Welcome to Palestine

Interview with Another French participant

2011-07-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

A French participant shared her experience in Ben Gurion airport with Welcome to Palestine.

Invitation to Concluding Press Conference from the "Welcome to Palestine" Campaign

2011-07-18T00:26:00.001-07:00

12 pm (noon) on Monday, July 18th, Alternative Information Center (AIC), Queen Shlomzion Street 4, Jerusalem

In response to a Palestinian invitation, hundreds of international visitors reserved flights to Ben Gurion airport for July 8th. The Israeli government did everything in its power to stop them, including pressuring seven commercial European airline companies into abruptly canceling a huge number of the flight reservations.

The Israeli authorities detained and then deported en masse those who did arrive in Tel Aviv. Only a few dozen international guests were finally able to come to Palestine and only after overcoming many obstacles: for example, Vivienne Prozsolt from Australia, who was with the Freedom Flotilla II, flew from Athens, was detained, but unexpectedly prevailed in her court appeal against the deportation. The international guests who did get through to us participated in a week of fellowship and solidarity from July 8th until July 16th.

The organizers of "Welcome to Palestine" invite you to a press conference to review our accomplishments, despite the massive Israeli government obstructions, and to discuss future directions for international solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Speakers in Jerusalem:
- Lubna Masarwa, leading organizer who worked with both the flotilla to Gaza and with "Welcome to Palestine"
- Vivienne Prozsolt, of Sidney, Australia, a member of Jews against the Occupation and international guest of "Welcome to Palestine"
- Shireen Al-Araj, activist from Al-Walaja, who organized and accompanied the visitors who were with us in Palestine July 8th-16th
- Sergio Yahni, media coordinator at Alternative Information Center

Speakers available via Skype-Video:
- Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, professor of genetics and author, and co-organizer of "Welcome to Palestine"
- International organizers of "Welcome to Palestine," including, among others, Elsa Rassbach of Germany and Karin Pally of USA

"This was not the first or the last project we, civil society in Palestine, do to shed light on the illegality of occupation and colonization," says Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh of Bethlehem, a leading organizer of the initiative. "More and more people are becoming aware, and our next projects will build on this momentum until Palestine is free."

Laura Durkay of New York, who was detained at Ben Gurion airport on July 8th and then jailed and deported says: "Everyone I have spoken to has come back to their home countries more determined than ever to continue the struggle for Palestinian freedom and equal rights."

Media Contacts:
GENERAL: info@palestinejn.org
JERUSALEM: Sergio Yahni, sergioyahni@gmail.com, +972(0)526375032
BETHLEHEM: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, mazin@qumsiyeh.org, +972(0)598939532 (English and Arabic), and Fadi Kattan (French)press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100
FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33(0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33(0)673 38 24 84
GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0)88 007761,+49(0)1799878414 and Elsa Rassbach (contact information below)
UK: Sofiah MacLeod, secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk,+44(0)7931 200 36100,+44(0)131 620 0052
USA: Karin Pally, myizzy@gmail.com or kpally@earthlink.net, +1 310-399-1921
INTERNATIONAL Media Coordinator: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

Interview with an American Participant

2011-07-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

A Jewish-American participants gives Welcome to Palestine an interview at a demonstration in Bethlehem.

Interview with Munther Amireh

2011-07-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

Munther Amireh gives a brief interview to Welcome to Palestine at a demonstration in Bethlehem.

Israeli Judge denies "Welcome to Palestine" participant's appeal of her detention by the Ministry of Interior

2011-07-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

Deportation of Angela Seyfrid to Germany is imminent

Tel Aviv and Bethlehem, July 14, 2011 -- This morning Judge Avraham Yaakov of the district court upheld the Ministry of Interior detention and deportation order for Angelika Seyfrid, a 50 year old German citizen who resides in Berlin. Ms. Seyfrid has been in Givon prison since July 8th, when she flew to Ben Gurion airport with hundreds of other international participants of the "Welcome to Palestine" initiative in the hope of joining in a program of events organized by Palestinians in the West Bank.

Attorney Omer Shatz and Attorney Iftah Cohen challenged the Ministry of Interior's deportation order on behalf of Ms. Seyfrid. The German section of Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East – in a coalition of many German NGOs – paid her court and attorney fees for the hearing. Michal Livne Kaiser, President of the German section of Jewish Voice, stated: "We support these peace activists who assert their internationally recognized right of freedom of movement and thereby demonstrate solidarity with the isolated and disenfranchised Palestinians in the territories occupied by Israel."

Yesterday, in what Attorney Shatz called a "precedent-setting" decision, Judge Avraham Yaakov had ordered two Australian participants of the "Welcome to Palestine" initiative to be released on the grounds that the Ministry of Interior was overstepping his authority by ordering them deported. The two Australians had stated that they were not planning to visit Israel, but were only planning to visit friends in the West Bank as part of the "Welcome to Palestine" initiative. Therefore, the Judge gave them the "opportunity," after posting bond, to request permission from the Israeli military to enter the West Bank.

However, in the case this morning, Judge Avraham Yaakov ruled that the Ministry of Interior had the right to detain and deport Ms. Seyfrid on the grounds that she stated that, in addition to hoping to join the "Welcome to Palestine" events in the West Bank, she also planned to visit Israel. Some of the "Welcome to Palestine" events are taking place in the Negev desert to help rebuild a Bedouin village that the Israeli forces have many times destroyed. According to Judge Yaakov, the Ministry of Interior does have authority to deport persons who plan to come to Israel.

During the hearing, the attorney for the Ministry of Interior asserted that "Welcome to Palestine" was "intended to arouse disorder and violence" and stated that, even though Ms. Seyfrid has a legal right to challenge the deportation order, her use of that right is in itself "a provocation."

In his petition on behalf of Ms. Seyfrid, Attorney Shatz stated that "the Ministry of Interior has acted arbitrarily and discriminatorily." The arbitrariness is evident, he stated, "in the way her entry was denied, as well as in the manner of her arrest and in the attempt to deport her , without telling her anything, not even regarding her legal rights." Attorney Shatz argued that "tourists not regarded by the Ministry of Interior to be 'pro-Palestinian,' but instead as supporters of 'Greater Israel,' not only receive permission to enter Israel with no disturbance, but are also not even required to obtain an entry permit to visit the West Bank."

In addition, stated Attorney Shatz, "there are grounds for reasonable doubt that the decision against the plaintiff was even made by the Ministry of Interior. Publications in the public media on behalf of the Government of Israel reveal that the prime minister himself decided to sabotage, collectively and overwhelmingly, the tourist arrivals to the territories of the Palestinian Authority. This is based only on the assumption that the tourists are "pro - Palestinian" and that their support of a nonviolent struggle for liberation of a people that suffers from the burden of a prolonged military regime -- is a provocation that in his view is somehow threatening to the Israeli public."

In the end, it turned out that Judge Yaakov had already prepared his order, which he then read to the court secretary.

It is believed that Ms. Seyfrid will be placed on a flight back to Germany this evening.

Media Contacts:

PALESTINE: Media Center, press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100 /
Sheerin Alaraj, sheerink@yahoo.com, +972(0)522054595

FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33(0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33(0)673 38 24 84

GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0)88 007761,+49(0)1799878414 and Elsa Rassbach (see contact details below)

USA: Karin Pally, myizzy@gmail.com or kpally@earthlink.net, +1 310-399-1921

INTERNATIONAL Media Coordination: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

Law Firm: Shatz & Cohen – Iftah Cohen & Omer Shatz – Tel +972 (0)3 5186642

Please stay informed through our websites:

- http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org

- http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com/

- http://ahlanfefalasteen.blogspot.com/

- http://bienvenueenpalestinepresse.blogspot.com/

- http://www.kopi-online.de

Al Dameer Lawyer's Reports on Detainees

2011-07-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Al Dameer, an organization concerned with the providing care legal services for prisoners and upholding human rights, has visited more than 80 foreigner prisoners in Ramla and Beer Al-Saba. These detainees were arrested last Friday, July 8^th 2011 upon their arrival to Tel Aviv in hopes of visiting Palestine and standing in solidarity with its people in their struggle against the occupation.

Al Dameer strongly condemns Israel’s actions and their arbitrary restrictions on the rights of individuals for freedom of movement, association and expression. This situation has proved that Israel has in fact imposed a blockade not only on Gaza, but also on the West Bank by imposing constraints on the entry of foreign peace activists and detaining them without clear legal grounds.

In addition to the arbitrary restriction of movement, these foreign activists were treated very poorly.

