Monday, 19 January 2004
For Immediate Release
TREES NOT WALLS
Villagers continue to mobilize against Apartheid
[Budrus, RAMALLAH] On Thursday 22 January 2004 at 12 noon the villagers of Budrus will again march against the building
of a Wall in and around their village that will isolate them from their agricultural lands and imprison them in their
cantons, turned ghettos.
One hundred olive tree saplings, donated to the village of Budrus by Rabbis for Human Rights, will be planted by members
of the community with the support of international and Israeli peace activists. The saplings will be planted where the
Israeli military has uprooted nearly 100 olive trees belonging to the villagers and in the proposed path of the
Apartheid Wall.
The construction of the Wall in this region will destroy the economic well being of the community, and put the daily
lives of students, farmers, and business people at risk. Budrus and the four neighbouring villages will be completely
surrounded by the Wall once it's completed. In addition to the destruction of land, access to municipal services (such
as hospitals, government offices, and universities) will be severely obstructed. The people of Budrus invite you to join
us in opposing the construction of this Wall and standing up for the basic right of an individual to his/her land and
livelihood. A special invitation is also extended to members of the media.
This demonstration is intended to draw international attention to the illegality of such a wall, including the situation
of severe human rights violations that it creates. It follows a series of non- violent protests conducted by the
villagers of Budrus and precedes the judgments of both the Israeli High Court and the International Court of Justice on
the legality of Israel's wall.
DATE: Thursday, 22 January 2004 TIME: 12:00 Noon PLACE: Budrus, West of Ramallah
For more information: Ahmed: +972-66-339-862 Max: +972-53-471-226 ISM Office: +972-2-277-4602 or Huwaida:
+972-67-473-308
END
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