ISM Activist Arrested by Undercover Police

ISM Activist Arrested by Undercover Immigration Police After Hearing

Thursday, 4 December 2003, 6:53 PM:
For Immediate Release.

ISM ACTIVIST ARRESTED BY UNDERCOVER IMMIGRATION POLICE AFTER
HEARING

[Tel Aviv, Israel]

International Solidarity Movement volunteer Radhika Sainath, from Newport Beach, California, was this evening followed and formally detained by Israeli Immigration Police.

Ms. Sainath is in the process of suing the state of Israel for unlawful imprisonment, negligence, and breach of obligations after she was seized by Israeli soldiers in November 2002. Represented in her case against the state of Israel by Counsel Shamai Leibovitz, Ms. Sainath is seeking payment of 50,000NIS or approximately US $11,000.

Following the 4:45 PM conclusion of her scheduled court hearing in Tel Aviv, Ms. Sainath and six of her supporters boarded a bus from the courthouse. After a ten to fifteen-minute bus ride, upon arriving at their stop of Pinxker and Bograshov the group exited the bus.

Another passenger of the bus, whom the group of peace activists had assumed was simply a fellow commuter, also exited the bus and identified himself as Immigration Police. Two plainclothes detectives arrived on scene with a police van and the three police offices escorted Ms. Sainath inside the van. Before being placed inside, Ms. Sainath was prohibited from relaying her legal counsel's contact information to supporters on scene.

As Ms. Sainath was loaded into the van, police were overheard telling her she was being formally detained for illegal entry; however, Ms. Sainath is currently in Israel with a valid Tourist Visa. Israeli and international supporters unsuccessfully attempted to question the police of Ms. Sainath's status, instead being met with physical restraint and a refusal by the police to communicate her destination. Several supporters were forcefully shoved away and one was thrown against the van, although no injuries occurred.

Radhika Sainath is currently being held at the Holon Immigration Center under threat of deportation.

For more information contact:

Flo: +972 (0)67 361 708 Lisa: +972 (0)52 272 524

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led nonviolent initiative supported by International Peace Activists from all over the world. ISM aims towards ending the Israeli Occupation in Palestine through nonviolent means.

Tel: +97222774602 Fax: +972227744773 e-mail: ism-alert@palsolidarity.org Web: www.palsolidarity.org

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