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UPDATE FROM
THE ELECTRONIC INTIFADA
http://electronicIntifada.net
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LETTER TO COLIN POWELL ABOUT THE ARREST OF MUSTAFA BARHOUTHI
Please use the information in this letter to draft your own letter to
Colin Powell. Please do not cut and paste Ali's letter. If your
letter is only a paragraph or two, that is fine.
Nigel Parry
for The Electronic Intifada
http://electronicIntifada.net
----------------
To Secretary of State Colin Powell
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
January 2, 2001
Dear Secretary Powell,
I am writing to urge you to take immediate action in response to Israel's
double-arrest and beating today of leading Palestinian human rights
activist and physician Dr. Mustafa Barhgouthi.
Dr. Barghouthi, who is head of the non-governmental Health, Development,
Information and Policy Institute and president of the Union of Palestinian
Medical Relief Committees, was seized by Israeli police in occupied East
Jerusalem this morning after he gave a press conference at the American
Colony Hotel.
After being detained for hours at the notorious "Russian Compound" prison
in west Jerusalem, he was then deposited at the Ram checkpoint on the edge
of occupied Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank and promptly
rearrested by Israeli occupation forces. The BBC World Service reported
this afternoon that Mr. Barghouthi was beaten by the occupation border
police at Ram checkpoint.
Mr. Secretary this action by the Israeli occupation authorities against a
leading member of Palestinian civil society can be seen only as a
deliberate attempt to further inflame the situation in the occupied
territories, to maliciously interfere with the work of human rights
organizations, and to intimidate all Palestinians into submitting to
Israel's cruel and endless occupation.
The United States must demand that Dr. Barghouti be released and that his
attackers are held accountable. The United States must demand that Israel
stop its attacks and intimidation against Palestinian human rights
organizations and stop the racist and illegal policy of preventing
Palestinians from entering occupied Jerusalem.
Today's actions, as well as Israel's continued attacks and blockades
against Palestinian civilians violate the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention
which Israel has been ordered by the Secretary Council to adhere to, and
which protect all civilians under military occupation, and in particular
the work and activities of civil, religious, medical and relief
institutions.
The United States as one of the original High Contracting Parties of the
Fourth Geneva Conventions is bound by international law to take ensure
that the Convention is respected.
The fact that The United States is not only failing to do make Israel
abide by the Convention, but is actively blocking efforts by other states
signatories to examine Israel's grave and continuous violations, will
likely be seen by many observers as further incontrovertible proof of US
complicity in and approval of Israel's actions.
The attack by Israel on Mr. Barghouthi, an internationally renowned and
respected figure, will destroy the already slim chances that the just
announced visit to the region by General Anthony Zinni could reach any
positive results. It is therefore up to the United States as its chief
sponsor and armorer to restrain its Israeli client in the way that the
full force of international law and opinion have not been permitted to.
Sincerely,
Ali Abunimah
Chicago, Illinois
http://www.abunimah.org
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