Fw: Please Help Save Hussein Khalili BY JUST ONE PHONECALL

[info at gush-shalom.org]

Just one phonecall by you may be the difference - from Israel, but also from abroad.

On 14 Feb 2003, at 18:55, International Solidarity Movement wrote:

From:           	"International Solidarity Movement" <ism-alerts at palsolidarity.org>
To:             	<info at gush-shalom.org>, <ananduma at hotmail.com>
Subject:        	Fw: Please Help Save Hussein Khalili
Date sent:      	Fri, 14 Feb 2003 18:55:09 +0200
Organization:   	Media Office


----- Original Message ----- 
From: International Solidarity Movement 
To: Palsolidarity Yahoo Group ; ismlongtermerscore at lists.riseup.net 
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 06:49 PM
Subject: Please Help Save Hussein Khalili


Please Help Save Hussein Khalili

Today at 3.50 pm 12 ISM activists from South Africa, Sweden, the US, Ireland, Nigeria, Italy, 
Israel,Denmark and the UK went to deliver chocolates to the children of the Abu Sanfar house 
in East Nablus where 21 people from three families have been held 
captive in two rooms since Israeli soldiers occupied their house 
as a firing position for the past 40 days.

The welfare of the house's residents was of particular concern to 
the ISM because Ariel Ze'ev,the officer in command of the firing 
position, is known to be an insane sadist whom activists have 
seen terrorising Palestinian people traveling between Nablus and 
its surrounding villages for the past two weeks.

When the activists approached the house they were challenged 
by an Israeli soldier standing guard who refused to permit them to 
enter. Another soldier then came out and told them to leave the 
area. The activists refused to leave, insisting that they had only come to deliver chocolates to t
he children in keeping with Muslim 
custom during the holiday of Eid. (The three day holiday ended 
yesterday when the activists first tried to deliver sweets to the 
children but were turned back. It is customary during this holiday period for people to visit frie
nds and family to give sweets to the children but families of this house are not permitted visitors
.)

The activists continued to negotiate with the soldiers until Ariel 
Ze'ev emerged from the building, followed by five other soldiers, 
and began shoving the activists (particularly the women), pointing 
his rifle at themand ordering them to leave. When they refused 
and stood their ground he threw a sound grenade at them and 
threatened them with tear gas.

The activists began to fall back as a group as it became clear to 
them that Ariel's mental state had recently deteriorated. He 
pushed two of the activists (from the US and Israel) into the mud 
and then kicked the American. Then he went up to the activists 
carrying the chocolates and knocked them into the mud. 

The activists kept falling back, trying to stay together as Ariel and the other soldiers threatened
 and shoved them but Ariel 
continued to get angrier. Suddenly, he rushed for Hussein Khalili, 
a Palestinian member of the ISM who worked for several years 
on the non-violent struggle against the occupation. The other 
activists rushed to block his path but then the five other soldiers 
rushed towards Hussein who only had time to take off his jacket 
(containing his camera and mobile phone) and toss it to another 
activist before he was seized and dragged towards the house.

The soldiers then fired warning shots into the ground before the 
activists retreated to a neighbouring building and sent two 
negotiators (Swedish and Israeli) to demand Hussein's release. 
When Ariel realised that one of the activists was an Israeli Jew he 
became furious and said that just because of her they would hold 
him for longer and treat him with extra harshness, "for revenge". 
Ariel went on to say that every time he saw her he would arrest 
one Palestinian.

Hussein was taken at about 4.10 (Palestinian time). It is now 
6.45. Three members of the ISM (from Sweden, the US and the 
UK)are keeping watch on the Abu Sanfar house from a 
neighbouring building but have no idea of what is happening 
within the building. 30 minutes ago a border police jeep and 
ahummer (special forces vehicle) carrying an Israeli lieutenant 
colonel arrived. The officer told the activists that he had decided 
that Hussein would be held until 10 pm and then released and 
told them to leave the area (which they have refused to do).

Hussein is a devoted activist in the non-violentPalestinian 
struggle against the occupation. He respected and lovedfor his 
dedication and gentle nature by everyone who has ever worked 
with him.

A Palestinian man who lives in the neighbourhood of the Abu 
Sanfar house has told us that the soldiers occupying the house 
are known to seize children and take them to the house for 
beatings.

We have done all we can to inform Israeli human rights groups of 
his case. Denis Brenstein of Flashpoints Radio in the USA is 
preparing to raise support among his listening audience for 
Hussein's immediate release.

Please help us in our campaign to secure his immediate release 
by phoning the Nablus DCO on:
+9722 5486 218 / 217 or 
+9722 5486 301 / 302
For further information contact:
Susanon  055 829 680 / 059 877 091 
Mariaon  059 381 803
=======================================
Michael 
ISM Media Coordinator
Phone: +972-2-2774602
Cell: +972-67-628439
web: http://www.palsolidarity.org