Good
Afternoon,
I arrive
here in New York City having left Israel voluntarily and of my
own
free will. While deportation orders are being processed, my lawyer
in
Israel will challenge the charges and the order in court.
However,
I arrive here having been forced, along with 8 fellow peace
activists from the United States, France and Ireland, out of the
Occupied
Palestinian Territories. We were physically assaulted and abducted
by armed
gunmen from Israel's para-military Border Police in the heart
of the West
Bank. Our fate is that of an increasing number of foreign doctors,
relief
workers, journalists, observers and others in solidarity with
the
Palestinian people. We face deportation and refused entry when
trying to
help the Palestinian people, even as Israel escalates its war
against them.
This
government of Israel does not wish the world to see or know of
what its
forces are doing in the name of occupation - for silence is the
greatest
asset of oppression.
In this
conflict, all are suffering. I have seen the horror and carnage
wrought by both sides. But in this conflict there is only one
occupation.
The
occupation must end now.
We
can be silent no longer.
Adam
Shapiro
International Solidarity Movement
