The BZU March 2001 Blockade: Letters of Solidarity

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST ISRAELI OCCUPATION AND SIEGE

Birzeit University has been receiving scores of messages by email, phone and fax, expressing solidarity with the University and the Palestinian community in these trying times. Solidarity messages have also included copies of protest letters sent to the Israeli government, in support of the Birzeit calls to open the roads and remove checkpoints.
Following is a small selection and quotes from the solidarity messages that have been received mainly by the public relations office. We are very grateful to all who stood with us including those whom we did not get copies of their messages.

Quotes
Press Release
Motion of the Free University of Brussels (ULB) Approved Unanimously by the Board of Directors on Monday March 26, 2001, Concerning the Events Occurring Around the University of Bir-Zeit.
The board of directors of the ULB,

Finding:
That the Arab-Israeli peace process has been blocked since the visit of Ariel Sharon, the leader of the Likud party, to Haram-al-Sharif (Temple Mount) on September 28, 2000;

That this visit, regarded as an 'act of provocation' by the UN Security Council (Security Council Resolution 1322 dated October 7, 2000, paragraph 1), triggered the violence which ensued in the territories occupied by Israel and that the Security Council has condemned this violence, 'in particular the excessive use of force against Palestinians' (ibid. paragraph 2);

That it is in the context of this violent cycle that the Israeli army destroyed, on March 7, 2001, portions of the only road connecting the University of Bir-Zeit to the city of Ramallah, seriously undermining the educational and research activities of this university, comprising 5000 students and 700 academic and administrative staff;

Recalling that the ULB has maintained co-operative relations with the University of Bir-Zeit since 1990, and concluded on June 3, 1993, a formal co-operation agreement for five years, which it renewed in 1998,
1. Considers that Israel has not properly justified the measures taken against the University of Bir-Zeit;
2. Observes that these measures are contrary to the most fundamental rules of international humanitarian law, inter alia the rules of the 4th Geneva Convention of August, 12, 1949 on the protection of civilians in times of war, in particular article 33, which prohibits collective punishment as well as reprisals against protected persons;
3. Observes also that by denying the inhabitants of the village of Bir-Zeit access to relief and supplies, the destruction of aforementioned road is incompatible with the spirit of articles 55 and 56 of the 4th Convention cited above;
4. Finds that the Security Council has in many instances ascertained that this Convention applies to the occupied territories and must be "scrupulously" respected by Israel (e.g. SC Resolution 1322 of October, 7, 2000);
5. Condemns the measures taken by Israel against the University of Bir-Zeit, on grounds of their international illegality and brutal and vexatious posture towards the local population;
6. Declares that these measures also affect the Free University of Brussels through its co-operative arrangement with the University of Bir-Zeit;
7. Requests that Israel bring to an end these measures and repair the road to Bir-Zeit;
8. Urges the Belgian government, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva conventions of 1949, on the one hand to exhort Israel to conform with its obligations under these instruments, and on the other, to encourage the European Union to launch initiatives obliging Israel to comply with its responsibilities and to accept necessary compromises in order to reach a just and equitable peace.

We, members of French universities and faculty and researchers of the University of Paris, express our deep indignation at the unacceptable conditions of surveillance and obstruction to free movement, which are imposed by you by military means upon the students and faculty of the Palestinian University of Birzeit.
This constraint and this violence are in violation of the international laws that regulate the behavior of an occupying army.
We are asking you to put an end to this situation, which is revolting to all those who cherish the most fundamental rights to education.

(This was also published in daily papers Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda)
To Faculty Members of Palestinian Universities!
We, faculty members and students of Israeli universities, extend our arms to you, in solidarity with your just cause, against the repression of the popular uprising carried on by the Israeli military forces. The liberation of the Palestinian from foreign domination and the self-determination of the Palestinian people of their own fate, including founding a Palestinian State, are the goals of every person who cherishes democracy. These are also our goals.
Academic faculty members in the occupied territories! We wish to cooperate with you in opposing the IDF's brutal policy of siege, closure and curfews.
Instead of evacuating the Jewish settlements, Israel takes these cruel measures in order to defend them, thus causing the unbearable suffering of the whole of the Palestinian population. We are convinced that the free association between us may serve as a precedent-setting example for future relations between the two communities in this country, our shared country.
...