As part of the Welcome to Palestine initiative, the first group of the foreign delegation reached Ben Gurion on Friday, July 8^th 2011. Organized by the Palestinian Civil Society, this intiative aimed to welcome hundreds of international activisits to visit the occupied Palestinian territories. However, a very limited number of foreigners managed to reach the Palestinian terriorties, while a very large number of acitivists were detained upon their arrival and later transferred to prisons in Ramla and Beer Al-Saba’.

Between the 9^th and 12^th of July, Al Dameer lawyers (Annan Odan and Samer Sema’an) visited these detainees, who had reported to them that they were not provided with neither food nor water. Fadwa Al-Atrash, a 19-year old student reading French, reported to the lawyer that she had not had any food or water between 15.30 until midnight, when she arrived to Ramla prison. Further, Fadwa was detained in a military vehicle with other foreigner for approximately one hour. Despite the hot weather, the soldiers deliberately turn on the heating in the car. Additionally, according to Fadwa, the authorities beat some foreigners during the detention at the airport. Fadwa was beaten on the legs, punched on the face and back by 3 security officers at the airport. Muhammad Najjar, a 33-year old Belgian citizen, was beaten twice at the airport. When 4-5 Israeli officers forcefully took him to the plane to return to Belgium, Najjar refused. As a result, soldiers kicked and punched Najjar. When he later tried to protect Fethiye Abdul Albardali from being beaten, approximately 10 security forces attacked Najjar.

In contradiction to Israeli law, the Israeli authorities informed Al Dameer lawyers that the foreigners are not entitled to receive visits by their lawyers. After extensive discussions with the office of the general attorney in Tel Aviv, the lawyers were allowed to visit the prison at 14.00. As another violation of the law of entry, the international activists were not provided with justification for the denial of entry into Israel. Further, they were not allowed to contact their families, causing the hunger strike by the prisoners to demand the full implementation of the law. It was only after the strike that the authorities promised that they will be allowed to contact their relatives. Despite these promises, very few prisoners were allowed to make phone calls.

Further, the authorities used tactics in order to prevent detainees from using their right to appeal the decision of deportation. The men and women were place in separate sections in order to prevent them from communicating and coordinating their responses. Additionally, the authorities reportedly tried to convince the detainees to leave voluntarily. The authorities dealt with these detainees as criminals by confiscating their belongings and forcing them to clean cells and corridors.

Al Dameer Foundation encourages the international community, particularly the embassies and consulates to immediately intervene and condemn Israel’s actions. Israel has imposed a restriction of entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and hindered the right to freedom of expression, opinion and association with the Palestinian cause.

INTERVIEW with Ms. Sylvia Hale, Australian participant of Welcome to Palestine initiative

2011-07-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Sylvia Hale, a 69 year old former parliament member and former counsellor of Marrickville provided a statement to the Media Center of the Welcome to Palestine initiative on Thursday, July 14, 2011

Vivienne and I are both here in Tel Aviv, finally freed from detention -- though not after long delays that verge on contempt of court.

The conditions of our release are:
1. We each lodge bail of 2,500 shekels (the prosecution asked for 50,000!);
2. We lodge an application with the military for permission to enter the West Bank within 24 hours;
3. We agree to leave Israel within 24 hours of entry permission being refused;
4. We have the right to appeal any refusal of permission to enter the West Bank.

One possible fly in the ointment is that we've been given only a 2-day entry visa to Israel, so we may be forced to leave before we receive an answer to our request. We'll be discussing with our lawyers tomorrow whether this effectively subverts the court's discussion.

We will meet with our lawyers to discuss tactics on the best way to proceed from here. Because the Israeli weekend covers Friday and Saturday and we won't lodge until late Thursday, we may not have a response to our entry request until Monday or Tuesday, if the bureaucratic wheels grind slowly.

We've nothing but praise for our lawyers, who gave us sound legal and political advice. They were really delighted (and surprised) at the court's decision - possibly even more than we were.

The Australian embassy has also been particularly helpful, attending court and providing us with ongoing, 'unofficial' translation of the proceedings, booking accommodation this evening, transporting us from the airport into Tel Aviv, and providing useful advice.

I cannot, however, say the same for the immigration detention officers. Our requests to speak to lawyers and consular officials, for showers and food were constantly brushed off with 'in a few minutes’, ‘soon' etc. When we complained about the delays and banged on our cell door, we were threatened with handcuffing.

We returned from court today to the airport's detention centre at about 2pm, but were not transported to the airport proper to sign relevant undertakings and deposit bail until 7pm, and then only because there had been a change of shift and the new officer in charge realised that they were not complying with the court order that we be permitted to do these things. One of the excuses offered to the Embassy was that, because the court had ordered that its decision be given to us in English, Immigration was waiting on the Embassy to do the translation!

When we first arrived at the airport and were asked what we wanted to do in Israel the only response we gave was 'We want to go to Palestine' and nominated Bethlehem and Ramallah as places we wished to visit. The consternation on the officer's face was quite amusing to see. We were not asked to sign any documents and declined to answer any questions, saying that all the information they required was in our passports, which they held.

As we were being conducted from passport control to a holding area we yelled 'Free Palestine', 'We want to go to Palestine', and 'Free Gaza'.

The prosecution argued in court that this caused a disturbance but, as the judge pointed out, we had received no prior warnings that shouting slogans was a forbidden act and in any case we did not refuse to cooperate thereafter.

We did, however, not go completely quietly. We were refused permission to reclaim our luggage from the baggage carousel and were assured that it was completely safe. However, when we were finally taken to retrieve it, my backpack was missing. We spent a ludicrous 90 minutes searching for it, with a police officer vainly assuring me that we were going to be deported and that my pack would be sent on after. I refused to budge, they threatened to drag me (bluster on their part, I think), until the pack was eventually found in Lost Property. The whole thing had a Keystone Cops air about it.

With the baggage eventually retrieved, our bags were thoroughly searched and we were closely patted down. In all, it took from 4.30am, when we arrived in Tel Aviv, until about 8am when we landed in the detention facility.

So, one could conclude that, for the alleged 'crime' of saying 'We want to go to Palestine', we spent 36 hours in reasonably unpleasant and frustrating detention, were threatened with deportation, and have spent about $4,000 on legal fees.

I'm delighted that we took on this challenge. From the larger perspective, we've established a precedent, so that anyone may now go to Israel and then request entry to the West Bank. I anticipate possibly thousands of people availing themselves of the opportunity and wonder just how the Israeli authorities will deal with that! I'm delighted, Vivienne and I could not have asked for a more successful outcome. We now see how unjust Israel is and it's not just a blockade on Gaza but a blockade of all Palestine.

INTERVIEW with Ms. Vivienne Porzsolt, Australian participant of Welcome to Palestine initiative

2011-07-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ms. Vivienne Porzsolt, a 69 year old New Zealand spokeswoman for Jews Against Occupation, spoke with the Media Center of the Welcome to Palestine initiative on Thursday, July 14, 2011.

Ms. Porzsolt arrived at Ben Gurion airport at 4:30am on Monday, July 11, 2011. She had originally planned to join the flotilla to Gaza to highlight the unfairness of the blockade. When plans for the flotilla were cancelled, she heard about and decided to join the Welcome Palestine Initiative. Never expecting to board the flight from Athens, Ms. Porzsolt stated to Israeli passport control her intention to travel to Palestine. "The passport official said to me: 'What's Palestine?'. I was then led away to the detention center at the airport," said Ms. Porzsolt. While being led away, she chanted ‘Free Palestine!’ for which she was admonished for by the prosecution in court.

She would spend 36 hours in the detention facility awaiting the hearing that would decide whether she had the right to travel to Palestine. Sleeping on a narrow bed in a cramped cell, detention officers delayed showers, food and contact with her attorneys and the Australian embassy for hours.

When the Court announced that the deportation order would be denied and she was to be released, Ms. Porzsolt said: "I was very surprised at the outcome. Our lawyers were more surprised and happy because we didn't understand the significance of the decision. Now we do and we are so pleased."

Ms. Porzsolt told the Media Center that as a Jew, she felt compelled to speak out against what Israel was doing to the Palestinian people in her name. "I believe in human rights and international law and for people to live together in harmony and with respect." She went on to say that she had travelled to Palestine and Israel before starting in the 1990's. "In 2003 I marched to the West Bank for international human and women's rights."

"We never anticipated that this would happen but we're so happy and surprised that it did." Ms. Porzsolt hopes to travel to the West Bank and complete her long journey on Saturday.

Interview with French participants

2011-07-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

French activists gave an interview to Welcome to Palestine. The entire interview is in French.

