December 11, 2001
Benzie Co. man traveled to Mideast on peace trip
Michigan Peace Team is responding to request for international observers

Press Conference on tctv2
A Press Conference was held on Friday, January 4, 2002 after Randy Bond returned from Israel. It was shown on tctv2 on the following dates:

Record Eagle Article: http://www.record-eagle.com/2001/dec/11man.htm

THE OCCUPATION KILLS
Internationals protest tanks and occupation in Palestine

On Tuesday, December 18, dozens of foreign civilians from the United States and Europe will protest the ongoing Israeli occupation and military re-invasion of Palestinian cities, towns and villages. The internationals will march from Manara Square in Ramallah to the location of the tanks in Irsal under the banner of "The Occupation Kills."

Foreign civilians will engage the occupation forces in a high risk but non-violent direct action in an effort send this message to the Israelis, their respective governments, and the world.

Israeli Military Blocks Non-Violent Action;
Arrests American Friday, December 21 2001 @ 06:03 PM GMT

By Meera Shah, PalestineChronicle.com

RAMALLAH, Palestine: The International Solidarity Movement, a group of approximately 60 internationals here in solidarity with the Palestinian people, yesterday undertook a non-violent action to remove roadblocks set up by the Israeli military in two Palestinian villages near Nablus, Hares and Yussouf.

The roadblocks prevent Palestinians living and working in the areas from entering or exiting, a restriction on freedom of movement that violates international law.

The group working in Hares was confronted by Israeli military stationed at the roadblock.  The soldiers declared the area a closed military zone and called in Israeli police upon the group‚s arrival, both common reactions against protest actions.  Only Israeli police have the authority to arrest international civilians.  The military forces also ordered bulldozers to the roadblock.

In the cold rain and mud, these activists, who range in age from 20 to at least 60 years of age, used their bare hands and shovels to move the dirt, rubble, and blocks put in place by the Israeli military.

The bulldozers tried to block the group in by moving stones to encircle them.  One of the activists, Ms. Sofia Ahmad, 26, from Chicago, Illinois, attempted to stand in front of the bulldozer to prevent it from blocking the group.  At least three male police officers grabbed Ms. Ahmad and dragged her away.

According to eyewitnesses and from Ms. Ahmad‚s own account, the officers holding her were twisting her arm with enough force to make her fall.  After she fell in the mud, the Israeli officers dragged her by the hair through the mud behind an Israeli jeep.  Once there, one officer told the American citizen that without the presence of media cameras, he was free to do what he wanted to her.

After threatening her, the police took Ms. Ahmad to the police station in the Israeli settlement of Ariel, close to Nablus, where she was formally charged.

The charge: Attacking a police officer.

Ms. Ahmad was released after several hours of being held in her muddy, wet clothes.

Throughout the action, the group maintained its discipline of non-violent resistance.

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) consists of local and foreign civilians whose aim is to raise awareness about the situation of the Palestinian people and bring about an end to the Israeli occupation.  
More from Palestine Wire <http://palestinechronicle.com/search.php?mode=search&type=stories&topic=2>
Copyright © 2001 Palestine Chronicle

Hi Kay,

Feel free to pass this on to others. We got back to Bethlehem last night about 8pm. Yesterday was a great action in the morning.We left Nablus and went to where all traffic is stop by the military. They have a tank which is used to block the road so no vehicles can travel in or out of Nablus.

All people have to walk for about a mile to get transportation to other places. So we decided to confront this tank and see what we could do with it. We had 3 affinity teams willing to risk possible arrest. We decided to have one team stand in front of the tank while the other 2 teams pasted signs on the side of the tank. The signs said "RETURN TO $ENDER" and on the other side "THE OCCUPATION KILLS". The non arrest people walked past the tank and became observers of the action. We walked real slow up to the tank, and started to paste the signs. The tank started its engine and reved it up causing a large blast of exhaust. It then swung its cannon from side to side and started to move forward. the team in front then sat down in front of the tank while the rest of us finished pasting signs and planting Palestinian flags on the tank. The tank then backed up into a side road and stopped. A jeep with soldiers came charging up but the soldiers did not get out. Our communication people went and talked to the soldiers assuring them we were non violent and we were here to protest the illeagal occupation of the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile the Palestinian vehicles were able to past freely in and out of Nablus. This lasted for about 15 min. before a armored personel carrier (APC)came and blocked the road further up. The tank then proceeded to back up the side road and out of sight. We then decided to confront the APC blocking the road in a manner similar to what we had done with the tank. We knew that as soon as we left the area where the tank had been that it would return, but we had other activities planned for the day and felt we could not stay there all day.