Dear faculty and staff of Birzeit University
News has reached us here of your great struggles amidst horrific violence.
We want you to know that we feel deeply for your courageous determination to seek for peace and justice. May you find the strength and endurance and compassion and the peaceable spirit you must so desperately need.
…

To the Students, Faculty, Administration and Friends of Birzeit University: Greetings!
Please know that we enthusiastically support your valiant nonviolent actions to gain justice, peace and security for the Palestinian people in your territory.
We support your stated aims and have appealed to the Israeli authorities to accede to your just petitions.
…

Dear Dr Nasir,
… I would like to show our support and solidarity for staff and students at Birzeit University. We are aware of the escalation of the Israeli closures and the blockade imposed on the University and the surrounding villages as of this Thursday March 8th 2001. We know that this blockade will greatly hinder, and in many cases completely block the movement of professors and students to and from the university.
As an independent academic institution, which values the right of freedom of expression, we are especially concerned with the restrictions these actions impose on the Palestinian students at Birzeit University and their right to education. We would welcome the end to such policies, which deny access to education on the basis of political, ethnic, religious or racial grounds....
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To the Faculty and Staff of Birzeit University: March 13,2001 You are not alone… I will share your call for solidarity… Please let us know how we can further help.
Our hearts and prayers are with you all. May no more young hearts fruitlessly die in the streets. Each loss diminishes us ALL... and reduces the capacity to quest for Peace and the bright future they all deserve. All blessings...Peace...Assalamu aleikum…
…

Dear colleagues and friends,
We are deeply disturbed by the gross violation of human rights and the suffering imposed on the Palestinian people by Israel. As academics, we were dismayed to hear about the truncation of academic life and academic freedom at Birzeit University. The collective punishment of entire people is against international law and universal moral values. We are doing whatever we can to raise our voice loud and clear for humanity, equality and justice.
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Dear friends,
Be assured of the Solidarity of many in Britain as you seek to build Peace on the foundations of justice between the people of Israel and Palestine.
Millions of people in our country are aware of much of what the people of Palestine have suffered during recent months. Many communities including a large number in the Jewish community in Britain see the recent action of closing down communication, transport and commerce as potentially weakening the foundations for future harmony between your nations.
I offer my support in the nonviolent confrontations against the recent and ongoing closures of the lifeblood of many Palestinian settlements. My thoughts and prayers will be with you in peacefully demolishing walls and in building bridges.
…

Dear Friends,
I support the March to End Collective Punishment, which was held today near Ramallah. I salute the bravery and courage of the Palestinian people…
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Dear colleagues and friends,
We are deeply disturbed by the gross violation of human rights and the suffering imposed on the Palestinian people by Israel. As academics, we were dismayed to hear about the truncation of academic life and academic freedom at Birzeit University. The collective punishment of entire people is against international law and universal moral values. We are doing whatever we can to raise our voice loud and clear for humanity, equality and justice.
…

Dear Birzeit Faculty, Students and Workers,
As a colleague, as a friend who has visited Birzeit University several times, as a sympathizer of the Palestinian cause, as a fighter for human rights, let me express my solidarity with you in these difficult days.
Keep on struggling, teaching and learning by all means, so you will show the Zionist enemies they can never win. Let me wish you the best in your struggle. Justice, then peace in Palestine and everywhere.
…

How are you? Well I just wanted to know what is the phone number that you would use to call for the removal of the checkpoint? If there is an email address then that would be even better. Is everything ok? Have a nice day and remember that my prayers are with you and that love is stronger than evil so eventually you will overcome this horrific example of ignorance.
…

Même si cela fait deux ans que j'ai quitté l'équipe de …, je reste à l'écoute de la Palestine. Personne ne peur rester indifférent à ce que vous vivez chaque jour!
Je me suis également permise d'envoyer ce message au Ministère des Affaires Etrangères en France (H.VEDRINE) et au Premier Ministre . Ce n'est que des mots mais j'espère qu'ils seront entendus.
…

