[mobglob-discuss] Fw: Update from East Jerusalem ...

[Macdonald Stainsby]

I just got this, so for everyone else...
Some of us here in Vancouver are already setting up a local ISM chapter.
victory to the intifada!

Macdonald
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jaggi Singh" <jaggi at tao.ca>
December 17, 2002, 7:30am
East Jerusalem

It's dawn here, and I've just checked into a hostel in East Jerusalem,
after a short overnight ride from Tel Aviv. Here's a quick update:

1) First, thanks to all of you who helped support me while I was detained
by Israeli security. Your efforts were really overwhelming (both in
Palestine/Israel, and back in Canada). Nothing to say except thanks for
your solidarity.

2) I've now been released by security officials after being detained at
the airport since Saturday evening (when my flight landed at Tel Aviv's
Ben Gurion Airport). When I was refused entry after seven hours of
questions, searches and waiting, I told the Israeli police officials that
there was no way they were going to put my back on the plane without some
sort of physical confrontation. That initiated a legal process, pursued
skillfully by Israeli attorney Shamai Leibowitz, that led to my eventual
release. However, I was earlier this morning released under certain very
specific conditions:

i) I cannot visit the Palestinian territories.
ii) I must leave Israel by December 23, 2002
iii) Someone had to post US$5000 bail (this was posted by an Israeli peace
activist from Tel Aviv).
iv) I must report my address in Israel to the state authorities.

I AM allowed to use a megaphone in Israel, so things aren't all that bad.
... But seriously, initially, the Israeli security services refused to
admit me because I was a security threat. During my court hearing, the
state attorney made reference to my involvement in anti-globalization
protests, as well as "secret evidence" in the hands of Shin Bet (the
Israeli General Security Services). In accordance with Israeli law, this
evidence was presented to the judge in a closed hearing (everyone had to
leave the court except the judge, state attorney and security officials).
Even with this "secret evidence", the judge allowed me to stay for at
least a week. Clearly, the "secret evidence" was a smokescreen, since no
real "security threat" would be allowed to travel freely in Israel for one
day, let alone one week.

The real fear here is that I, along with other internationals, might be
involved in active solidarity work with Palestinian activists, which is
why the conditions above were imposed. The state attorney was quite
insistent that I must leave before December 23, because the situation in
Palestine gets hotter than normal around Christmas. Last year, ISM
activists played an important role during the Israeli siege of the Church
of the Nativity in Bethelem.

3) So, will I obey the conditions? Well, I came here to help support the
International Solidarity Movement (ISM) -- http://www.palsolidarity.org --
a Palestinian-led non-violent direct action movement in the occupied
territories. I'm not sure how I can allow an occupying power to dictate
whether I can visit the territories they occupy illegally. I'll figure a
few things out in the next few days, but if the Palestinian activists from
the ISM think I might be useful in occupied Palestine, then I can't see
how I'll let some half-baked Israeli court conditions stop me. I'm being
quite open about this, because there's no reason to be clandestine about
the above-ground work of ISM activists and their allies. It's the security
service that needs to be clandestine with their closed door hearings and
secret evidence.

4) I want to acknowledge the incredible support of Israeli peace activists
here. At least 5 attended my evening court hearing in Tel Aviv, and were
quite outspoken in their support, as well as their condemnation of the
Israeli security service. This is all part of a very real emerging
alliance between Israeli dissenters and international activists, together
in solidarity with the Palestinian-led struggle for self-determination.

5) On a personal note, I've always wanted to visit Jerusalem since I was a
boy and I first started reading Bible stories. I'm exhilirated to be
finally here. As much as the political reasons above, I refused to be
deported on Saturday, because I wasn't going to let some security
bureaucrats prevent me from seeing such an important place. But I never
really imagined that my first visit to Jerusalem would be in a police
mini-van, on my way, as a petitioner, to the Israeli Supreme Court (who
after some discussion, referred the matter back to Tel Aviv District
Court). I'm now somewhat freer to travel as I see fit (only in Israel),
and I've set up base as close as I can get to the occupied territories
without leaving Israel proper.


I was able to file audio reports on CKUT (Montreal) and CKLN (Toronto).
They're available online, but I'll need to post the URLs later. Hoping
to file more audio and written reports in the upcoming weeks direct from
the occupied territories of Palestine. Will be in touch again soon. --
Jaggi Singh

-------------------------------------------
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
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--
In the contradiction lies the hope.
                                     --Bertholt Brecht