So we walked towards the APC and when we got close, it retreated up towards the military outpost and we then seen the tank return to its previous place. It would have been neat to have stayed and played cat and mouse with them but choose to call it a great action and leave. The press coverage was good. ABC and BBC were there along with others.

From all the team in Palestine and for all who support us everywhere
--Peace Randy

Peter Dougherty wrote:

Hi all,

Tonight we are back in Beit Sahour, in the 3 Kings Hotel. Felt good to put on clean clothes and get out of the muddy ones!

I/m doing fine..... It was an intense 5 days out. The group did well - it is a solid group of folks - about 70 in all. Some have come in and out - one affinity group, named Junity -Jews United for (Peace in Palestine or some such full name)have been back to Jerusalem for events, then regrouped with us..... We have one person that is, I think, not mentally balanced, and she is being told by the organizers she needs to not be on the rest of the project.

Tomorrow is a free day, to follow any of various options. Because Arafat is in Rumallah and is not being allowed to leave the city to come to Bethlehem for the Christmas eve celebration, his annual tradition, we are offering to accompany him from Rumallah to Bethlehem tomorrow. If he takes us up on the offer we will scurry to pull it together to get to Rumallah and accompany him. If by morning we find he declines the offer, or Sharon "magnanimously" allows him to travel tomorrow, we will not be needed. Second choice for me is to go to Jerusalem with a handful Mary Thomas has invited to see some of the Old City and to have a silent vigil at Zion Plaza where 23 Jewish people were killed a couple weeks ago by a suicide Palestinian, to mourn their death and convey our objection to terrorist acts. If Mary's group has left already by the time we find out about Arafat, my third choice is to be in Bethlehem during the day to see some festivities, and go pray in some silence for awhile. In any choice, we will be in the Church of the Nativity for Midnight Mass. On Christmas Day we will be joining/accompanying a pilgrimage from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.The day after Christmas we will go to Gaza, and stay with families overnight, as we learn of the deeper poverty there than in the West Bank.

Yesterday, Sat. Dec. 22, we left the town of Marda south of Nablus and went to Tell, by a tank, processing with signs and banners saying "end the occupation," etc. We were not confronted by the military. We rode into the cityh of Nablus (called Sechem in the Jewish Scripture and N.T., where Jesus met the woman at the well). We met the Governor of the Nablus region, having an interview with him. He spoke of the Palestinian suffering, which we are experiencing first-hand. Then we went to visit sites where shelling by Israelis took place. One was where a young man was killed as he looked out his patio. A tank hit him in the head with shelling. We met his wife and mother, with a couple other relatives. It was emotional. They expressed their grief and their rage, and feeling of being alone in this conflict; that the whole world was letting this happen.

People are killed routinely. The Israelis say they are firing against terrorists - but we are seeing and talking to families that are just plain people, not involved in battle. We stayed in Hotel Jasmin for the night in Nablus, a modern big city, under seige. It is in a valley between two mountains, with the Israelis having tanks on the mountains. Every night they fire into the city, and some Palestinians fire rifles at them.

Today, Sunday Dec. 23, we left Nablus and went south to Salfit. We confronted a tank that was blocking the road so that vehicles could not go in or out. We intended to go up to the tank, and post paper banners on it with glue, using paint brushes. The tank rotated its turret gun and revved up the engine. The exhaust from it blew Liz Walter's glasses 10 feet away off her face. I got part of a message on. The tank backed up, off the road. We slowly approached again and someone got the rest of the message on. It was: "return to sender." Some stayed across the road to keep the tank from getting back on to block it, while others of us proceeded down the road to the army carrier vehicle that had soldiers in it. As we got nearer, it backed up, going up the hill, and off the road out of site. After awhile we left, getting on busses to continue on into the town. Many Palestinian people thanked us.

In Salfit we visited various bombed sites. People toldof the individuals killed in these bombings.

Then we went to the site of a house we were ready to help rebuild that had been bulldozed. The word was that the authorities were not sure the structure remaining was safe enough to rebuild. So, we did not do the rebuilding. We visited a clinic built within the last 4 months because of the closure of the city. Many women were giving birth at military checkpoints because they were not allowed to go to hospitals to give birth. The new clinic is there to deal with what they can, since people cannot get out of the city.

We returned to the town of Marda to pick up our belongings left there, and traveled back to Beit Sahour. It was already dark, and the Palestinian bus driver was very nervous because of the danger of settler attacks, as well as military checkpoint delays.

