----- Original Message -----
From: NADEM NASHEF
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 11:24 PM
Subject: [AL-AWDA-News] Press Release: Six Palestinian Citizens severely beaten by Israeli police in protest outside US Embassy Today 4/4
ITTIJAH PRESS RELEASE Thursday, April 04, 2002
Six Palestinian citizens of Israel were severely beaten by Israeli police and Special Forces in a protest outside the US Embassy today. Two of the injured were arrested, along with four others. The arrested injured protesters were denied medical treatment. Around 20 more were moderately injured. They did not request medical treatment, fearing their names would be handed over to the police.
Today's events appears to be a clear repeat of the October 2002 events,
where 13 Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed by Israeli security
forces and other Israeli-Jewish citizens.
Some 600 Palestinian citizens, along with a small group of international volunteers and Israeli-Jews protested outside the US Embassy at 2pm today,voicing their anger at the US's open support for Israel's bloody assaults in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The protest was called by the Arab Higher Follow Up Committee, in a string of demonstrations to takeplace in the next few days.
Around 60 police lined up facing the protesters armed with batons and
large sticks. A short time later, another 60 police arrived as
reinforcements, along with 9 men from a special riot unit, "Yassam."
10 minutes later, without any provocation from protesters, the police
charged at demonstrators. Protesters began to run away, police chasing
them and beating those they caught around the head and back. It was
clear the police had orders to attack and maim protesters.
One man fell and was set upon by a group of police. Although seriously
injured, police did not call for medical relief, preventing protesters
from assisting the man for a few minutes. One protester called an
ambulance, which arrived 45 minutes later, although he conveyed the
urgency of the situation.
By that time, six people had been seriously injured by police beatings.
Two were arrested and denied medical treatment.
This was all witnessed by staff at the US Embassy. Protesters saw a
group from the Embassy watching from the top floor of their building, doing nothing to stop or diffuse the situation.
The American Embassy further provoked the situation by attempting to
search the Palestinian Knesset members and local Palestinian leaders who formed a delegation to meet the American Ambassador and express their outrage at the US's open support for Israel's illegal occupation of the 1967 Palestinian territories, and their silence regarding Israel's open assault on civilians and international volunteers.
Towards the end of the protest, police were seen laughing and recounting how they beat up demonstrators. At around 3:30, a group of pro-Sharon supporters gathered on the other side of the road facing the
demonstrators, inciting them. Police re-aligned themselves facing the
demonstrators, defending the pro-Sharon supporters.
For more information, please call:
Mr. Abed Anibtawi, Director
Arab Higher Follow Up Committee
Mob: +972-(0) 54 645 547
Mr. Ameer Makhoul, Director
Ittijah: Union of Arab Community Based Associations
Mob: +972-(0)54 862 171
Tel: +972-4-850 7110
Fax: +972-4-850 7241
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ms. Diaa Hadid, Public Relations and Fundraising
Ittijah: Union of Arab Community Based Associations
Tel: +972-4-850 7110
Fax: +972-4-850 7241
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Emergency Rafah Relief Fund:
http://al-awda.org/rafah_fund.htm
=================================================================
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, is the largest network of grassroots activists dedicated to Palestinian human rights
To subscribe to Al-Awda-News, send a blank message to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To find out how to join an Al-Awda action committee in your area, please visit our website at http://al-awda.org
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax
