July 21, 2003

International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Canada Press Release for immediate release

Ten International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Peace activists, among them two Canadians, still held in Israeli custody after being detained in the West Bank.

Tarek Loubani, was arrested with three other ISM ctivists by the Israeli army on July 9, 2003 in the Palestinian town of, near Jenin, after establishing a peace camp to protest the construction of an Israeli security wall on Palestinian territory. The Israeli wall threatens to.

At present the Israeli Army has not consulted residents of the West Bank on the path the Security Wall, built on their land, would take, nor has the Israeli Army compensated those whose lands have been confiscated for its construction.

Commenting on their sons arrest, Tarek Loubanis parents issued a joint statement saying, we consider our sons arrest and detention to be illegal and against international norms. Tarek was arrested in Palestinian land under the control of the Palestinian authority in which the Israeli Army has no legal jurisdiction while manning a Peace camp. We deplore the treatment of our son to date at the hands of Israeli authorities and the unnecessary deportation order that has been issued against him. Tarek is a Peace activist who was peacefully expressing his opposition to the construction of Israels controversial security wall, which threatens to destroy the livelihoods of thousands and add further misery to an already
miserable situation.

Tareks parents went on to say, we are very concerned about our sons safety in Israeli prison. We would like to have him home as soon as possible, but we reject the Israeli governments deportation order issued against him and his fellow activists. Israel's deportation of a peace activist for what Israeli prosecutors are referring to as unspecified security reasons is simply unacceptable. As such, we ask that our son be released by Israeli authorities immediately and his deportation order be over turned.

About Us:

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is made up of international peace activists committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict by advocating for the right of self-determination for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories (West Bank
and Gaza). The group is non-denominational, and is based on the universal humanistic values of equality, universal human rights, and self-determination. The ISM has always advocated for these goals by peaceful means, and has experienced tragic losses, but has remained
committed to peaceful resistance and advocacy.

On 16 March, 2003, ISM peace activist Rachel Corrie was crushed to death in Rafah by an Israeli Army bulldozer while attempting to prevent the demolition of the family home of a Palestinian physician. The Israeli Army conducted its own investigation of Rachels death and ultimately exonerated itself without interviewing, or taking into account, the eyewitness testimony of several ISM activists who still maintain that the bulldozer driver saw Rachel in her fluorescent orange ISM jacket and continued to drive towards her, crushing her when she tried to get out of the way at the final moment.

On 5 April, 2003, ISM peace activist Brian Avery was shot in the face by a gun mounted on an Israeli armoured personnel carrier (APC) as he was standing in the street with Tobias Karlsson (on of the four Arrabony detainees) in Jenin. The APC continued along its way after the shooting without stopping while Brian lay on the ground bleeding. He suffered serious wounds to his face, but is expected to recover.

On 11 April, 2003, ISM peace activist Tom Hurndall was shot in the back of the head while ushering children to safety in Rafah. Tom was shot from an Israeli Army guard tower at Israelis border with Egypt. Tom is currently in England, with his family, although he is in a coma and has suffered severe neurological damage and may never recover. Like Rachel, Tom was wearing the ubiquitous ISM fluorescent orange jacket when he was shot.

Unfortunately, Israeli officials have reacted to these tragic events by arguing that ISM peace activists should not have been in the West Bank and Gaza in the first place. The ISM, however, remains committed to its
mission.

Contact Information:

ISM Canada:
1) Justin Podur: 1-416-978-6960 (Day), 1-905-276-9284 (Evenings)
2) Paul Burrows: 1-204-944-9987 (Day), 1-204-489-5315 (Evenings)
Email: montreal@ismcanada.org
3) The Loubani Family: 1-519-434-3074
Email: mlouban3@uwo.ca

ISM Head office (Beit Sahour, West Bank): 011-972-2-277-4602 (Eitan or Eric)

Note: there is a seven hour time difference between ET and Israeli local time.