Thank you for updating us here about your situation in Palestine. Your efforts are beginning to bear fruits in America. Public opinion is changing ever slightly to the point of causing the Israeli lobby to worry and to deploy corporate professional image-makers. You are in the news everywhere here and the facts of Israeli paranoia, about the news getting out about their repulsive oppression of the Palestinians, is becoming loud and clear. The double talk of the Zionist lobby about their support of human rights is being exposed. Your marches and sacrifices will not be in vain. Israeli revisionist historians and their retelling of the story of the Palestinians is also doing a great job here...
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I saw Ghandi the other day and was reminded at how powerful peaceful civil disobedience is as compared with throwing stones. Here in the US the prevailing sentiment is that the Palestinians are violent aggressive people and the Jews are the civilized ones that are being attacked. I wish that the approach of the Palestinians could be of total nonviolence but persistent demonstration, let the Israelis react violently-- the press, the world -- would have to notice just as they did with India. I don't know... it's very disheartening to see what is going on over there and live in a country that is so blatantly biased against Arabs.
Our prayers are with you...
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Birzeit University: a beautiful new campus outside of Ramallah, bright men and women students, organizations dedicated to non-violent dissent and love of Palestine.
When I was there, last, our group of citizen diplomats … were stopped at an Israeli road block outside the University, and so, required to take over an hour by round-about, single-lane, dirt roads through the back country to get on campus. (We were informing students of an "Environmental Day" we were holding in Ramallah . My grandson was demonstrating a solar oven; we were all cooperating with a clean-up day, and conducting a Conflict Resolution Workshop. It was a wonderful day!!)
I remember that day, the President of Birzeit saying when we admired the campus, that one thing he regretted was that the new University had been built out in the country, isolated, with only one road accessing it. He regretted our trouble getting to the campus. " We are too vulnerable,” he said.
So the day has now come, when that only road has had a trench dug across it, making it impassable. The students respond with non-violent action…
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Best wishes as you continue your nonviolent confrontations during the next few days!
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… Having heard from our Palestinian colleagues in Birzeit about the horrors of the tightening siege, there is a definite and urgent need to do something. A voice must be heard against this policy, and more...
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… My thoughts and prayers will be with you in peacefully demolishing walls and in building bridges…
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… I wish to extend my support to you and will keep you in my prayers…
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… Best wishes as you continue your nonviolent confrontations during the next few days!
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…[We] support … their efforts seeking a just Peace, cessation of violence and for university access… let them know they are not alone, as they bravely seek to walk the Path to Peace… Our hearts, prayers, and efforts of support continue in solidarity with all the Peacemakers…
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… News has reached us here of your great struggles amidst horrific violence. We want you to know that we feel deeply for your courageous determination to seek for peace and justice…
…

… We salute the bravery and courage of the Palestinian people…
…

Thanks for e-mails about the situation in Palestine. [We are] … concerned about the escalation of the conflict, and the situation for university students and teachers. Today I received a copy of a letter to the Embassy of Israel, dated 14.03.01, with copies to The Norwegian Minister of the Foreign Affairs, The Palestinian General Delegation to Norway, The University Presidents of An-Najah, Birzeit and Hebron. Keep on fighting…
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DEMONSTRATION: CAMPAIGN FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS
Saturday 17th March
Assemble 11.00am, Hyde Park (nearest Tube - Marble Arch) RALLY AT TRAFALGAR SQUARE
SPEAKERS: Rt Hon Tony Benn MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Dr Ghada Karmi, HE Afif Safieh, Bruce Kent, Ken Cameron
END THE OCCUPATION SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO RETURN
"Unfortunately I cannot attend the Palestinian Rights demonstration in London on March 17th, but I strongly support this initiative and I hope that as many concerned citizens, students and trade unionists as possible in the UK take part. The greater the pressure of public opinion on governments like the British government to restrain Israel, the more quickly our just demands will be recognised"

… I'd like to thank you for your message. As a Canadian living in New York it is difficult to access information on all that is going on in your region - even while working at the UN.
Please continue to keep us informed if possible, as people need to wake up to what is really going on in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
…