Press Release: Unprecedented court ruling states that Israeli Ministry of Interior has “overstepped its authority by preventing passage to Palestine” – Sylvia Hale and Vivienne Porzsolt to be released imminently

2011-07-13T07:53:00.001-07:00

Sylvia Hale, a 69 year old former Australian parliament member and former councillor of Marrickville, was releasedafter having been arrested and detained by the Ministry of Interior yesterday for stating her intent to travel to Palestine. Along with Hale, Vivienne Porzsolt, a 69 year old New Zealand spokesperson for Jews Against Occupation in Australia, was also ordered released. Alison Barnes, Sylvia's daughter, said she cannot wait to speak with her mother: "I am overwhelmed, so thrilled and excited."

Omer Shatz, the attorney representing both women, stated that the order of release is a landmark precedent-setting case that will ease travel challenges to Palestine. The court accepted the position that the Ministry of Interior had overstepped its authority by preventing passage to Palestine, finding that the MOI had no authority to deny internationals entry to Palestine and that internationals should not be forced to lie about their intention to travel to the West Bank. Mr. Shatz stated that "this is the first time that a deportation challenge has been presented to the Court and won. It is a landmark decision and one that holds precedent for all future cases."

Tomorrow morning at 9am, Angelica Seyfrid of Germany, another detained participant of "Welcome to Palestine," will go before the court to challenge her deportation. Considering the clear ruling issued today, Mr. Shatz, who is also representing Ms. Seyfrid, expects another order of release.

Media Contacts:

PALESTINE: Fadi Kattan press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100
FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33(0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33(0)673 38 24 84
GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0)88 007761,+49(0)1799878414
UK: Sofiah MacLeod, secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk,+44(0)7931 200 36100,+44(0)131 620 0052
USA: Karin Pally, myizzy@gmail.com or kpally@earthlink.net, +1 310-399-1921
INTERNATIONAL Media Coordination: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

Law Firm: Shatz & Cohen – Iftah Cohen & Omer Shatz – Tel +972 (0)3 5186642

Please stay informed through our websites:
- http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org
- http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com/
- http://ahlanfefalasteen.blogspot.com/
- http://bienvenueenpalestinepresse.blogspot.com/
- http://www.kopi-online.de

BREAKING NEWS

2011-07-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

District Court orders release of Sylvia Hale and Vivienne Porzsolt setting a precedence for entry to Palestine

Court Challenges of the Deportation Orders Today and Tomorrow

2011-07-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem and Jerusalem, July 13, 2011. Court dates have been set for noon today and tomorrow at 9 am for the court challenges of "Welcome to Palestine" participants against the deportation orders of the Israeli government that they and their attorneys consider illegal. The hearings will take place at the Central District Courthouse in Petah Tikva.

The hearing at noon today concerns two Australians who flew from Athens to Ben Gurion airport yesterday to join the "Welcome to Palestine" initiative: Sylvia Hale, a retired member of the NSW Parliament and Green Party Member, and Vivienne Porzsolt, a member of Jews against the Occupation, both 69 years old had, been aboard the Flotilla II Free Gaza ship, the "MV Tahrir," which the Greek government prevented from sailing to Gaza. Other members of Flotilla II have decided to come visit Palestine and contacted the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign, including the US activist Kathy Kelly. "We are now inundated with requests to visit Palestine which is the opposite of what the Israeli authorities had tried to do by their brutal denial of travel to a few hundred activists" said Mazin Qumsiyeh, one of the organizers and the campaign's local media spokesperson.

Tomorrow at 9 am Angelica Seyfrid of Berlin, Germany, will challenge deportation orders. Ms. Seyfrid, an artist and translator, worked for many weeks to raise money for travel costs so that unemployed persons and students in Germany could join "Welcome to Palestine." On July 8th, Ms. Seyfrid flew from Berlin to Tel Aviv with members of the German ,Austrian, French and Belgian delegations of "Welcome to Palestine." All were immediately detained upon arrival to Ben Gurion airport and most were deported without opportunity of legal counsel. Members of the German and Austrian delegation were deported on Sunday, July 10th via Lufthansa Airlines, and on Monday, July 11th, via Australian Airlines respectively. According to the German Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Israeli authorities denied access to attorneys seeking to represent the incarcerated Germans.

"Israel denied the entry of Noam Chomsky because he wanted to have a talk with students from Nablus," said Attorney Omer Shatz. "Israel denied the entry of Ivan Prado the famous clown just because he wished to make Ramahalla's kids happy. Israel denied entry to anyone who wants to visit Palestine. Such a regime that doesn't let people to visit millions of Palestinians living under oppressing military occupation for 44 years now."

"Israel denied the entry of Noam Chomsky because he wanted to have a talk with students from Nablus," said Attorney Omer Shatz. "Israel denied the entry of Ivan Prado the famous clown just because he wished to make Ramahalla's kids happy. Israel denied entry to anyone who wants to visit Palestine. Such a regime that doesn't let people to visit millions of Palestinians living under oppressing military occupation for 44 years now."

"Our hearts go out to Angelica, and we fully support her courageous refusal to accept the illegal Israeli deportation orders," said Elsa Rassbach, a US citizen living in Berlin and member of CODEPINK and the German section of the War Resistors International, who helped organize the German delegation and is coordinating the international media for the initiative from Berlin. Together with members of the French and UK delegations to "Welcome to Palestine," Ms. Rassbach visited Palestine during an earlier campaign of support during Christmas last year. However, the French activist, Olivia Zémor, was denied entry and deported during the same time.

While Israel succeeded in preventing hundreds of people from entering Palestine, many others did enter to join this week's program of activities. Israeli forces have incarcerated at least two supporters, including a young man from Belgium who participated in yesterday's peaceful attempt to enter the Palestinian villages of Beit Ommar (now off-limits due to Israeli colonial activities). Israelis also decided to join the activities and several were also arrested.

"The local organizers of the 'Welcome to Palestine' campaign, while sad about the continuing attempts at isolation from the international community, are pleased that this episode of brutal Israeli assault removes one of the last illusions about 'Israeli Democracy'," said Dr. Qumsiyeh.

Media Contacts:
GENERAL: info@palestinejn.org
JERUSALEM: Sheerin Alaraj, sheerink@yahoo.com, +972(0)522054595 (English and Arabic),
BETHLEHEM: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, mazin@qumsiyeh.org, +972(0)598939532,Fadi Kattan (French) press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100
FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33(0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33(0)673 38 24 84
GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0)88 007761,+49(0)1799878414
UK: Sofiah MacLeod, secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk,+44(0)7931 200 36100,+44(0)131 620 0052
USA: Karin Pally, myizzy@gmail.com or kpally@earthlink.net, +1 310-399-1921
INTERNATIONAL Media Coordination: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

Please stay informed through our websites:
- http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org
- http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com/
- http://ahlanfefalasteen.blogspot.com/
- http://bienvenueenpalestinepresse.blogspot.com/
- http://www.kopi-online.de

Video of AlJazeera Report of Yesterday's Demonstration

2011-07-13T01:47:00.000-07:00

You will need to log onto to your Facebook account in order to view this video.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=203856049666108&oid=196015263754528&comments

Video of Arrests at Beit Ummar Demonstration

2011-07-13T01:13:00.001-07:00

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http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=203571336361246&oid=196015263754528&comments

Arrests in Beit Ummar

2011-07-12T07:18:00.001-07:00

Update: 1 Belgium, 1 American and 3 Israelis arrested in Beit Ummar demonstration.

UPDATE: Hungerstrike at Zurich-Airport

2011-07-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Three young participants of the Welcome to Palestine initiative started a hungerstrike in the hall of the airport, after being denied entrance to the flight to Palestine via Tel Aviv-airport with SWISS Airline. The three had been forced to evacuate the place by airport security officials.

Pictures, taken at the 8^th of July, can be seen at our Flickr-account: www.flickr.com/WelcometoPalestine

Resisting Deportation

2011-07-11T06:29:00.001-07:00

For the people that are being illegally detained in Israeli incarceration facilities, it is primordial to refuse being deported for the following reasons:

a. There is no legal reason for the initial incarceration;

b. There has been no justification for the denial of entry through Lod (ben Gurion) Airport;

c. If deportation is accepted, this will be normalized and create a precedent by which the Israeli Authorities are “permitted” to decide on who has the right or not to come visit Palestine;

d. The “Welcome to Palestine” campaign came to challenge the discriminatory process applied by the Israeli Authorities in denying access to guests invited by Palestinians;

e. Israel wants to be taken out of the spotlight in being exposed to the world opinion in the application of occupation. Resistance and challenge to these rules is very important in order to keep the issue alive;

f. The complicity of airlines and foreign governments in exposing their nationals to risk, illegal incarceration and forced deportation is unacceptable and should be pressured towards a public explanation and justification.

