[IMC-bristol] Easton AlternaTV: Palestine ISM

[Martin Mantxo]

Easton AlternaTV: Palestine ISM

Easton Community Centre
Kilburn St. Easton, Bristol 9541409

thursday 19-6-03 7`00pm 

free admission

Video: ISM (International Solidarity Movement) in Palestine. 

Video showing the brutal repression against International observers in Palestine includding the death of Rachel Corrie and the shooting of Tom Hurndall and the daily repression and death of the Palestinian people. Tough to watch - tough reality.

Speaker: Nancy Rollason 

just returned from Palestine and member of IMS

Ffi: ISM: www.palsolidarity.org

Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign: www.bristolpsc.freeserve.co.uk

Organised by kebele k.p., bristle, i-Contact

www.kebele.org/ www.bristle.org.uk / www.videonetwork.org/





The ISM 

(www.palsolidarity.org)

The International Solidarity Movement is a Palestinian-led movement of Palestinian and International activists working to raise awareness of the struggle for Palestinian freedom and an end to Israeli occupation. We utilise non-violent, direct-action methods of resistance to confront and challenge illegal Israeli occupation forces and policies.

As enshrined in international law and UN resolutions, we recognise the Palestinian right to resist Israeli violence and occupation via legitimate armed struggle. However, we believe that non-violence can be a powerful weapon in fighting oppression and we are committed to the principles of non-violent resistance.

ISM Aims


To assist Palestinians in challenging the Israeli occupation by: Acting as an information point and contact to people back home Using their international status to attract media attention and raise awareness of the atrocities the Palestinians face on a daily basis. Working with Israeli peace groups and building relationships between them and local Palestinian communities 

Nancy Rollason`s experience with the ISM in Palestine

I first went out to Palestine in July last year with ISM. I was sent with a group to Jenin, a town and refugee camp still in trauma after the invasion and massacre there by the IOF (Israeli Occupation Force) in April. 

At that time there were continuous curfews and our job was to travel with ambulances to try and keep the drivers safe and get them through checkpoints, and to challenge the tanks that would come through the city constantly, firing indiscriminently. It was full on and traumatic for all of us - as we were constantly under threat from the soldiers. However at that time our status as International seemed to keep us safe - or at least alive. 

That changed in March of this year. Rachel Corrie, an ISM volunteer working in Rafah was murdered by the IOF while trying to stop the demolition of a home. Then Brain Avery was shot in the face at short range from a tank in Jenin as he was just standing to one side with his arms raised. Much of his lower face was shot away and he will need months of reconsrtuctive surgery. 

Then Tom Hurndall was shot through the head by a sniper in Rafah while trying to rescue children stranded and afraid while the soldiers were shooting at them. He is severely brain damaged and remains in a coma. It is unlikely that he will recover. 

There had obviously been a change of policy, and Internationals were just as much a target as Palestinians. We believe that the IOF wanted to get rid of International observers in the occupied territories because we were too effective at showing the rest of the world what was really happening. 

When I went back to Jenin this time, it was no longer safe to approach tanks. Last time there were warning shots, this time we weren`t going to take that chance. During an incursion we were shot at and while we were trying to monitor young boys who were throwing stones at the tanks, one (about 12) was shot right next to me - thankfully only in the leg. 

I accompanied ambulances through checkpoints, and travelling round saw the daily humiliation that these young (mostly 18-20 year olds) soldiers inflict on the entire population. Planning a visit? Forget it - going to school or work - if you`re lucky - need to get to hospital - maybe. Many women have given birth at checkpoints. Some people have died because they couldn`t get to hospital in time. 

I spent a lot of time visiting and drinking tea, just getting to know people. That in itself is important. So many people just want to tell their stories, and ask that you let people know. Just being there in solidarity is important. There is a lot of despair in Jenin, despair but also resistance in many different ways to the occupation. 

There are already ISM groups in London and Manchester. The Bristol group aims to give information about ISM, encourage and support people locally to go out there, especially this summer when there is a freedom of movement campaign from 1st July to 15th August, and to run training days for people who are going. 

We also aim to campaign locally, eg for an independent Inquiry into the shooting of Tom Hurndall, against Caterpillar, who make and supply bulldozers to the IOF, and the boycott of Israeli goods. 

This film is the most accurate I have seen so far in showing the situation as it really is. It is powerful and distressing but totally necessary viewing. 



intY has scanned this email for all known viruses (www.inty.com)

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-bristol/attachments/20030604/390bc532/attachment.htm