We came back to Beit Sahour exhausted, but I and others commented on the depth of this group of peacemakers.

Please pass this info on to whomever.

Love, and Merry Christmas to all,
--Peter

I spoke with Therese Terns today.  here is  the update of the last few days.

Christmas Eve -

5 of the team had tickets for the mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  They departed for the mass at 10:15 in order to get good seats.  Peter, Liz and Therese decided to join the crowds outside the church and see if they could "roll in" without tickets, which they managed to do partway through the service.  The homily was given in a couple different languages and peace was its theme.  The priest spoke about Arafat and the peace process.  Representatives of Arafat were attending the service and Liz saw one of them give a thumb's up sign to the other after the homily.

Liz was not feeling well (the group has been passing around a cold) and she and Therese decided to leave the mass early and return home.  On the way out of the church, they followed a flight of stairs into a section of caves out of curiousity, only to find a latin mass in progress in the cave purported to be the birthplace of Jesus.  Therese and Liz were present for the handshake of peace and able to take communion.  They walked home under the clear night sky which Therese said was beautiful with so many stars.

By 2:30 AM, everyone had returned to their hotel.

Christmas Day -

The group had a free morning.  A "training" with GIPP (another group of internationals doing Palestinian solidarity work - I will find out what the acronym means) was scheduled for 12:45, but in the end, it was more of a briefing about the evening's action.

That evening, GIPP, the ISC contingent and many Palestinians held a procession together.  Apparently, this is an annual event and used to include many Israelis as well.  On this night, the internationals were the only non-palestinians too join.  People carried torches and banners.  Children wore their school uniforms, adults dressed up for the event.  Bagpipes played over the celebratiry crowd.  Therese said it lifted her spirits after so many days of depressing news and witnessing.  The procession traveled up to the Municipality and then took buses to the Paradise Hotel (which was bombed sometime in the last five months).  The group then organized themselves.  The French GIPP led the procession.  Palestinians formed the middle of the group, flanked on all sides by ISC members.  The group proceeded to the checkpoint, and met by soldiers.  Peter acted as one of the spokespeople for the group, along with a woman from GIPP.  The group continued to try to move forward into the soldiers, but they had reached a stalemate.  Eventually, one of the police brought a document which apparently said that no Palestinian could cross the checkpoint.  The group turned around and returned to the buses and finally, their hotel.  Therese said it was a wonderful way to spend Christmas.

December 26-

The group was up early and boarded buses around 5:30 AM to travel to the Gaza strip, approximately 1.5 hours away.  Liz elected to remain back as she was not feeling well enough to make the trip.  The group reached a major checkpoint where the bus was stopped and their passports collected.  The soldiers here were very polite and somewhat friendly.  The French group from GIPP was also there and similarly stopped.  After 3 hours, the group's passports had still not been returned, though GIPP had apparently gotten theirs back.  Peter and Georgie (from the Rapproachment Center, the sponsor of the trip) went inside to inquire, but were only told they couldn't have them back yet.  Outside, the group was asked to stand under the canopy of the building as the soldiers said they were concerned the group could be hit with falling mortor.  

Eventually, their passports were all returned. The group was told they would not be allowed to enter Gaza because of a "security problem."  GIPP was also denied access.  The group got into their affinity teams and discussed what action to take.  Ten people, including Therese, Julie, Sigrid and Ron, elected to return to their bus as the soldiers had instructed them and observe the action of the others.  The remainder of the group of ISC and GIPP people then attempted to walk to Gaza.  When they were approximately 300 yards away from the bus, soldiers fired their rifles into the air to stop them and then physically confronted the group.  They threatened to shoot members of the group.  Captain Levy, who had previosuly been quite friendly to the group as they waited, was particularly enraged and knocked an older woman down on the ground.  One young man from England, who had missed the two days of training at the beginning of the trip, was pushed and seemed to take defensive martial arts style stance.  Men from the ISC group pulled him away and sent him back toward the bus.  On his way back to the bus, he lifted his camera to take a picture of the struggle.  Officials took him inside the station and took his camera.  He was later escorted back to the bus. Two others, who were members of the press traveling with the group, also had their cameras seized.  All were returned, but without film.

Meanwhile, at the scene of the confrontation, the group sat down.  The soldiers then moved them onto the waiting GIPP bus, now hopelessly overcrowded.  Soldiers also boarded that bus.  The ISC bus and the GIPP bus were escorted back down the road toward Jerusalem.  Some miles from the checkpoint the buses stopped and the soldiers disembarked, giving the Palestinian drivers strict instructions to return to Jerusalem without stopping.  The buses continued toward jerusalem, stopping once to redistribute the passenger load.  