UPDATE: Deportation French participants

2011-07-11T05:23:00.001-07:00

We just received an update on the deportation of the French participants of the Welcome to Palestine-initiative. In total there are 49 detainees of which 47 are in the Givon-prison. This group exists of 31 women and 16 men that came to Tel Aviv from France. The other two detainees are in the Beersheva prison. These detainees came from Belgium.

The people that are still in detention are getting minimal consular assistance. Crisis cell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris is minimal as well. The detainees keep their spirits high in detention. What remains though is an unclear status as they are neither under detention nor incarcerated, but in a grey legal area.
The six people deported will be on board the Easyjet flight to Geneva today. Nadia, Charlotte, Lemia, Stephane, Aziz and Salim will arrive in Geneva later on today but flight was supposed to leave at 13:00 (Palestine local time) and has not left until now (15h30 Palestine local time).

Welcome to Palestine is calling for a gathering tomorrow, Tuesday 13.00, in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Quai d’Orsay.

Interview with a French Participant Regarding Airport Experience

2011-07-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

What happened at the airport at Geneva?

While my friend and I were waiting on the queue to check-in, a group of people arrived to protest their Disappointment due to the fact that they were not authorized to board the flight to Tel Aviv. They sat on the check-in desks and blocked the queue while chanting that they are peaceful and that they simply want to visit Palestine. While they were protesters, the police continued to push them.

Thankfully, our name was not on the list and we were passed through to go to the gate, which was packed with passengers as most flights were delayed. We were asked to present our passport twice and were questioned about the reasons for which we were going to visit Israel before finally passing through the gate. As soon as we boarded on the plane, the pilot informed us that there is an extra passenger on this flight and that each boarding pass has to be verified again. The personnel scanned all the boarding passes and a young man of North African origin had to leave the plane as he was on the list. Finally, the pilot announced that they had to check the personally carry-on’s as a security measure before taking off.

What happened at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv?

As soon as the plane landed, the pilot asked us to wait, as the Israeli police will first come on the plane. I saw thousands of policemen through the window, which made me so nervous yet at the same time I managed to keep my composure.

I had no idea what was in store for me. A policeman came on the plane and asked passengers to leave the plane row by row. When it was time for us to come down, there were countless policeman, soldiers, journalists and photographers who started to take pictures as soon as we stepped foot outside the plane. A policeman asked for our passports and we were asked to go on a bus, along with ten other passenger. We were also photographed on that ride.

We arrived to what looked like an empty storage room, which made me nervous. “Where am I?” , I thought to myself. We finally arrived to a room where we were offered water and then were asked for individual interrogation. I was asked the reasons for which I came to Israel, to which I answered that I was simply here to visit the country and will be in Jerusalem. We finally were released, when they finally returned our passports accompanied with a rose.

Update

2011-07-10T23:53:00.001-07:00

After getting deported by Israeli authorities, four German participants of the "Welcome to Palestine" initiative arrived in Berlin at 23.20 on Sunday July 10, 2011. Their passports were not stamped.

Press statement: PROTEST AGAINST THE ARREST OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AT BENGURION AIRPORT

2011-07-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

The internationale League for Human Rights remonstrates forcefully against the arrest of numerous participants in the project „Welcome to Palestine“ at the Ben Gurion airport, among them the member of the Liga Martin Forberg.

The League arrogates the immediate release of all who are concerned and the freedom of travel during their transit through Israel, so they can follow their invitations to the occupied territories of the Westbank.

The League objects also to the practice of some European airlines, denying - contrary to contracts - boarding to passengers at European airports, obeying to instructions from the Israeli government and being provided with lists of names and so hindered them to fly to Tel Aviv. This violates passengers rights granted in the transport contracts.

The arrested and rejected representatives of NGOs had, as well as many private persons, followed invitations of palestinian NGOs, syndicates and associations from the Westbank and East-Jerusalem. Within the week from 8th to 16th July the historical judgement pronounced by the International Court in The Hague on 9th of July 2004, that condemned the construction of the wall as officially contrary to public international law should have been remembered in gatherings, peaceful manifestations and cultural events to raise attention to this judgement that has been ignored by responable politicians ever since. The construction oft he wall cutting through the occupied Westbank is still being continued. Fort he Palestinian population living there the on-going construction of this seperation-wall as an continual, inhumane existence threatening harassement which is not longer acceptable. For the international community it is an inacceptable violation of existant international law.

The executive board of the League declares:

It cannot be accepted that the government of Israel in alliance with political responsibles in member-states of the EU intermits basic rights such as freedom of movement, assembly and of speech, granted in the civil pact, because of baseless suspicions.
Obviously the Israeli blockade reaches now that far – just as if the German government was Netanyahu’s vassall – even to the Federal Republic of Germany, to Franfurt am Main.

The executive board of the League demands:
- from the Israeli government, to immediately release those, who were invited by palestinians tot he occupied territories and not to hindert hem any longer from transitting Israel. The arrested have to be provided with legal aid at once! - from the German government and other member states of the EU (among them France, Austria and Italy) who participated directly or indirectly in the law-braking actions, that they without hesitating fulfil their legal obligations as they agreed to do so by signing the civil pact and the constitution of the EU:
The civil and political rights have to be defended all over the world.

There has to come an end to those politics of double standards. The Human Rights are universal and therefore also and especially for the people of Palestine to be applied.

Deporting internationals from Beer Al-Sabaa' to Germany Agains their will

2011-07-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Thirty six people from several nationalities; were moved against their will from Beer al-Saba’ prison to Lod “ben Gurion” airport, without allowing them to meet their lawyers.

Although they refused to be deported, they were forced to board a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt. The flight will reach Frankfurt at 20:00 (german time) and some passengers will transit to Berlin (arrival 22:50) and Hanover (arrival 22:10) according to the Israeli Airport Authority’s assurances while Lufthansa said the plane has a delay of at least one hour.

A letter from a Palestinian woman to the supporters of Palestine.

2011-07-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

I would like to talk to you as the voice of the thousands of Palestinians who appreciate what you are doing. You who have a great commitment to human rights and who actually act upon your beliefs. You risk your life to both witness and tell the truth of what you see. You are a group of people who understand what is happening in the holy land and have decided to dedicate your time, money and energy to the issue. You demonstrate that religion nor race is important when it comes to standing up for the rights human beings. And every step you take justice and humanity wins.
I want you to trust that your actions are making a difference and changing the violence we see here in our land. Your solidarity is helping fuel our non violent fight. Palestinians face many kinds of violence and torture, however, being ignored is the worst punishment of all. Those who refuse to hear and see us are just as bad as those who occupy us. Those who stand in solidarity with us send a strong message of humanity and are helping us to overcome our suffering. In the middle of all this crisis, your help puts a smile on our face. From this smile you will always be welcome in our hearts even if you are unable to enter our land.
Your solidarity reminds the world that we are all one human family and that we Palestinians are still part of it. Please do not give up. Even if your boats do not make it to the shores of Gaza or if your planes refuse to fly, the unseen effects are still huge.
I want to say thank you for all that your work involves. Thank you for booking your tickets, taking time off from work, leaving your loved ones, and for all of the other small things, I am truly grateful.
Please continue to be with us, hand in hand, in our non-violent struggle. We need to reach the end of the path of occupation and your presence on this journey is crucial, we cannot make it alone.
I hope one day to share a coffee with you in my home or in yours, for when this day comes we will have reached our freedom.
Hekmat Bessiso
Gazan living in Ramallah

update

2011-07-10T08:31:00.001-07:00

a group of Palestinians and Internationals were arrested on the DCO checkpoint while they were back from a peasful demonstration from Al-Walaja to Bethlehem and the soldiers confiscated their ID's and Passports

Israeli authorities set stringent conditions for release of "Welcome to Palestine" prisoners. The large majority of international visitors are still incarcerated under brutal conditions, begin a hunger strike in Israeli jail

2011-07-10T03:51:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem, July 10, 2011. Over 120 internationals attempting to visit Palestine were arrested and are still being illegally detained in two Israeli detention centers, in Ramle and in Beer Al-Saba’ (Beersheva). These friends of Palestine, among which there are minors and elderly persons with medical conditions, have been and are being mistreated and subjected to unnecessary brutality.

For example, Dr. Hikmat Al-Sabty, 57, of Rostock, Germany, is being denied needed medication that is in his suitcase; this was reported to his wife by the German Embassy in Tel Aviv, but his wife has not been allowed to speak with him directly. All of those detained have stated repeatedly that they are non-violent and want only to accept the invitation to visit together with Palestinian friends in the program "Welcome to Palestine."

