International Solidarity Movement Reports and Alert
1. Village of Budrus faces Israeli army threats after peaceful demonstration against the Wall 2. Israeli army calls
"Women in Green" for protection
3. ISM activist shares penpal project between Vermont, USA, and Palestinian elementary school children
4. Action alert: Join the people of Mas'ha in nonviolent action this Sunday, October 3
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1. Budrus threatened by Israeli army after peaceful demonstration against the Wall Budrus, West Bank September 26, 2004
Yesterday at 10:30 am, the village of Budrus, accompanied by internationals and Israeli's had a successful demonstration
against the construction of the wall. There were only a few canisters of tear gas fired at the demonstrators, and there
were no rubber coated steel bullets fired at the peaceful demonstrators during the march. The media was out in force at
this protest. After the demonstration protestors tried to return and confrontations erupted. Eye-witness reports claim
there were no injuries.
However, an abandoned Israeli military jeep was found by youth from the village and two bullet proof vests that were set
on fire. Other insignificant articles were also claimed to have been taken from unmanned jeeps at the protest site. The
Israeli army came into the village of Budrus in force yesterday evening and made demands that the articles taken from
the unmanned jeeps be returned if the Budrus wanted to avoid trouble with the Israeli army.
A call from the local Mosque requested that the items be returned. Local contacts stated that the articles demanded were
returned to the local mosque to be handed over to the Israeli army. They have informed the Israeli army that two vests
were burned in the fire by local youth.
The Israeli army is presently searching the village and repeatedly entering the home of a young man they suspect had
something to do with the abandoned jeep and its contents. The family members of the young man are afraid and have
requested that internationals stay at the home to help protect them and their property. Three ISM activists plan to
spend the next two nights at the home.
Tomorrow, September 28,villagers will march in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the second Intifada and to
protest the Wall. They will be joined by internationals, including Israelis.
For additional information contact: Abu Ahmad: 972-67-924-952 Lisa: 972-67-715-968 Dave: 972-54-683-2921
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3. Israeli army calls "Women in Green" for protection
Around 1:30 pm on Sunday, women settlers arrived at a flying checkpoint between Funduq and Qedumim and attacked human
rights monitors from the International Women's Peace Service, saying that the soldiers had called them and asked them to
come. "The soldiers called you?" one of the human rights monitors asked. "Yes," replied on of the women. "They call us
everyday." The soldier standing next to this settler nudged her and whispered something out of the side of his mouth,
presumably telling her that this was not public information.
The attack happened after the army had been holding 4 Palestinian buses for about 5 hours, having taken people's IDs and
forcing them to get on an off the buses several times without providing them with water. An ISM activist happened to be
on one of the buses at the time and notified Hamoked, Machsom Watch and IWPS.
The settler group Women in Green arrived with beverages and ice cream for the soldiers, claiming that "it is our job to
protect the soldiers." Shortly after, one woman started screaming in Hebrew through a megaphone into the ears of the
IWPS women. "Shalom!" she screamed, "Go away from here! You are bothering the soldiers!" When the IWPS women covered
their ears, the settler forcibly pushed the megaphone against their heads. At least 2 soldiers gave her a `thumbs up'
sign. This continued for about a half hour, until the soldiers forced everyone to board the buses.
The Women in Green (approximately 5 women and 2 men) stayed for about an hour. The buses were released after a total of
5 hours of detention.
ISM activist present during the ordeal:
ISM activist, Neta Golan, traveling to Ramallah with her two small children, was also on one of the buses stopped by the
Israeli Army. While she and other Palestinians were being held, HAMOKED, an Israeli human rights organization, Machsom
Watch and IWPS were notified. According to Neta, the Israeli Army called the Women in Green because of the presence of
groups that monitor checkpoint abuses by the Israeli Army. In coordination with IWPS there was an attempt to get water
to the detained Palestinians. The Israeli army had refused to supply any water in spite of Palestinians being held in
the sun for 2-5 hours.
09-251-6644 IWPS@palnet.com www.iwps.info September 26, 2004
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3. ISM activist shares penpal project between Vermont, USA and Palestinian elementary school children
As most of you know already, I am doing peace work in Palestine/Israel for the next 8 weeks. I arrived in Tel Aviv today
and I'm staying in Jerusalem. The peace work consists of coordinating a penpal exchange between Vermont and Palestinian
elementary school children, assisting farmers with olive harvest, and being a currier of greetings between the sister
cities of Burlington (Vermont), Bethlehem (Palestine), and Arad (Israel).
Penpal Exchange: About 200 students from Vermont are participating in the program. Grand Isle (grades 5-8), Folsom in
South Hero (grades 3-4), and Lawrence Barnes in Burlington (grades 4-5) are participating in the cultural exchange.
Aside from exchanging letters, students are learning about Arab and Palestinian culture and making new friends with
their Palestinian counterparts.
The Olive Harvest: I wil also be participating in the Olive Harvest Campaign. The fun part will be harvesting the olives
from the trees. Entire villages help out with this special occasion which lasts for about 6 weeks. The not so fun part
will be escorting farmers to their fields in order to minimize harassment, violence, etc. from Israeli settlers and
soldiers.
>From the Holy Land, Joe
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4. Action Alert:
OLIVE HARVEST 2004
JOIN THE PEOPLE OF MAS'HA IN NONVIOLENT ACTION ON SUNDAY
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WHEN – Sunday, October 3, 7.00 am
WHERE – Mas'ha village, Salfit District. Meet at Abu Anwar's Station, near the west gate of the Wall
Join the farmers and families of Mas'ha and Az Zawiya at the beginning of this year's olive harvest as they demand open
and continous access to their land and trees.
The farmers and their families will meet near the west gate of the Wall which has been closed for almost 9 months. They
will attempt to cross through the gate to pick their olives. Ninety-five percent of the farmers' land now lies behind
the Wall and within close range of settlements.
ALL Palestinian, Israeli and international activists are urged to come. Please make every effort to be there.
For more information contact:
RA'AD (Palestinian Contact): 0547 768 254 (Arabic, Hebrew and English) DOROTHY (Israeli Contact): (Hebrew and English):
09 958 4804 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S PEACE SERVICE: 09-251-6644