[GushShalom] Behind smokescreen another 400 made homeless in Rafah

[Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)]

GUSH SHALOM  pob 3322, Tel-Aviv  61033 âåù ùìåí, ú.ã.,3322 úì àáéá 

[a] Behind smokescreen another 400 made homeless in Rafah 
[b] Short actvism news

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[a] Behind smokescreen another 400 made homeless in Rafah 
      
Gush Shalom sent out today a  press release pointing out the cynical 
approach, typical for the Sharon governemt: "While the spotlight is on the 
theatrical removal of the improvised "Kahane synagogue" in a recently 
founded illegal hilltop settlement, 30 houses are being demolished in 
Rafah's Refugee Camp, in the Gaza Strip, without allowing the 400 
inhabitants to take out their few belongings." 

Here follows the  report on the Ha'aretz website - 
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/385036.html 
 
IDF bulldozers Tuesday flattened 30 houses and a mosque in the 
frequently targeted Rafa refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strio, 
Palestinian residents and security officials said. 
 
Frantic residents threw mattresses and blankets from second-floor 
windows as beams and walls come crashing down around them. One 
woman, standing just feet from a bulldozer, waved a white flag in a failed 
attempt to slow the demolition and buy time to salvage her belongings. A 
crying girl helped her mother carry a mattress.

The military said it did not know how many buildings were demolished, 
but said it targeted only those from which shots were fired at soldiers 
overnight. Army officials initially insisted the houses that were razed had 
been abandoned some time ago, but then said that claim was still being 
checked.

Israel has demolished hundreds of houses in the camp in three years of 
fighting, saying the buildings give cover to gunmen and weapons 
smugglers.

The Palestinians say Israel is systematically clearing large swaths in the 
camp to distance built-up areas from the narrow strip Israeli troops patrol 
along the Egyptian border. Israel has erected a tall metal barrier south of 
the camp, as a shield for troops patrolling the border.

The Palestinian governor of Rafah, Majed Agha, said 30 houses were 
demolished in an area near the metal wall, and that about 400 people were 
left homeless.

Also razed Tuesday was a neighborhood mosque, Al Tawhid, which had 
been partially demolished Saturday, residents said. The mosque is about 
70 meters Israeli metal barrier. 

"This is a crime against God's law and human law as well," said mosque 
preacher Ibrahim Abu Jazar.

The military said it was still checking the report of the mosque demolition. 

In the past three years, troops have generally stayed clear of holy sites.

In Tuesday's raid, three bulldozers and several tanks rumbled into the 
camp before dawn, witnesses said. Residents said there was shooting by 
Israeli troops. Those in the targeted homes hastily gathered their 
belongings, and some raised white flags to avoid being hit by tank fire, 
witnesses said.  

[b] Short actvism news

#
Tree planting in Budrus, Wednesday - Thursday

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:           	"Rabbis for Human Rights" <info at rhr.israel.net>
Date sent:      	Mon, 19 Jan 2004 19:59:50 +0200

Dear Friends and Supporters,

In addition to the tree planting advertised for Wednesday between the
Green Line and the Barrier(Leaving Gan HaPaamon at 8:15 and the new 
Rosh HaAyin train station at 9:15), we will do an additional planting on
Thursday.  We will depart from Gan HaPaamon at 9:00 and from  the new 
Rosh HaAyin train station at 10:15.  Please call or email to reserve space.

B'Vrakha,
Arik
#

#
The 5 imprisoned COs appeal to Military Appeals Court   

English
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=384767&contras
sID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

Hebrew:
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArtPE.jhtml?itemNo=384985&cont
rassID=2&subContrassID=21&sbSubContrassID=0

Latest update which just came buy phone: The prison authorities want to 
get rid of the five, whom they say "are no soldiers, and never will become 
so." The five seem to cause problems for the "re-education" of the other 
inmates. The idea is to let them serve their year's term in a civilian prison - 
which is absurd after  CO appeals to be judged by a civilian court were  
rejected in the past because "from the moment that they receive the call-up 
order they are soldiers."
#

#
For participating in ongoing joint Israeli-Palestinian 
protest actions against the wall, call:
Jonathan:066-327736 or Franceska:064-494030 
#

#
Veteran peace activist Gila Svirsky will be in the 
Philadelphia area in February, on a speaking tour. 
She has still time for invitations to Jewish audiences, 
in private homes or synagogues/temples or wherever. 
Contact: gsvirsky at netvision.net.il
#

#
Reservist refusers don't receive the IDF salary compensation for lost 
income. Many of them have a family to maintain. With an increasing 
number of refusers, the Keren Yesh Gvul (specific fund for 
compensations) is emptying rapidly. If you want the refusniks also in 
the future to receive at least something, send a cheque to:  
"Keren Yesh Gvul", POB 10276, Jerusalem 91102, Israel.
More information at http://www.yesh-gvul.org/
#

# 
New on the site: Security & The Wall
http://www.gush-shalom.org/security/english.html 
#



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