The Israeli authorities released two older German men from Bersheeva prison yesterday, but only on condition that they sign an Israeli legal document that was presented to them only in Hebrew and English. One of the two men came to Bethlehem. He is uncertain of the full contents of the Israeli paper he signed because his English is not good, and he was unable to first consult with his attorney in Israel before signing the paper: the Israeli authorities yesterday made attorney access to prisoners very difficult, and large number of those detained can only be seen by their attorneys today and tomorrow.

The German man now in Bethlehem believes that he has agreed in writing not to go to Ramallah, Jenin, and certain other Palestinian cities, but that the Israeli authorities have allowed that he to go to "tourist" areas in the West Bank. Because he is still uncertain of the full content of the Israeli document he signed, he prefers not to give his name at this time. The Israeli authorities refused, in violation of international law, to give him a copy of the paper he signed. His attorney is seeking to obtain a copy of the document he signed from the Israeli authorities.

We received a letter from the Belgian men in Bersheeva prison, who state that they began a hunger strike last night. In the letter, the Belgians demand, on behalf of all the prisoners, to have contact their families and with their attorneys. They demand an international investigation into the behavior of airline companies and Israeli officials. They also demand to be able to have contact with each other in the Israeli prison. For example, because the French and Belgian men and women are separated in the Bersheeva prison, the men do not know whether the women are also aware of the hunger strike. It is believed that the French men have joined the hunger strike. According to the Germans who were released from Bersheeva, the German men and women there are also participating in the hunger strike, but the men and women are not allowed to speak with each other.

Those few international guests who were able to reach Bethlehem on Friday were invited by their Palestinian hosts to go to either to a demonstration in Qalandia at noon or else to attend a gathering in Bilin at 11 am, from which they then joined Palestinian friends in Nebi Saleh. There Israeli soldiers prevented the bus-loads of passengers and local Palestinians and Israeli supporters from holding a peaceful demonstration. The Israeli forces shot stun grenades and at least two kinds of tear gas canisters at them. The nearby agricultural fields were set ablaze by these tear-gas canisters. The Israeli forces illegally detained -- kidnapped -- four peace activists, including three Israeli citizens and one Brazilian. Several participants were injured.

Events planned continued. Today, there was a gathering in Beit Sahour in front of the Greek Orthodox Church, an event at Aida Refugee Camp and an event in Al-Walaja.

Media Contacts:

GENERAL: info@palestinejn.org

JERUSALEM: Sergio Yahni, sergioyahni@gmail.com, +972(0)526375032

BETHLEHEM: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, mazin@qumsiyeh.org, +972(0)598939532

FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr

GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0)88 007761,

+49(0)1799878414

UK: Sofiah MacLeod, secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk,+44(0)7931 200 36100,

+44(0)131 620 0052

USA: Karin Pally, myizzy@gmail.com or kpally@earthlink.net, +1 310-399-1921

International Media Coordination: Elsa Rassbach +49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450 Skype: elsarassbach

Please stay informed through our websites:

- http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org
- http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com/
- http://ahlanfefalasteen.blogspot.com/
- http://bienvenueenpalestinepresse.blogspot.com/

Protest in Bethlehem/Jerusalem Checkpoint

2011-07-10T03:41:00.000-07:00

Following the meeting in Aida Refugee Camp where the International visitors watched a short documentary regarding the history of the camp, the visitors along with some Palestinians walked to the Bethlehem/Jerusalem checkpoint, protesting against the occupation.

Upon the arrival to the destination, while chanting, ‘We are all Palestinians’, the soldiers refused to open the gate. When asked whether they were scared to open the gate by a young French protestor, the soldier answered, “this is not a door, but it is protection.” The protestors continued to chant while knocking on the gate. A short speech was made by Mazen Al Azzah, thanking the internationals for their support and reiterating that this ethnic cleansing and apartheid issue is of everyone’s concern.

Letter from Annie and Pascal – who came to Palestine with the « Welcome to Palestine » campaign

2011-07-09T16:13:00.001-07:00

Bethlehem, the 9th of July 2011

We are a Parisian couple, 59 and 54 years old, with grown children. We have been interested in the Palestinian issue since a long time. As French citizens, we cannot stand the cowardly support of our governments to Israeli politics anymore, as well as the impunity that this state continues to enjoy. We feel the need to publicly demonstrate our indignation and to separate ourselves from the politicians who supposedly represent us.

We wished to join the « Welcome to Palestine » mission of the 8th of July, because it is a beautiful opportunity to visit and meet Palestinians. It is our first trip to Palestine.

Today, a day after our arrival, we joined a group of young Palestinians abroad a bus to join a demonstration organized by the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI) in Qalandia, in front of the wall, for the commemoration of the condemnation of the wall by the International Tribunal in The Hague.

Annie: My first surprise was the young age of the demonstrators and their warm welcome. The presence of a young Palestinian women was a very important element to me. The demonstration took place in a good ambiance, people were happy and serious at once. I felt no aggressiveness from these youth.

I felt immediately in solidarity of their movement and held with conviction the banner ‘THE WALL MUST FALL’.

The young demonstrators were very interested by the reasons of our presence amongst them. They were moved that Europeans share this action, are interested in their situation, the wall, their locking up, a young brother of 16 in prison for a year without visit, or a father, or an uncle…

I am very sensitive to the fact these youth cannot travel. They only know the world through media; they are thirsty for the world and feel forgotten.

Having arrived in front of the wall, I was shocked to see Israeli soldiers filming the demonstrators. Then I was again surprised that in front of these youth, in a peaceful demonstration, the soldiers used tear gas massively. The youth dragged me out of the reach of the gas and put me in safety in a car.

Pascal: The strongest feeling is the brutality that emanates by the simple sight of these soldiers. I knew these images from TV, but the close-range presence of those excessively armed RoboCops is impressive. When the demonstrators started retreating quickly – I suppose in front of the soldiers that started marching – I felt those youth ran away from possible bullets. We are here in a totally different context than in a demonstration in Paris or Marseille.

Three journalists from an Israeli TV station wanted to talk to me. They were disturbed by the content of my statements and my presence in the « wrong camp ». They insisted I should talk to some of the soldiers, through them. They were telling me: “they are good people, you can talk with them”. They are so convinced that their army is moral that good is on their side. I refused to talk to men placed in a killing machine mode.

A very intense day, that is still difficult to analyze and that will certainly help us understand the Palestinian reality. And we did not finish, we are still left with a week of experiences to live here thanks to the associations that have invited us.

UPDATE: Letter from people that started hunger strike in Bir el-saba' prison

2011-07-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Be'er Sheva 9 July 2011

1) Immediate and unconditional freedom to travel to Palestine and take part in the activities of “Welcome to Palestine”

2) Immediate and free access to the other groups of the initiative

3) Access to international communication so that we can directly inform our families and friends

4) The European states have to defend the interests of their citizens and their humanitarian and political rights – especially the right of free movement

5) An independent investigation of the attitudes and the practices of the European airlines

INTERVIEW with Italian Activist

2011-07-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Media Center: You arrived yesterday?

Italian Activist: I arrived a few days ago.

MC: You are part of the Welcome to Palestine initiative?

IA: Yes

MC: What did you tell Israeli security at the airport?

I: I just told them I was here for tourism.

MC: Did they ask more questions?

IA: Yes, a lot. For 11 hours. Every hour or every half- hour someone was coming and asking me a lot of questions. If I knew people here, my interests, questions about wife, and work. Very, very detailed. Specific questions about the people that I knew here. They wanted very detailed questions such as where I wanted to stay and sleep. They repeated the same questions tens of times. I had to answer the same question 20, 30 times. I noticed many people were denied entry.

MC: So they knew you were coming to Palestine and did they know it was for the initiative?

IA: No they thought I was coming to Palestine for tourism.

MC: Did you fly in with other activists?

IA: No, I don’t know. I just saw a lot of people were denied entry. I saw also people who I suppose were not activists, many Americans of Palestinian origin. They were denied entry with out any explanations. They deny entry to even foreigners of Palestinian origin, not just activists.

MC: How many other people did you see while being interrogated?

IA: Many people. I can say some of them were of Palestinian origin, others from Europe and the U.S. In 11 hours I saw at least 50 people. I can say that at least 20 were denied entry.

MC: How specific were you with your answers?

IA: For example they were asking me everyday what were my plans. Where was I planning to sleep. Which people was I planning to meet. Exact information about my family. The life of my friends and about my work. Which customers I have. I didn’t say anything about the Palestinian initiative for this week, which I was coming here for. I answered them very honestly but I told them that I was coming here for tourism. They didn’t ask me if I was going to join any activists. They didn’t ask me specifically if I was an activist. I didn’t tell them about my specific activities. That is why I am here.

