[GushShalom] Activists halted cutting of olive trees +PLEASE come tomorrow

[Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)]

GUSH SHALOM - pob 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033 - http://www.gush-shalom.org/

Press release
November 4, 2002
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Today at Falami village, activists succeeded to halt the cutting of olive trees.
Stand-off to continue tomorrow
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Today at Falami village in the West Bank an international group of activists, among 
them Israelis, halted for the time being the cutting of olive trees for building the fence 
far beyond the Green Line and (of course) at the expense of Palestinian farmers. Gush 
Shalom spokesperson Adam Keller got into close encounter with a chainsaw (details 
below in the ISM report).

The authorities were persuaded to wait until tomorrow morning Tuesday, Nov. 5, to 
allow the French Consul to come and try to save the threatened well, which is 
essential for the farmers and which came into being some years ago as a French 
development aid project. 

Another visitor who may come to help the farmers in the land struggle is Yonathan 
Rimon, Mayor of Kochav Yair (the nearby town within the Green Line). This Rimon 
announced at a meeting today with the Falami villagers, and the Israeli and 
international activists, where he expressed opposition to the fence cutting through 
farmland.

For more details
Sami - 055-712738 (Falami representative)
Adam Keller, Gush Shalom Spokesperson 
+972-3-5565804 / +972-56-709603 / +972-56-709604 

For your information we forward the following

------- Forwarded message follows -------
To:             	palmediaalert at yahoogroups.com
From:           	"pcrbs" <pcr at p-ol.com>
Date sent:      	Mon, 04 Nov 2002 11:00:50 -0000
Subject:        	[palmediaalert] PROTESTORS INJURED TRYING TO PROTECT 
PALESTINIAN OLIVE TREES!
Send reply to:  	palmediaalert-owner at yahoogroups.com

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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT (ISM)
Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians (GIPP)
Monday November 4, 2002
For Immediate Release

PROTESTORS INJURED TRYING TO PROTECT PALESTINIAN OLIVE TREES!
PARTIAL SUCCESS IN DELAYING MASSIVE DESTRUCTION

[Falami, Qalqilia District] This morning at 8:00 am Palestinian 
Falami farmers along with a group of approximately 20 International 
civilians were attacked by hired Israeli Security Personnel as they 
tried to peacefully protest the destruction of the Palestinian 
agricultural land. 

Israeli government contractors along with Israeli private security 
overlooked by the Israeli military continued to chop down trees and 
even managed to destroy 10-15 trees. As the group of internationals 
peacefully came between the contractors and trees ready to be 
chopped down the hired security personnel (hired security personnel 
are usually Israeli soldiers or Israeli police) began to 
aggressively push volunteers away from the trees.  Volunteers who 
wouldn't step away from the trees began "hugging" the trees as their 
bodies were being pulled away by the security personnel.  Many 
volunteers had been attacked by the Israeli security and three had 
sustained minor injuries.

•	Adam Keller, late 40's Israeli citizen, a volunteer from 
the Gush Shalom Organization was attacked and kicked by the security 
personnel and was almost cut in half by a chainsaw as he hugged the 
tree while the contractor was chopping the tree.

•	Tom Dale, 18 year old British citizen was also attacked by 
the security personnel as he stood chatting with a group of 
volunteers. Tom was also beaten and kicked as the Israeli military 
stood by and watched and sustained bruises on his body.

•	Emily Winkelstein, 27 years old and a U.S citizen sustained 
scratches on her body as she was being dragged away 

•	Heidi Niggeman, 29 years old a German citizen was beaten 
and punched in the stomach as she tried to stop a contractor/worker 
from Chopping down a tree with a chainsaw.

•	Dan O' Reilly-Rowe, 25 years old Australian/ American was 
kicked in the stomach and attacked repeatedly by the security 
personnel as he held on to save the tree from being destroyed. Dan 
was nailed to the ground 5-6 times by the security men and is 
suffering from a twisted ankle.

Yesterday and today Palestinian farmers and internationals have been 
partially successful in delaying any more destruction of their land. 
Tomorrow morning November 5, 2002 from 8:00 AM Palestinian farmers and 
International volunteers will again sit on the land. The French 
Consul along with members of the Israeli Parliament will 
accompany the Palestinian farmers in a joint attempt to stop the 
Israeli destruction of Palestinian land.

Photos and video footage of todays attacks available by calling 
below.

For more information contact: 
Heidi Niggeman: tel. 067-365-669
Huwaidaa Shapiro: tel. 067-473-308
Osama Qashoo':tel. 052-225-703
ISM OFFICE: tel. 02-277-4602

---
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