Israeli Authorities Set Stringent Conditions For Release
Of "Welcome To Palestine" Prisoners

The Large Majority Of International Visitors Are Still
Incarcerated Under Brutal Conditions, Begin A Hunger
Strike In Israeli Jail
Palestine Justice Network
July 10, 2011
http://palestinejn.org/palestinianspring/

Bethlehem, July 10, 2011. Over 120 internationals
attempting to visit Palestine are still being illegally
detained -- kidnapped -- in two Israeli detention
centers, in Ramle and in Beer Al-Saba' (Beersheva).
These friends of Palestine, among which there are minors
and elderly persons with medical conditions, have been
and are being mistreated and subjected to unnecessary
brutality.

For example, Dr. Hikmat Al-Sabty, 57, of Rostock,
Germany, is being denied needed medication that is in
his suitcase; this was reported to his wife by the
German Embassy in Tel Aviv, but his wife has not been
allowed to speak with him directly. All of those
detained have stated repeatedly that they are non-
violent and want only to accept the invitation to visit
together with Palestinian friends in the program
"Welcome to Palestine."

The Israeli authorities released two older German men
from Bersheeva prison yesterday, but only on condition
that they sign an Israeli legal document that was
presented to them only in Hebrew and English. One of the
two men came to Bethlehem. He is uncertain of the full
contents of the Israeli paper he signed because his
English is not good, and he was unable to first consult
with his attorney in Israel before signing the paper:
the Israeli authorities yesterday made attorney access
to prisoners very difficult, and large number of those
detained can only be seen by their attorneys today and
tomorrow. The German man now in Bethlehem believes that
he has agreed in writing not to go to Ramallah, Jenin,
and certain other Palestinian cities, but that the
Israeli authorities have allowed that he to go to
"tourist" areas in the West Bank. Because he is still
uncertain of the full content of the Israeli document he
signed, he prefers not to give his name at this time.
The Israeli authorities refused, in violation of
international law, to give him a copy of the paper he
signed. His attorney is seeking to obtain a copy of the
document he signed from the Israeli authorities.

We received a letter from the Belgian men in Bersheeva
prison, who state that they began a hunger strike last
night. In the letter, the Belgians demand, on behalf of
all the prisoners, to have contact their families and
with their attorneys. They demand an international
investigation into the behavior of airline companies and
Israeli officials. They also demand to be able to have
contact with each other in the Israeli prison. For
example, because the French and Belgian men and women
are separated in the Bersheeva prison, the men do not
know whether the women are also aware of the hunger
strike. It is believed that the French men have joined
the hunger strike. According to the Germans who were
released from Bersheeva, the German men and women there
are also participating in the hunger strike, but the men
and women are not allowed to speak with each other.

Those few international guests who were able to reach
Bethlehem on Friday were invited by their Palestinian
hosts to go to either to a demonstration in Qalandia at
noon or else to attend a gathering in Bilin at 11 am,
from which they then joined Palestinian friends in Nebi
Saleh. There Israeli soldiers prevented the bus-loads of
passengers and local Palestinians and Israeli supporters
from holding a peaceful demonstration. The Israeli
forces shot stun grenades and at least two kinds of tear
gas canisters at them. The nearby agricultural fields
were set ablaze by these tear-gas canisters. The Israeli
forces illegally detained -- kidnapped -- four peace
activists, including three Israeli citizens and one
Brazilian. Several participants were injured.

Events planned continued. Today, there was a gathering
in Beit Sahour in front of the Greek Orthodox Church, an
event at Aida Refugee Camp and an event in Al-Walaja.

Media Contacts:

GENERAL: [log in to unmask]

JERUSALEM: Sergio Yahni, [log in to unmask], +972(0)526375032

BETHLEHEM: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, [log in to unmask], +972(0)598939532

FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, [log in to unmask]

GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, [log in to unmask], +49(0)88 007761,+49(0)1799878414

UK: Sofiah MacLeod, [log in to unmask],+44(0)7931 200 36100,+44(0)131 620 0052

USA: Karin Pally, [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask], +1 310-399-1921

International Media Coordination: Elsa Rassbach +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

Please stay informed through our websites:

- http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org

- http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com/

- http://ahlanfefalasteen.blogspot.com/

- http://bienvenueenpalestinepresse.blogspot.com/

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