MC: Have you been to Palestine before and if so, were you interrogated as well?

IA: Yes, last year exactly the same. I told them the same thing last year.

MC: Can you talk about what you plan to do this week? What you want to see come out of this initiative?

IA: I would like to join this initiative this week to get more information about the lives of Palestinians. So that when I go back to Italy I can inform as much as possible about the real situation of Palestinians. The media in Italy is always saying false things about the situation in Palestine. They say Palestinians are terrorists and that Israel has the right to stop them. They say that there is no occupation and Italians don’t know much about the occupation.

MC: How did you find out about this initiative?

IA: I pertain to one solidarity campaign for Palestine in Italy and we are always aware of these initiatives and we are a network of activists.

MC: Do you know other Italian activists here?

IA: No, not for this initiative

MC: Going back to the interrogation process, can you describe the atmosphere, paint a picture for us, so that we can feel what is was like?

IA: Actually I did not have major problems because I did not tell them directly that I was here for this campaign. But they were very, very suspicious. Some of them (interrogators) were polite and talked kindly. Some of them were talking in a hard way. They had raised their voices. A little bit threatening also. But not much compared to those who declared straightly that they were coming here to join the campaign. These people were interrogated in a very bad way. The atmosphere in general is an atmosphere of oppression. You really feel it is very oppressive. You really feel what it is like to be in cage. Somebody is controlling you. Somebody wants to control your actions, your thoughts. Maybe you can understand a little bit about the situation of the Palestinians. They live in a jail. It is as if you are not talking to humans, you are talking to robots.

MC: Did you get food or water? Could you use the bathroom and were you handcuffed?

IA: Yea I had no problems. I had with me some water and biscuits. (Not given food or water). I was free to go to the bathroom. But this is because they didn’t know about the real reason I was there. I was not handcuffed.

MC: How long do you plan on being here?

IA: At least a week.

MC: And you plan on participating in demonstrations and other actions?

IA: Yes, sure. Also activist groups in Italy, they are already planning on having demonstrations in Italy against the decision of European airline companies denying boarding of passengers. This is illegal, really illegal. I want to say that today, we as European activists, we understand that we are not living in democracies. We are being occupied exactly like Palestinians are. We are not even free to take a plane from our nations with our own airline companies. Our governments, which we elected in democratic elections, are not taking the decisions that we are telling them to do. They are doing what Israel is telling them to do. This is valid for Italy, Germany, Greece and Belgium. Valid for all countries that are denying their passengers to travel, who are leaving by boats and air as well. We need to fight the occupation in our own countries as well.

MC: Can you talk a little bit about Italy’s policy towards Israel?

IA: Our government, which is Berlusconi’s government, is a one which is really pro-Israel. When Berlusconi visited Israel he said that Israel was a great democracy and that it was respecting human rights. When he visited the Palestinian territories and he was asked what he thinks about the wall, he answered that he saw no wall. That is what our president said. He said that Italy will support whatever Israel does. We have to really struggle that the people do not vote for a government like this in the next elections. He said that only a few months ago when he visited Israel officially. These days our foreign minister, when we asked him to assist us, he said no. He said that we should not come here against Israel’s will. So we are not even citizens anymore (when we are here). This is even true for America citizens.

MC: Can you talk about the Palestinian activist environment in Italy?

IA: In Italy the Palestinian activist environment is very good. It is growing everyday. Last year we participated in the Viva Palestina campaign. We found tens of thousands of medications for Palestinian hospitals and wheelchairs for Palestinian people. Also, paper stationary and printers for Gaza, which are banned. One of our friends he participated in bringing the medicine into the Gaza Strip. We are doing every month demonstrations from north to south of Italy. We are inviting Palestinian activists to come to Italy. We organize press releases to explain to the population what is happening. We are in coordination with other groups from UK, Germany, and France. We are a sort of network.

MC: Why do you think the relationship between Italy and Israel is so strong?

IA: I mean Italy and Israel have a lot of interests in common. They are cooperating a lot in the weapon industry. Just two weeks ago there was a big exhibition in Milan where all Israeli high tech companies went there to promote their products to try and make ties between Italian and Israeli companies that make weapons. There is a really big connection between our countries unfortunately. The Israeli lobby is really strong in Italy; they are controlling the media very well. But we have some Jewish activists, which are supporting the Palestinian cause. They are very few but very active. That is a positive point.

MC: What steps do you think this campaign will take in bringing more awareness to the Palestinian cause and its people? Especially with the media attention it has drawn.

IA: I’m 100% sure that there will be more awareness. The fact that 95% of the internationals could not reach Palestine is not so negative. Because now our own countries see that we are not really free to do what we want. There were demonstrations in the airports, which is really good. Our media is now forced to talk about this issue. People in Europe are asking what happened? Who are those people? Why were they denied entrance? And the media cannot deny this; the whole world is talking about this. I’m sure more people will come. Israel cannot stop activists from coming. I’m sure more people will come every year. Especially now because we have more technology such as Facebook and Twitter. We are all connected. After people demonstrate in Palestine, people can see this in Italy, Spain, and the UK.

INTERVIEW with ANAN ODEH, lawyer with Al-Damir

2011-07-09T11:26:00.001-07:00

Anan just came out of the prison in Ramleh. He met with other detainees, among them Dr. Hikmat Al-Sabti, who is doing fine at the moment. When I asked Anan how he is doing his response is soft but fierce: ‘I’m good!’

Anan tells me: ‘Today we found out they took some of the detainees to other prisons, among which Givon in Ramleh. We went to the prison to get answers and find out how these other detainees are. At first we got no clear answer. Then we formally asked a permission to visit. This was denied, which is unacceptable, because these people have the right to see a lawyer.’

Anan continues: ‘At noon today, we arrived at the prison. Three hours before the prison would close, we got the permission to speak to the detainees. At three o’clock we were allowed to go ahead and enter the prison where we met the detainees. We found out that around 70 people were detained there from different nationalities and ages. The balance of men and women was fifty-fifty.’

Then Anan speaks about his conversations with the detainees in this prison: ‘I only spoke to 9 of them from England, the USA, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium and Germany. From them I heard what was happening at the airport on an earlier notice. Once they arrived to the passport control they were asked where they were going and for how long. They replied, stating that they were invited to take part in the Welcome to Palestine initiative in Bethlehem. After saying so, they immediately were taken aside. After a while they were taken to a small room without any explanations. There they were detained for a couple of hours.’

Without telling the detainees how long they had to wait, they were kept for four hours. In the evening they were put into trucks that they normally use to transfer prisoners. These metal trucks with metal chairs are very small. At least 12 people were put in one of these trucks and left there for a long time without food, drinks or air conditioning. After several hours they asked for food and drinks, but they got nothing. ‘This to me is shocking to hear, as there are several men of age that were detained. Among them an Irish and British man of respectively 73 and 83 years old. To put these men in a small van that is not bigger than 1 square meter with ten other people and without food and drinks for over 4 hours, is just jarring.’

Today Anan heard stories about how the police attacked the group of travelers at the airport as well. This was a quick and violent approach. An Irish woman told him how the group was surrounded by at least 25 soldiers and security guards. As they were provoked, a man was shouted at, before he got beaten by soldiers and then handcuffed for no reason. ‘I actually met this man in the prison today and the bite marks still can be seen on his hand and neck.’

After being put in the van and waiting for several hours outside the airport, the detainees were brought to the prison in Ramleh. When brought to the van they, however, were told that they would be taken to a hotel before being deported back home. Without any additional information or explanation, at three in the morning they had to find out they were actually taken to a prison. ‘Most of them arrived at four in the afternoon at the airport and until they arrived at the prison, they had to do without food and water for this whole period of time. All of their luggage was taken at the airport, including their money. ‘

Until now Anan has no news on people being released from this prison. When talking to the detainees, some of them confirmed Anan they have to go home anyway because of work. Most of the detainees were hopeful though: ‘they refuse to go home and are really motivated to come to Bethlehem anyhow to participate in the peaceful Welcome to Palestine-initiative.’

Press Release

2011-07-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

Palestinians in the "Welcome to Palestine" coalition condemn in the strongest
possible terms the attack by Israeli forces on dozens of detained human rights activists.

One of those detained reported (before his phone was apparently removed) how 32 people were held together in one room and then
attacked, forcefully handcuffed and dragged into separate transfer vehicles. They were then forcefully transferred to the Ramle
detention facility by the forces of the apartheid regime. Lawyers have been trying to reach the Ministry of Interior to gain access to
the abductees and to assure that they receive their right to legal representation, to visits from their country consular staff, and to
call their families. Israeli authorities said they are holding 85 people pending deportation "on the next available flight". We know of
activists held who come from Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, and Ireland. Multiple flights were also delayed before
departure (apparently to give Israel more time). Activists held demonstrations at several airports in Europe.

