New update May 8^th 2002

On a recent phone communication with Mary, Irish ISM activist inside the Church (14:40, May 8th), Mary declares:

“Internationals are being put under huge pressure since yesterday, their consulates as well as the EU security advisors are putting a lot of pressure on them to leave the church and surrender to Israelis, to be put under Israeli police custody. Their position within the church is the same as any of the others; the Palestinian Authority is responsible for them and they will take their direction from President Arafat.

They ask for a deal like that with the internationals in Ramallah; they have to be set free, no names of any internationals taken, no custody, and no deportation and no interdiction by the Israelis to return here. They are doing a humanitarian work, like those in the church, and in no way they could be considered a source of trouble or criminals…. They committed no violence against anyone….

They are under continuous pressure, and humiliating conditions… they are starving, and no food is allowed to them and to all the other besieged in the church… they drink from the stagnant water of the well in the church, and their sufferings are multiplied by the continuous pressure their consulates and EU security adviser are exercising on them…   

They call upon all of you to react…. Upon all internationals in the area to multiply efforts to deliver them food and medicines, and to help them stand against these illegal and unjustified pressures… It is a shame for anyone who believes in freedom and humanity to accept and exercise such pressure…”

It is clear for everyone that it is still time to wake up and react…. Injustice will not last forever… But all those who didn’t react against this injustice, would they one day forgive themselves for not doing anything to help justice take place, and to shout NOOO against occupation, humiliation and injustice…. Would they be able to talk to their children and the children of their children and say: Once upon a time their was a chance for me to act… and I remained silent…

Peace be upon you all

May 8th - 2

In a telephone communication with Claude Leostic, she said that: “numerous members of Solidarity international movements including Israelis are moving towards the Mokata’a (presidential palace) in Ramallah in sign of solidarity and a move of protection in case of a new Israeli aggressions against Palestinians and their leadership”.

Hopefully, the siege which ended few days ago, will not be renewed again, and the occupation army would  not repeat the terror actions committed in the previous times.

On the other hand, other internationals moved to Gaza also for the same reason, by fear of an attack by the Israeli occupation army to Gaza strip. The human shields are continuing to be of importance here, and the situation does not seem to find a solution…