NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/alt/activism/19874

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Date: 28 Dec 92 17:47 PST
Subject: Mideast Justice Network URGENT ACTI
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From: <pnmideast>
Subject: Mideast Justice Network URGENT ACTION

Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 11:29:12 PST
From: Middle East Justice Network <mejn>

The Middle East Justice Network,  PO Box 558, Cambridge, MA 02238
tel [phone]; fax [phone].

Action Alert #39 December  28, 1992

EXTREMELY URGENT ACTION:  PROTEST MASS EXPULSIONS
MORE THAN 400 PALESTINIANS EXPELLED TO LEBANON; PEACE PROCESS
THREATENED

The expulsion of more than 400 Palestinians to Lebanon by Israel
last week was the latest in a series of collective punishments
against all Palestinians and especially those suspected of being
members of HAMAS.  The Palestinian detainees had been held
handcuffed and blindfolded on buses at the Lebanese border over an
18 hour period, awaiting the decision of the Israeli high court
whether the expulsion should go ahead.  The high court decided by
a vote of 5-2 to uphold the expulsion order and has blocked
subsequent appeals by Israeli human rights lawyers.  The Lebanese
Government refuses to accept those expelled into Lebanon.  The
expelled Palestinians have endured cold weather and have had
little food and water.

This mass expulsion, one of the largest since 1967, violates
Article 33 (prohibiting collective punishment) and Article 49
(which prohibits deportation)  of the 4th Geneva Convention of
1949 as well as United States policy.  On numerous occasions the
United Nations, supported by the US, has demanded that Israel halt
its expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland.  Most recently,
on January 6, 1992, the United Nations Security Council passed
Resolution 726 which "strongly condemns the decision of Israel,
the occupying Power, to deport twelve Palestinians civilians",
referring to an earlier attempt to expel Palestinians this year.
The Resolution called upon Israel "to refrain from deporting any
Palestinian civilians from the occupied territories."

    Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin called the expulsion
the least harsh measure possible while still being able to strike
at HAMAS.  Rabin said that relatives of those expelled had 60 days
to appeal the expulsion.  Those expelled, according to the Prime
Minister, would be able to return after 2 years if they had not
engaged in "anti- Israel" behavior.  President-elect Bill Clinton
has said at a press conference that he was "concerned that the
deportation goes too far and will imperil the peace talks."  After
meeting with Middle East delegations, President Bush denounced the
expulsion order.

    The expulsion follows the killing of three Israeli
soldiers on December 8 by members of the Islamic group HAMAS,
which is not part of the PLO and opposes current peace
negotiations.  Subsequently HAMAS activists kidnapped and then
killed an Israeli border policeman.  In response to these events
the occupying power sealed off the territories, imposed around the
clock curfews and arrested at least 1200 (and possibly as many as
2000) Palestinians accused of belonging to HAMAS, and is holding
them without charge.  Since then the Israeli authorities have
killed a number of Palestinians protesting the expulsion and have
injured many more.

    The Israeli action puts the peace talks in great jeopardy,
with all Arab delegations threatening to withdraw.  Palestinian
delegation head Haidar Abdul-Shafi stated on December 17 "there
might not be another round if the deportation order stands.  It
will be a death blow the peace process."

ACT IMMEDIATELY!

Voice your concern and demand that the following do everything in
their power to provide immediate protection for Palestinians in
the occupied territories and to urge Israel to revoke the
expulsions, release the prisoners and end all forms of collective
punishment and the occupation itself:

Edward Djerejian, State Dept. Asst. for Near East Affairs;
202-647-7209 State Department Israel Desk; 202-647-3672 (they are
tallying calls) Ambassador Zalman Shoval; 202-364-5500 President
George Bush, White House; 202-456-1111 President-Elect Bill
Clinton; 202-973-2600 Your Congressional Representative;
202-224-3121 House Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East;
202-225-3345

The Middle East Justice Network was formed by Americans drawn
together by a common concern about our government's role in
supporting the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.  We advocate
a US policy based on United Nations Resolutions 181, 242, and 338
and call for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel
with international security guarantees for both states.  Our
bimonthly newsletter, BREAKING THE SIEGE, is intended to break
through the siege mentality which has long prevented the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict from being fairly discussed and
understood.  To subscribe to BREAKING THE SIEGE and Action Alerts
(one year, first class mail) send a donation of US$15.00
(introductory offer), US$20.00 (renewal) or more to:  THE MIDDLE
EAST JUSTICE NETWORK, P.O. Box 558, Cambridge, MA 02238.