Supporters who tried to welcome our visitors were stopped and denied entrance to the airport. Each airport visitor was asked to show
either that he/she is traveling or that they are there to meet a specific person (names were checked against arriving flight passenger
lists). The few who did manage to get in were immediately attacked even as they peacefully tried to wait for arriving guests. Six were
arrested for exercising their right to free speech.

We held a press conference Friday morning to explain our invitation, our campaign, and the week program. We decried the compliance of some airlines in human rights violations (Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Malev, and Easy Jet). It amounts to the export and outsourcing of policies of occupation and human rights violations from Israel to other countries. Friday weekly demonstrations in the West Bank raised the banner of human solidarity and decried the Israeli attacks. We decried the defamatory statements about our visitors that paved the grounds for violating their rights. A demonstration was also held Friday afternoon in front of the Israeli Ministry of Interior.

We urge all people to write to the media, to their governments, and to all fellow human beings to say that "enough is enough": Israel must be forced to respect basic human rights, allow free travel and most of all end apartheid and colonization. As a matter of urgency, Western governments must insist that Israeli authorities release those they kidnapped, afford them all protections due them, and punish officials who mistreated our guests.

Bethlehem: Fadi Kattan

press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com

+970 (0) 595 754 100

Skype welcome.palestine

Jerusalem: Nikki or Laura

sergioyahni@gmail.com

+972 2 624 1159 or +972 2 624 1424

Berlin: Sophia Deeg

sophia_deeg@yahoo.de

+49(0) 30 88 007761 or +49 (0) 1799878414.

Paris: Nicolas Shahshahani

bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr

+33 (0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33 (0) 6 73 38 24 84.

USA: Karin Pally

myizzy@gmail.com

+1 310 3991921

UK: Sofiah Macleod

july8@scottishpsc.org.uk

+44 (0)131 620 0052 or + 44 (0) 7401631658

Skype: scottishpsc

International Media Coordination: Elsa Rassbach

+49 (0) 30 326 01540 or +49 (0) 170 738 1450

Skype: elsarassbach

2011-07-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

As Israel continues to prevent international solidarity groups from entering the Ben Gurion International Airport, travelers have been posting news on the internet, by tweets, facebook, and also by telephone to document the entry refusals on flights destined for Israel. Though Israel’s airport will not be filled with the initial number of supporters expected, the campaign of peaceful protest against Israel’s policies of occupation and discrimination continue.

Over 300 passengers were blacklisted by the Israeli Ministry of Interior Affairs and barred access to planes on their way to Tel Aviv, while some flights were canceled and other passengers deported. The list supposedly destined to bar ‘’pro-Palestinian radicals” from boarding planes to Israel has been questionably formulated. Among the travelers on the Lufthansa plane flying from Germany on Friday, Cynthia, an English filmmaker was deterred though she had never traveled to Palestine or characterized herself as a Palestinian activist. Cynthia, stands as one of the few hundred that have been barred access to Israel, but she, like others, has continued the struggle in international airports. Travelers have staged peaceful protests and sit-ins in airport terminals of airlines that have complied with Israeli requests.

Earlier on Friday, Günter, a German man from the French city of Strasbourg was preparing to board a flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv when the airline announced that 10 of the 11 members traveling in his French group would not be allowed to leave. Though their flight was scheduled earlier that morning they stayed to distribute fliers and hold sit-ins in front of the airline company,Swiss. Many followers of the Welcome to Palestine campaign have not reached their final destination but their struggle is being shared with hundreds of travelers undergoing similar situations under the eyes of the international community.

Supporters of the campaign demonstrated in Roissy-Charles de Gaulle on Thursday, after being barred from travelling to Israel. They were met by a disproportionate response from the CRS, the French anti-rioting police. The members were escorted out of the airport and put on trains back to Paris with barricaded doors so as not to exit before the final destination. The Welcome to Palestine campaign has gained even more notoriety as Israel has escalated its responses with the airlines’ and governments’ complicity. Another demonstration is planned to be held Saturday morning at the Charles de Gaulle airport at 10 to protest Israeli’s hold on international campaigns for Palestine.

As the day consecrated to the Welcome to Palestine campaign nears its end, the more pressing issue has become finding legal representation for the numerous individuals currently being detained and held in jail. Dr. Hikmat al Sabti, a member of a group traveling from Germany, has recently been detained and taken to an Israeli prison. He is among a handful of individuals that have disappeared from the airport and lost contact with the participants of Welcome to Palestine.

Bethlehem Press Conference

2011-07-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem press conference

2011-07-08T13:34:00.001-07:00

Update

2011-07-08T12:15:00.001-07:00

Several hours after arriving into the Ben Gurion airport of Tel Aviv only 40
of the expected thousand visitors from the campaign Welcome to Palestine
have made it into the Tel Aviv international airport. After a series of
blacklists initiated by the Israeli government, canceled flights, and
deportations 40 known visitors from German and French nationalities remain.
More flights are expected to arrive before the end of the evening.

Despite the respectfulness of the visitors in accordance to the principles
of the Welcome to Palestine campaign there has been violent police and army
retaliation. According to one source detained in the airport, a woman was
witnessed being beaten in the face.

Additionally, the visitors have no knowledge of the where 20 people of their
group are being held. The visitors have been isolated into groups of four
by the Israeli soldiers, with notably no news from one passenger, Dr.
Hikmat al Sabti, who has been separated from the group since the beginning
and remains detained now for more than five hours. Additional news is
being transmitted to us from the airport as the visitors remain uncertain of
their ability to leave the airport.

German Arrival from Austrian Airways

2011-07-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

25 Germans have arrived to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. They are currently waiting in the airport as their passports were confiscated without any explanation.

Flight Updates

2011-07-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

An interview was conducted with a British passenger who was denied boarding on the German Lufthansa flight destination Tel Aviv.

Cynthia Beatt, a mother of two, a researcher and a movie director, is infuriated not only due to the fact that she was denied the right to travel, but also because of the lack of explanation that she was offered. Beatt explained that she received a simple phone call from Lufthansa informing her that they will not be able to carry her on the flight due to Israeli authorities ‘ order. No further explanation was given regarding the allegations that have been placed against her.

The flight from Frankfurt has not took off yet due to claimed technical difficulties. The plane has been on the runway for approximately 4 hours.

On a happier note, two passengers from Paris, France have arrived safely to Bethlehem. They however did not board on the same flight as the rest of the group and did not inform the border police that they will not be visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Welcome to Palestine Initiative looks forward to show their visitors the Palestinian hospitality, and we hope that Cynthia Beatt and all the passengers who were deprived from the visit to one day be able to join us.

Press Release - Updated Status

2011-07-08T03:55:00.000-07:00

Peaceful protests are happening in Paris airport after participants of the Welcome to Palestine Campaign were forbidden to board the Lufthansa-flight. Lufthansa’s spokesperson confirmed that the airline will reimburse travelers. However, participants of the Welcome to Palestine-campaign that were planning to take the Alitalia-flight from Charles de Gaulle-airport in Paris were not reimbursed. Most of the French participants were denied entrance onto the flight because of Israeli instructions. A blacklist was set up by the Israeli government with passengers that were perceived to form a threat to Israeli security. These instructions were handed out to the airlines in the past few days. Because of the reasons mentioned above, a peaceful sit-in is happening at CDG airport.

In Brussels travelers were denied reimbursement as well. In Geneva travelers only got cash money back from the airline company. This afternoon there will be a demonstration in front of UN Headquarters in Geneva to make a statement regarding these measures.

At Ben Gourion-airport there was question of a situation of chaos and unrest as some protesters raised a Palestinian flag and started screaming. They were violently attacked by the police and arrested. Unrest is not over yet as police and people at the airport are showing more aggressive behaviour towards the protesters and tensions rise.

Please stay informed through our:
- Website: http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com;
- Facebook-page: ‘Welcome to Palestine';
- Flickr: www.flickr.com/PalestinianSpring;
and follow us on Twitter: PalSpring1 / #PalSpring.

Palestine: checkpoint à Paris

2011-07-07T18:17:00.001-07:00

‘Welcome to Palestine’ campaign responds to Israel’s denial of entrance to international visitors who support human rights

2011-07-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem and Jerusalem, July 7, 2011 - The Israeli authorities are escalating attacks on anyone they suspect of participating in the peaceful events of the ‘Welcome to Palestine’ campaign. Israeli authorities sent hundreds of names to airline companies telling them to deny travel to individuals on the list. Several people on the list who had booked flights were sent letters from airline companies cancelling their reservations ‘based on a request from the Israeli authorities.’ We call on all airline companies not to accept such provocative, blackmailing, and illegal actions by the Israeli government. Ominously, Israeli Prime minister has directed the interior security minister that the Israeli authorities must ‘act with determination’ towards those who do make it to Ben Gurion Airport.

