07/17/03: Post by Bob
Posted by: BLOWBACK
> Bill Capowski, a member of the IWW, left the US on July 1 to volunteerwith> the International Solidarity Movement to help the Palestinian people> peacefully resist Israeli military occupation. He traveled to a small> village of 900 residents in the northern West Bank, near Jenin. OnSunday,> Bill, three other internationals, and the local population set up a peace> camp. At the camp, they played games with children during the day and> talked with men and women during the evening about the villagers'> rage and despair that a 30-foot tall concrete seperation wall is being> built through their farmland. The camp was erected directly in> the path of the planned construction of the wall.>> To make the story short, the four internationals were arrested by the> Israeli army on Wednesday July 9 after refusing to leave the area. Theywere> beaten, taken to a military base, and denied legal counsel. At their> deportation hearing they were issued deportation orders, which they would> not sign. They were transferred to Ariel Police Station on Thursday.During> the ride to the station, the police captain transporting them was driving93> miles per hour and got into a serious car accident with Bill and theothers> in the back, who were shackled and not wearing seatbelts. They areinjured> and need independent medical personnel to evaluate and treat them. Thefour> remain in cell #4 at the Ariel Police Station, and are denied visitation> from lawyers and others, phone calls, proper food, exercise and natural> light. It has been a week now since their capture and there is no word on> their next hearing. There is talk that they are engaging in a hunger> strike.>>> HOW WE CAN HELP:> On Thursday, July 17, take a moment to ask the US Consulate to issue a> formal, written protest and make a visit to Ariel Police Station.>>> US Embassy> Consular Section> 71 Hayarkon St> Tel Aviv> Israel>> Telephone numbers (when dialing from US and Canada):> 011-972-3-519-7551> 011-972-3-519-7369> 011-972-3-519-7454> 011-972-3-519-7458> 011-972-3-519-7453>> Fax: 011-972-3-516-4390>> E-mail: amctelaviv@state.gov>> http://usembassy-israel.org.il/publish/consular.htm