[E-rundbrief] Info 1134 - Support for Palestinian children stopped at Jordan border

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1134 - Pro-Palestinians prepare new mission for 
Palestinian children, Gush Shalom (IL): At the Jordan Bridges border 
crossings, Israeli authorities prevented the entry of more than a 
hundred international activists.

Bad Ischl, 25.8.2012

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

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Pro-Palestinians prepare new mission for Palestinian children

Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:46PM

Over 100 Pro-Palestinians in Europe and North America are organizing a 
fresh trip to Palestine in order to deliver stationery to the children 
of Palestine. This time, their mission is based on an official 
invitation from the Palestine Authority.

These pro-Palestinian French are ready to return to meet Palestinians 
on their soil.

This time, it is upon the official invitation of the Palestinian 
Authority who has requested safe passage to the French Foreign 
Minister for the French visitors.

In the past, Western visitors to Palestine were refused entry. Their 
names were blacklisted and they were not allowed boarding by airlines. 
Israeli authorities stated they were hooligans. But the organizers say 
they think otherwise.

This time the organizers say that beyond their right to visit their 
Palestinian friends, they are also accomplishing a second goal, which 
is, the right of Palestinian children to education.

Books, pencils, notebooks and other stationary are being collected. 
Palestinian children have suffered a severe shortage of essential 
items due to the long running Israeli blockade.

Organizers say, despite the odds, they are determined to reach Palestine.

http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/20/257291/propalestinians-mission-children/

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Gush Shalom - Press Release

August 26, 2012

At the Jordan Bridges border crossings, Israeli authorities prevented 
the entry of more than a hundred international activists

Gush Shalom: "The country's border crossings are wide open to the 
international friends of the violent settlers"

About 7.30 pm, more than a hundred activists from all over the world 
arrived from Jordan to the Israeli border crossings at the 
Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, telling that they on their way to 
Bethlehem at the invitation of its Palestinian governor and of civil 
society organizations there, and that they were carrying  with them 
notebooks and school equipment for Palestinian pupils about to begin 
their school year. However, their entry into the West Bank was denied. 
  In the Israeli-controlled area of the Allenby Bridge was seen a 
major alert of military forces, and journalists there were told that 
the area had been declared "a closed military zone".

"They did not even let us get off the bus," said Olivia Zemor of 
Paris, one of the organizers of the visit. "They collected our 
passports and a few minutes later returned them with each and every 
passport stamped 'Entry denied'. The soldiers refused to give any 
explanation, they just said - that's it, your entry is denied, go back 
to Jordan." Zemour noted that last year, when she and her fellows 
tried to reach the Palestinian Territories through Ben Gurion Airport, 
they were told, "Why don't you come through the Jordan bridges?". "So 
we did try to get through the Jordan bridges, and now we got a 
definite answer from the government of Israel."

"Violent settlers, those who under the name of 'price tag' set olive 
trees and  mosques on fire, are all the time getting reinforcements 
from abroad. For the settlers' friends, Jews and Christians, Israel's 
border crossings are wide open.  From the airport they go to the 
settlements" says Adam Keller, Gush Shalom Spokesperson. "When the 
Palestinians living under Israel's rule try to invite guests to come 
and visit them, the government of Israel instructs the army and police 
to block their way. The government has the power and the ability to 
act in such a belligerent and arbitrary way. But by so doing, the 
government ends up emphasizing and demonstrating to the entire world 
that – despite the so- called 'judicial report' which the government 
commissioned from Judge Edmond Levy -  the territory is indeed under 
an oppressive occupation".

Contact:
Adam Keller, Gush Shalom +972-(0)54-2340749
The organizers of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign:
Nicholas (contact in Europe) +33 6 73 38 24 84
Olivia (contact in the delegation at the bridge) +33 6 80 88 71 54

Video press conference held by the organizers prior to their departure 
from Paris - can be used with acknowlegement :
http://presstv.com/detail/2012/08/20/257291/propalestinians-mission-children/ 
# UDO8FphiaQs

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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
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