The GIPP contingent returned to the Gaza checkpoint as two of their members had been arrested in the confrontation.  The ISC group is now back in Jerusalem.  They are documenting what happened to them and reporting this to their embassies etc.  No one from the MPT contingent was hurt.  One woman from the ISC did need to be checked at a hospital for her injuries.  Therese said that the difference in the behavior of the two groups of soldiers (from the procession and at the checkpoint in Gaza) was extreme.  She was amazed at the level of violence the soldiers exibited.  Tonight, the group is discussing its options for tomorrow in light of these developments.

More news as I have it. I am planning to issue another press release tomorrow with some of this information.

--peace, Amy

Michigan Peace Team Attacked at Erez in Gaza

EREZ: The Michigan Peace Team, traveling with the International Solidarity Campaign, reached the Erez checkpoint early Wednesday morning, December 26, 2001.  The bus was stopped and the internationals passports collected.  The group was forced to wait more than three hours for their passports to be returned.  At last, authorities returned the passports to the group but informed them that they were forbidden to enter the Gaza area due to a security problem.  A French contingent of the organization GIPP (Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians) was similarly stopped and denied access.  

Ten people, including MPTs Therese Terns, Julie Slowik, Sigrid Dale and Ron Dale, elected to return to their bus as the soldiers had instructed them and observe the actions of the others.  The remainder of the ISC and GIPP contingent then attempted to walk to Erez.  When the contingent had traveled approximately 300 yards from the bus, soldiers fired their rifles into the air in an act of intimidation.  Israeli Defense Forces began to physically attack the group.  Soldiers also threatened to shoot members of the group.  Captain Levy, who had previously been quite friendly to the group as they waited, was particularly enraged and knocked an older woman down on the ground.  

The internationals chose a nonviolent response and sat down.  The soldiers then moved them onto the waiting GIPP tour bus, now hopelessly overcrowded.  Soldiers also boarded that bus.  All personal cameras were seized and the film confiscated.  The ISC bus and the GIPP bus were escorted by military vehicles back down the road toward Jerusalem.  Some miles from the checkpoint the buses stopped and the soldiers disembarked, giving the Palestinian drivers strict instructions to return to Jerusalem without stopping.  

The internationals are documenting the abuse they suffered to submit formal complaints to their respective embassies.  One member of the International Solidarity Campaign was taken to the hospital to have her injuries examined.  All members of the Michigan Peace Team are safe and were not seriously injured.

The MPT group is Sr. Elisabeth Walters, IHM, Sr. Julie Slowik, IHM, Therese Terns, Mary Thomas, Mike McCurdy, Ron Dale, Sigrid Dale, Fr. C. Peter Dougherty and Randy Bond.  Members live in Michigans Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Traverse areas.

Both the Michigan Peace Team and the International Solidarity Campaign, a coalition of Palestinian and international organizations, are committed to nonviolence, believing that through the power of nonviolent methods peaceful change can occur.  This is the third campaign of ISC using international peacemakers who place themselves in danger.

HERE IS THE SAME STORY DIRECTLY FROM OUR PAL, RANDY'S PERSPECTIVE:

We have had some great actions and are learning a lot. We were stopped yesterday from being able to get into Gaza, and we chose to walk thru without their blessing... this resulted in several of our people being roughed up and thrown to the ground. They fired several warning shots from their rifles and we then sat down and refused to move. The Capt. was very angry and on the verge of being out of control so we worked hard at de-escalating the situation. One person spoke with him while the rest of us continued to sit. They then brought a bus up with more police and soldiers. They then started to drag us to the bus. Many of our people went limp and were roughed up. Some were kicked and at least one elderly lady was hit and had her glasses knocked from her head. So today we are all writing statements of what happened and they will be sent to our respective embassy; will write again when we get a chance as things are always real busy.

take care
--Randy

In my e-mail (above) about the action at Gaza, I forgot to mention that no one was seriously hurt. One young women was limping a bit from having been thrown to the ground but I don't think it was too serious. I am keeping a fairly good journal of what is happening and getting some good pictures. Mike is video taping the actions and is willing to make vcr tapes for us when we return. That should be good for talks. Sigrid, Ron, Julie and Trese are leaving this afternoon so we will be a much smaller affinity group. Maybe hook up with some other group losing people as well.Liz Mary Peter and myself are all fighting colds, but all on the mend. I am ready to get back to MI.

