) attempt to
defy the curfew and demonstrate in the center of the
city – approximately 100 people were arrested,
including several political leaders. GIPP delegates
from various countries who were inside Ramallah when
the invasion took place, managed to reach the Ramallah
Hospital to donate blood, and a number of them managed
to reach the compound of the Palestinian Authority.
Some of them still remain in the compound.

The Israeli military aggression has already caused a
major crisis in the Palestinian Territories, what is
as worrying is the humanitarian crisis in the making:
pregnant women cannot risk seeking proper medical care
for eventual deliveries, many injured people are still
inside the PA compound and it is impossible for local
medical teams provide care for them or anyone who is
in need of medical care.

We demand immediate international pressure to allow
provision of medical care and, foremost, we call upon
you to exercise the utmost pressure possible on
Israeli authorities and missions abroad for the end to
the atrocious military actions.

For more information contact the Palestine Monitor at
+972 (0)59 208258