The following is an action alert concerning the orphanages and schools run by a charity (the Islamic Charitable Society -- ICS) in Hebron that have been under attack by the Israeli military. The military has already destroyed goods and seized equipment and supplies belonging to the ICS, and is moving to close the facility altogether. JPN posted information about the charities last month (see http://www.mecaforpeace.org/article.php?id=327, which has an update on the developing situation).
The Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron asks the international community get involved in pressuring governments to get Israel to stop. The contact information (for people in the US, UK and Canada) is below. You might want to use something like the following language in your emails or in leaving a message with your Senator, Representative, embassy, etc.:
"The Israeli army is taking steps to close down a charity in the Palestinian city of Hebron that serves orphans and children in need. There can be no security justification for this act of collective punishment which targets some of the most vulnerable children in the West Bank. I urge you to use your influence to persuade the Israeli government to stop this action and also to pay restitution for the losses suffered by the Islamic Charitable Society."
Judith Norman
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URGENT ACTION REQUIRED NOW!!!
Press Release: Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron
For Immediate Release, 29 May 2008
CPT Contacts: office 011-972-(0)2 222 8485
Email:cptheb@palnet.com,
For more information visit http://www.hebronorphans.blogspot.com
Act Now! Stop the Closing of Orphanages and Schools in Hebron by the Israeli Military
Breaking News:
In his meeting on May 21st with members of the Steering Committee for Supporting the Orphans, Mr. Jawad Bulos, lawyer for the Islamic Charitable Society (ICS), gave a briefing on the legal side of closing and confiscating the ICS facilities.
"The very first moment the Charity received the closure orders I appealed to the Military Legal Advisor and asked him to arrange a meeting with me. The advisor refused to meet me and later he rejected our appeal. I was forced, then, to appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court," said Bulos.'' Five days after my appeal to the court, the court unexpectedly refused to issue a stop order (prohibition order). I was informed later that the court will not discuss our appeal before October,'' added Mr. Bulos.
Although it appears that the military is working towards closure on the ground, Bulos does not think that the military will take further actions that might embarrass the court. Yet, '' I can not trust the Israeli Military,'' he said. These events leave the future of the orphanages and schools in a confused state.
Bulos further stated, "We discussed all details and ways of getting out of this tunnel. The military officers seemed not interested". He concluded his briefing by saying that he believes that the work of both local and international groups is equally important.
Act Now!
It is therefore of utmost importance that all NGOs and internationals who have been involved in this campaign continue to pressure their governments to insist that Israel not only stop this action but also pay restitution for the losses suffered by the institutions involved. Please contact your Congress Representatives or Members of Parliament as soon as possible.
The Steering Committee also encourages all NGOs or visitor to the West Bank to spend a night or more in the Orphanages to discourage the Israeli Army from further actions.
Contact CPT Hebron for these arrangements: cptheb@palnet.com (subject line should contain Hebron Orphanage)
You can find the Israeli embassy in your country at
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Diplomatic+missions
USA:
Embassy in Tel Aviv:
US Embassy
71 Hayarkon Street,
Tel Aviv 63903,
Israel.
Email: Mary Glantz, Human Rights, glantzme@state.Gov; Michelle Schohn, schohnjm@state.gov, or ac5@bezeqint.net
President George W Bush,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20500
Register your message with the White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111
e-mail:comments@whitehouse.gov.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
2201 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20520
To find and contact your Senator go to
http://www.senate.gov
To find and contact either your Senator or your Representative go to: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202)-224-3132
and ask for the appropriate Congressional office.
CANADA:
Embassy in Tel Aviv:
The Canadian Embassy, PO Box 9442, Tel Aviv
67060, Israel.
Fax: (011 972 3) 636-3380.
Email: taviv@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Office of the Prime Minister,
80 Wellington Street
Canada, K1A 0A2.
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Maxime Bernier,
House of Commons
Ottawa ON, K1A 0A6.
Fax: (613) 995-0687
Email: BerniM@parl.gc.ca
You can locate and mail your MP at the House of Commons address, or find their email address at: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
UNITED KINGDOM
Embassy in Tel Aviv:
British Embassy,
192 Hayarkon Street
Tel Aviv 63405, Israel.
Tel: (+972 3) 725;
Fax: (+ 972 3) 527 8574.
Email: webmaster.telaviv@ fco.gov.uk
Prime Minister Gordon Brown,
10 Downing Street,
London SW1A 2AA
To email the Prime Minister go to http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp
Foreign Secretary David Miliband,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH.
Tel: 020 7008-1500
To email MP, MEP's, MSPs, or Northern Ireland, Welsh and London AMs, go to http://www.writetothem.com/
Contact details for UK Members of Parliament and House of Lords:
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm
Contact details for the Members of the Scottish Parliaments:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/index.htm
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Jewish Peace News editors:
Joel Beinin
Racheli Gai
Rela Mazali
Sarah Anne Minkin
Judith Norman
Lincoln Shlensky
Rebecca Vilkomerson
Alistair Welchman
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Jewish Peace News blog: http://jewishpeacenews.blogspot.com
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