The visitors coming from the US and Europe on Friday are committed to the principles of international and humanitarian law and believe strictly in nonviolence. They were invited by dozens of Palestinian civil society organizations and groups. They have stated that the only way to visit and work with Palestinians is by passing through Israeli border controls. They have declared their commitment to pass these border controls in an orderly, peaceful and fully transparent way.

Before stepping onto the airplanes, the visitors will have passed through meticulous security procedures at the various airports of origin and will pose no threat in any way. The propaganda efforts to paint human rights advocates as ‘hooligans’ and even ‘violent’ (an attempt to demonize and dehumanize them in order to justify violence against them) is simply not credible and indeed ridiculous. We are pleased that this episode further exposes Israeli policies towards anything or anyone relating to ‘Palestinians’ as dictatorial, racist, and criminal and not complying with basic elements of democracy or human rights.

Visitors traveling between countries have rights under international law and bilateral travel agreements. Our foreign visitors insist that they must be treated with respect in the same manner Israeli citizens receive when traveling to their countries. Those who had reservations cancelled will exercise their right of protest including bringing legal cases in their own countries. We will also bring legal cases in Israeli courts under our continued attempt to expose the racist policies of the Israeli government.

Several peaceful protests will be held at airports throughout Europe on the 8^th of July and we urge all civilized people throughout the world to protest these undemocratic moves to silence free speech and legal travel.

We ask the media to insist on access and fair reporting on Israeli tactics that are against basic human rights of international solidarity activists before, during and after they arrive at the Israeli airport. We demand Israel publishes all instructions given to their ‘border control officials’ regarding visitors who intend to visit Palestinians.

Friday 8 July 2011 at 10 AM in Bethlehem Peace Center, located in Nativity Square, we will have a Press Conference to announce further steps we will take and to answer any questions.

Twitter: #PalSpring
Facebook: Welcome to Palestine

Contact information:

Bethlehem: Fadi Kattan, press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100 or Skype welcome.palestine

Jerusalem: Nikki or Laura, sergioyahni@gmail.com , +972 2 624 1159 or +972 2 624 1424

Berlin: Sophia Deeg, sophia_deeg@yahoo.de, +49(0) 30 88 007761, +49 (0) 1799878414. 13:00 Press briefing; beginning 13:30 news center, including (if possible) direct contact with the travelers as they land at Ben Gurion airport. Filmbühne am Steinplatz, Hardenbergstr. 12, Berlin Charlottenburg.

Paris: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33 (0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33 (0) 6 73 38 24 84. The press office will answer questions from the media around the clock.

UK: Sofiah Macleod, july8@scottishpsc.org.uk, +44 (0)131 620 0052 or + 44 (0) 7401631658, Skype: scottishpsc.

USA/Germany: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540, +49 (0) 170 738 1450, Skype: elsarassbach

Welcome to Palestine: Activists Wish to Pass Peacefully Through Airport

2011-07-07T02:29:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem and Jerusalem - The Israeli authorities are scaling up security to an unprecedented crescendo because of the arrival of hundreds of international guests at Ben Gurion airport on Friday. Israeli Prime minister has directed the interior security minister that the Israeli authorities must “act with determination." Netanyahou also declared that “any country may forbid disturbers and provokers from entering its territory.”

The visitors coming from the US and Europe on Friday have stated that they are non-violent pacifists. They have stated that the rumors of planned protests or even setting up camp within Ben Gurion Airport are false. They have stated that they only wish to transit through Israel on their way to Palestine, as they have been invited by Palestinians to come and help Palestine.

Since the international visitors are only transiting through Israel, they do not represent any threat to Israel. Before stepping onto the airplanes headed for Ben Gurion Airport, the visitors will have passed through the meticulous security procedures at the various European airports where they begin their flights. The argument that the visitors could be armed “terrorists” is simply not credible and indeed ridiculous.

Apparently the Israeli authorities are threatened because these visitors plan to tell the truth. But telling the truth is what is required under the "Entry into Israel Law. Article 12 (2) of the law states that giving “false information” to obtain a visa is “liable to imprisonment”." However, up until now, many visitors going through Israeli passport control on their way to Palestine gave out “false information,” simply in order to be granted a visa. The visitors flying in on July 8th will simply tell the truth, as is required by Israeli law. They should be honored rather than punished for this.

Twitter @PalSpring

Facebook: Welcome to Palestine

Bethlehem: Fadi Kattan, press.welcometopalestine2@gmail.com +970 (0) 595 754 100 or Skype welcome.palestine

Jerusalem: Nikki or Laura, sergioyahni@gmail.com , +972 2 624 1159 or +972 2 624 1424

Paris: Nicolas Shahshahani, bienvenuepalestine@orange.fr +33 (0)1 42 94 39 94 and +33 (0) 6 73 38 24 84. The press office will answer questions from the media around the clock.

UK: Sofiah Macleod, july8@scottishpsc.org.uk, +44 (0)131 620 0052 or + 44 (0) 7401631658, Skype: scottishpsc.

USA/Germany: Elsa Rassbach, elsarassbach@gmail.com, +49 (0) 30 326 01540, +49 (0) 170 738 1450, Skype: elsarassbach

Twitter

2011-07-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

Please follow us on Twitter at PalestinianSpring. Also, please use the official hashtag of #PalSpring

Thank you!

"Welcome to Palestine" Organizers decry Israeli propaganda efforts

2011-07-06T02:45:00.001-07:00

Bethlehem and Jerusalem - The organizers of the "Welcome to Palestine" initiative decry the numerous attempts by Israeli and other media to distort our message and planned activities. There were messages claiming that we are attempting to reach Gaza by going to Lod Airport (aka Ben Gurion airport) on July 8. Some claimed that this initiative came after the flotilla was blocked. Others claimed our visitors want to disrupt things at the airport and some even claimed they will try to take over planes. These claims and many others being circulated are false; we urge media not to disseminate false statements.

As stated in our first press release: we invited international guests, including families, to visit us in Palestine. We hope and expect the Israeli authorities to allow them safe passage in compliance with International law and normal diplomatic bilateral protocols.

We are accessible to the media and encourage them to speak with the actual organizers and participants of this peaceful initiative. Journalists will be flying with us, and we encourage more journalists to join us and to report on what actually happens (without innuendos and propaganda efforts - Israeli hasbara).

Our visitors are coming to Palestine with a nonviolent approach to peace building and conflict resolution, with full respect of the universal declaration of human rights. We urge the Israeli authorities to allow the journalists to have access to our participants and to report the true story of "Welcome to Palestine."

Inviting Palestinians and internationals to join us is our right as people under colonial occupation who yearn to be free.

Friday the 8th of July at 10 am there will be a press conference at the Bethlehem Peace Center in Bethlehem.

Hundreds of Internationals and Hundreds of Palestinians Gear-up for July 8-16 activities

2011-07-05T00:18:00.000-07:00

Some 40 Palestinian civil society organizations, popular resistance committees, and political factions announce the launching of the “Welcome to Palestine” initiative July 8-16 where hundreds of Internationals will work with hundreds of Palestinians for Peace. The hundreds of men, women, and children will arrive July 8 at the Lod Airport. The international community must recognize the basic human right to receive visitors from abroad and support the right of their own citizens to travel to Palestine without harassment. Where Israel works to isolate us, we invite all to join with us openly and proudly. We do not accept the attempts to keep us apart or to force us to speak less than with full honesty.

This July initiative comes in a planned series of events and follows similar events carried out in December under the slogan of "ending apartheid and ethnic cleansing." The week of activities starts on July 9 because that is the anniversary of the International Court of Justice ruling about the illegality of the Settlements and the apartheid wall in the occupied Palestinian Territories and the anniversary of the Palestinian Civil Society Call to Action: July 9 Ramallah area, July 10 Bethlehem area, July 11 North, July 12 Hebron and Jordan Valley, July 13 Neqab, July 14-15 Jerusalem.

The July “Welcome to Palestine” initiative will take participants (Palestinians and Internationals) to different parts of Palestine from the north to the Negev and highlight the power of nonviolence and peace building efforts. Visitors will be accommodated locally and will enjoy Palestinian hospitality and a program of networking, fellowship, and volunteer peace work in Palestinian towns and villages together with hundreds of local activists.