I am an American Jew living in Vienna and have traveled extensively in Israel and the occupied territories.
The destruction of any kind of normal life for the Palestinian people, the lack of any respect or equal treatment of them by Israel, the utter brutality which this war has been carried out by the Israeli Army against a largely unarmed and defenceless people is a crime against humanity. To see the Labour Party so willing to be a part of this behaviour is something quite appalling.
Now we are witnessing an attempt to prevent students from attending classes at the university - the road to a place of study has been arbitrarily destroyed by the Israeli Army - as well as the closure of villages and disruption of daily life. This suppression will only lead to more and more horrors and bloodshed on both sides.
There should be an immediate end to closure policies, the Palestinian population should have international protection and Israel should abide by international law.
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I have been following these awful events closely through the press. So have many of my colleagues .... We are doing what we can to help mobilize international concern.
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I have read your messages with great interest and sadness. Your account of the march to reconnect the city to the university conveyed the impression of a heroic and suffering people. People here are gradually being informed through efforts like yours. Even the New York Times published an account that included the Ramallah/Birzeit protest and its toll of a Palestinian death and many injuries. The US government is making objections to the closures and isolations of towns and cities, but of course it has not taken the step that could be useful--cutting the flow of funds. I send you, your family, and your colleagues my heartfelt best wishes during this difficult period.
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… when I read , today, your message I felt very bad... paralyzed, impotent; and I am asking my self what can I do? Now, in this very specific instant, I think that I will write about your message…
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We will never be able to feel how costly it is for you all. Children, students and academics are on the streets but you can't go beyond the checkpoints so our dear leaders can rest assured and prepare for an Arab summit as they see best. Just observe how impotent Arabs, Europeans and others are being. Keeping the pressure and nafas tawil is the only answer.
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The first concern I received from Birzeit I responded by writing a letter of complaint to Shimon Peres and Ben Eliezer, using Birzeit three demands. I then forwarded the message to hundreds of individuals and groups... I asked them to use their skills of cut and paste and write back to the same two people asking for opening up roads and lifting the siege. I am sure that most must have replied by now. If the initial letter contained a section for forwarding the responses, you would have, by now been inundated with responses of people who acted on the issue. If there is any thing else you want us to specifically do, please let me know.
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How painful it is to be back in touch due to the strangulation of Birzeit and other villages and the heinous strangulation Israel has imposed on the Palestinians. We are trying our best to get the world to provide international protection, but it seems the damn Zionists and their American supporters are much stronger than our will. I feel so powerless, and frustrated. Still we try in whatever way we can. Keep us informed. And let the people know that we are trying every means possible to get the international community to act.
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I just wanted to communicate a message of sympathy and solidarity.
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Perhaps Sharon will make it look ridiculous as he tries to pursue his current path.
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I'm very sorry to hear about the cutting off of the road to the university. I have forwarded your message to everyone in my mailing list. I do not imagine that the Israelis will listen to e-mail representations, but if you think it's worth a try, …
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… In any case congratulations. Your initiative has had quite an important impact. In Lebanon regional and local moves began as soon as your first appeal was received. The Arab NGO Network for development has held meetings with universities, student unions and various networks and has received support from progressive political alliances. ... We will keep the momentum going.

… I don't think it will help you much, but I did feel I needed to write some kind of protest to 'my' government. So I wrote to Shim'on Peres that if this is what they joined the government for they might as well resign now, and that as someone who pretends to be active for peace, he should be ashamed of such actions. I feel very sorry and ashamed that this is happening, and I wish you much success in your struggles …
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To Foreign Minister Shimon Peres
Your government must end the siege warfare against Palestinian civilians immediately. The siege is a form of collective punishment, prohibited under international law, and it is contrary to the most basic and elementary principles of international morality. You must not continue to place hundreds of thousands under virtual imprisonment denying them access to medical facilities, to education institutions, jobs, and markets.
As a Nobel Peace Prize holder, you are undoubtedly aware that the use of excessive force by your military and settlers against civilians and children and your current attempts to smother the people and starve them into submission represent the worst form of cruelty and inhuman behavior.
Even your own generals are on record stating that that the siege has not and will not deter attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers. In fact, contrary to your thinking this siege will only increase the people's resolve to resist injustice and the illegal military occupation. The siege must end and must end now,
Mr. Foreign Minister.
Let the people live.
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Dear Mr Benjamin Beneliazer
I write to you concerning the military road block that your army has recently built on the road between Ramallah and Birzeit. I am aware that this measure, no matter how necessary it may be for security purposes, is seriously disrupting the working order of the Birzeit University. I am hereby asking you whether you could, with your authority, moderate the situation and facilitate the access of the students and staff to the university premises. At the time of great stress in your nation and neighbours, those of us who hope for peace in Israel and Palestine eagerly await sympathetic actions of openness.

To Mr. Peres ...
The Israeli army's policy of siege through blocking roads and digging trenches around towns and villages has been escalating, making it practically impossible to meet people's very basic needs…This policy has now reached Birzeit University, preventing faculty, staff and the students from reaching the campus to continue their classes, labs and academic life…These measures are, in the full sense of the term, war crimes…We consider these violations extremely serious and we appeal to you to end this uncivilized strategy