Jaggi Singh Nabbed in Jerusalem

Friday, 10 January 2003, 1:12 am
Article: The Scoop Editor

Jaggi Singh, a Montreal based activist and organizer, was kidnapped today in Jerusalem by a group of undercover Israeli police officers. He was on his way to visit a friend, and was arrested as he arrived at his friend's apartment. Jaggi traveled to Israel and the Occupied Territories on the invitation of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). The ISM is a Palestinian-led movement which brings together Palestinians and Internationals to fight the Israeli occupation through non-violent direct action. Jaggi was also providing written and audio reports to various independent news organizations and activist networks about the situation on the ground in the Occupied Territories.

Jaggi featured in Scoop’s 1999 coverage of APEC Auckland. See: Inside APEC: Canada’s Highest Threat.

See also Scoop article Monday, 23 April 2001: Jaggi Singh arrested - Disappears.

Jaggi's kidnapping comes after his trip to the Occupied Territories had ended and as he prepared to leave Israel. He planned return to Canada on January 11th. When Jaggi first arrived in Israel in mid-December, he was refused entry to the country. He refused to be refused andwas immediately detained; he spent two days fighting an illegal deportation from Israel. Israel has refused 10,000 internationals over the past 2 years.

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After winning a court battle with the assistance of Israeli lawyer Shamai Leibowitz, Jaggi was granted entry into Israel with the condition that he leave the country by December 23rd. The judge also barred him from entering the Occupied Territories. This condition, imposed by the Tel Aviv District Court, is illegal according to Canadian and International Law. Israel has no has absolutely no legal authority over the Palestinian Territories and therefore cannot decide who is allowed entry and who is not.

Jaggi is currently being held at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, an Israeli Jail notorious for torturing Palestinians. No details are being released as to the nature of Jaggi's charges -- if any are being laid -- or how long he will be held.

Today's nabbing illustrates the lengths to which the state of Israel will go to silence voices critical of the occupation.

Please call the following numbers and urge the Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs to intervene politically and pressure the Israeli government to ensure that Jaggi is released swiftly and returns home safely.

===> The Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv: Phone: +011-972-3-636-3300 Fax: (011 9723) 636-3380 E-mail Address: mailto:taviv@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

===> The 24/7 Operations Center at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa: Phone: 1-800-267-6788 or 613-944-6788.

===> Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham's Office: 613-995-1851

You can also call the Russian Compound at +011-972-2-539-1340 ask for Shimi Marciano.

For more information please email Stefan at mailto:christoff@tao.ca or Andrea at mailto:andrea@tao.ca.

For more information about the International Solidarity Movement, check out the website: http://www.palsolidarity.org.

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