The Women in Black march is tomorow and we will be a part of that. I will take extra pictures of that to share with the group in TC. We then have a confrontational type event with the students at Beir Ziet the following day. Then to Hebron and who knows what? then one more large march with Palestinians to the Bethlehem/Jerusalem checkpoint. All of these have the potential for confrontation so keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I will write again if I get a chance.

--Randy

A call last night from Kay Bond, said that husband Randy had reported from Jerusalem that over 2000 'Women in Black'--both Israeli and Palestinian- - demonstrated there yesterday marking the anniversary of the original vigil in 1988 . . .

He reported that the Michigan Peace Team folks are upbeat following a great concert by Israeli and Palestinian musicians who were  celebrating and entertaining -- a culmination of the eventful anniversary, and  in support of the goal of peace over there . . . the MPT folks are on to more intense areas in the next couple days before their return home next week . . . Hebron on the 30th and Bethlehem on the 31st we wish them safe passage . . .

Hi All:

Good to read your emails. I would be willing to do a press confrence when I get back; will work up my thoughts on the plane. Sounds like winter finally came to Beulahland.

We are all getting tired and most of us have colds but everything is well.The Women in Black had a fantastic march in Jerusalem. They were expecting as many as 1000 people to march with them... I think the numbers were closer to 2000+. We marched from Paris Square to the Jaffa Gate of the old city, where speeches and a concert took place.

We then went to the Ambassador Hotel were we had a meeting to plan todays action. We were told our objective was to take over the military checkpoint to Bir Zeit University. We were then to allow the students and all others to pass without checking IDs. I think most of us thought this was a pipe dream. The military wasn't going to give up a checkpoint. When we met this morning at the Best Eastern Hotel about a half mile from the checkpoint, we were approximately 150 people. 50 each French, Itailians and us English speakers. The French and the Itailians were to form a double line holding hands and gentley push their way passed the soldiers. The Palestinians would then be able to pass through without interference between the lines. There were 2 other side roads where military could come down and the rest of us were to block all their vehicles. When we got there this morning they had got wind of our coming to do something and they had left the checkpoint--no one was there. I think they felt that if they weren't there that we would just leave. But we took over the checkpoint and formed our lines. When they saw we were not leaving they came to take it back, but we laid down in the road and would not let them pass. They threatned to run over us with  jeeps, armoured personnel carriers (APCs)and a large armoured troop carrier, but we refused to move. They then got out and threw tear gas at us, but we were prepared for that as well. Two people were equipped with heavy gloves and were to pick up the cannisters and throw them over the edge of the road. One guy even caught a grenade in the air . The rest of us had vinegar soaked bandanas and I had my swim goggles. The tear gas didn't move us. They then came out with their rifles and threatened to shoot us if we didn't leave.  We continued to sit. They then started dragging us of the road and kicking at some of us. When we were dropped at the side of the road we got up and went back in front of the truck and sat down again. Finally they gave up in frustration. They then moved their checkpoint down the road a ways from us and started hassling the Palestinian students passing by. We then sent about 20 people down to just kind of get in their way and make it as hard as possible for them to keep hassling the students. The soldier in charge was furious with us by this time so we were real careful to not escalate the situation, but also to keep pressuring them. Finally the soldiers jumped into their APC and started  loading and cocking their rifles in an exagerated show of force. Then a min. or 2 later they started up the APC and drove off.

We stayed until 4 PM when school got out and then left. We had held the checkpoint all day and gave free acess to the students for about 3 to 4 hr. A great action. The contriol and dicipline of eveyone was great and was the main reason the military could not defeat us. Hurrah for non-violence. Tommorow on to Hebron and the next and final day is a very large march of Palestinians and Internationasl to the checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Well thats the update from Lake Wobegone.

--Randy

PEACE TEAM  WINDS DOWN IN ISRAEL

In a phone conversation with Peter Dougherty, Amy Cairnes of Michigan Peace Team's Lansing office,  learned the team spent today at a check point between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  They were present with Jewish rabbis, Muslim imams and Christians all kneeling and praying for peace in this strife ridden area.  This was a hopeful and symbolic ending for the peace team's time in the Middle East.

Their ETA at DTW is Wednesday evening . . .we wish them safe journey home . . .

A celebration and welcome home party (potluck) for Randy Bond is planned for Friday evening somewhere in TC location to be announced by wednesday or thursday, so stay tuned . . .

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