Israeli soldiers located at the checkpoint on the entrance to the Village of Ein Arik near Ramallah prevented this afternoon Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the mentioned village, despite learning who is the Patriarch and seeing his Holy See Diplomatic passport and his VIP Card given to His Beatitude by the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs.
It is good to add that the Patriarch, who was accompanied by the parish priests of Ramallah, was planning to celebrate Mass at the Parish Church of Ein Arik this evening.
The Israeli Soldiers at the mentioned Check point refused even to listen to explanations provided by Father Giovanni Cinti Parish priest of Ein Arik, but obliged him to sit on the floor for sometime before releasing him. Patriarch Sabbah couldnąt succeed to enter yesterday also the village of Bir Zeit north of Ramallah, for celebrating Mass, since the village was disconnected by Israeli Army from all its surroundings.
We consider that this incident is a clear violation not only to diplomatic relations and agreements between the Holy See and the State of Israel, but a clear violation of the basic human rights of freedom of movement.
We really wonder if such incidents happen to a senior clergyman, so how is the daily life of the regular Palestinian citizens.
We appeal on the International community to make pressures on the State of Israel to stop in end the actual siege and closure of almost all the Palestinian villages and towns cutting it one from another making of it a real small prisons in a very big prison which is not legally, morally and humanly acceptable.
We are sure that this policy of collective punishment will not lead to justice and peace, will not end violence they produce nothing tangible for Israel or Israelis. They also do not increase security nor hasten the possibility of a negotiated settlement. Justice and only justice is the only solution for a real peace and security. We repeat and call upon all of our friends all over the world to make their voices heard to exert the utmost pressure upon their governments and the government of Israel to stop these illegal measures of collective punishment. Otherwise, we will face the brink of disaster.
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Chancellor, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Abeer Abu Khdeir, 32 years-old, from Shu'afat in the West Bank, mother of four, was arrested by members of the Israeli Army, police and undercover agents in the night of 21 February 2001 together with her husband Nasser, after six hours of harassment that was not only directed against her family including her four children, aged 2 to 12, but also against all the families who live in the same building. Since the day of her detention, 21 February, she has not been allowed to meet her lawyer. On 4 March, her incommunicado detention was extended for eight more days. This order may be prolonged at will. She is being held in the interrogation section of the Russian Compound.
Abeer Amer, 20 years old, from Dura near Hebron, and her sister, Sana Amer, 14 years old, were arrested in Hebron on 20 February 2001. They are awaiting trial in the Russian Compound. Abeer had been arrested before, in 1999, and was released in August 2000.
Amne Muna, from Bir Naballah near Jerusalem, was arrested on 19 January 2001. For approximately five weeks she was not allowed to meet her lawyer.
Wajdan Buji, 22 years old, from Hebron, was arrested on 25 February 2001.
Neve Tirza Prison
On 1 March, WOFPP lawyer Taghreed Jahshan visited the political
prisoners, Maha Al-'Aak, Nasreen Taha, Suad Ghazal and Suna Gh'ai, in
Neve Tirza.. She had to wait for more than an hour to see the first
prisoner, while the lawyers visiting the criminal prisoners entered
without being delayed. - From her report we learn the following:
The prisoners complain that recently the harassment against them has increased. Under various pretexts on the part of the prison authorities, the women have been prevented from to visiting the library for the past two months. Part of the library books they had in their room have been taken away by the wardens. - The wardens have also taken away drawing cardboard; they wanted to confiscate a piece of embroidery with the Palestinian flag that Suad had worked on for a long time, but instead of surrendering it, Suad cut it to pieces. - The newspapers still arrive in whole packages with one to two weeks' delay. - The prisoners receive nearly no letters, and the letters they write do not reach the families.* - Through the offices of the Red Cross the family of Suad Ghazal and of Maha Al-'Aak respectively sent clothing, blankets and sheets to their relative. The clothing was handed over to Suad and Maha, but they did not receive the blankets and sheets.
In the the last week of February, a representative of the Red Cross visited the prisoners in Neve Tirza.
Maha Al-'Aak, 22 years old, from 'Aaida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem, was arrested 27 July 2000. The date for the continuation of her trial has been set for 20 March.
Nasreen Taha and Suna Gh'ai were detained in solitary confinement for three days as punishment for not getting up when an officer entered their cell. (As a rule, the prisoners have to stand at checking times, but not when an officer enters their cell).
* Please inform us if you have written to any of the women prisoners in Neve Tirza so that we can check.