MEDIA ADVISORY:

May 14, 2003

Jewish & Palestinian Peace Activists Decry Israel’s Recent Killings of Journalists, Non-Violent Human Rights Workers, along with Palestinian Civilians

Plan Noon Protest Friday Outside Israeli Consulate

WHEN: Noon to 2 PM - Friday, May 16th

WHERE: Outside Israeli Consulate- 6380 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

(At La Jolla, between Crescent Heights and San Vicente)

WHAT: Wearing day-glow vests similar to those worn by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and journalists, who work in Gaza and the West Bank, members of Jewish & Palestinian peace organizations and their supporters will protest outside the Israeli Consulate. Holding a banner reading, “Jews and Arabs United for a Just Middle East Peace,”and "End the Israeli Occupation" they will speak out condemning the recent rash of killings of journalists, non-violent human rights workers and Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces.

WHY: While the world’s attention was focused on the war on Iraq, in the West Bank and Gaza two journalists and two members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), were killed and one ISM member was grievously wounded during increased Israeli incursions into the West Bank and Gaza strip. 109 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during this same period (Feb. 27 to May 1).

“When I hear about the attacks on these completely nonviolent ISM volunteers I want more than ever to go back to Palestine and help," said Mary Hughes Thompson, 65 year-old grandmother from Los Angeles, member of Women in Black and an ISM member who was beaten up by settlers while helping with the olive harvest in Yanoun, last fall. “I know I could be killed, but it's a chance I'm willing to take."

MARCH 16: Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old from Olympia, Washington, ISM volunteer, was deliberately crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer driver while trying to prevent home demolitions in Rafah, Gaza.

APRIL 5: Brian Avery was shot in the face in Jenin by soldiers in an armored personnel carrier that opened fire on clearly visible, unarmed members of ISM.

APRIL12: Tom Hurndall, 21- year old British peace activist, ISM member was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier on the Rafah border as he attempted to rescue children who were under fire from an Israeli sniper tower.

APRIL 20: Nazeh Darwazeh, Palestinian journalist working for Associated Press assassinated by a gunman from an Israeli tank while attempting to cover an incursion into Nablus.

MAY 2: James Miller, award-winning British journalist, was shot dead from an Israeli tank while filming demolition of Palestinian houses in the Gaza Strip.

Protestors at the Consulate on Friday will demand that Israel rescind new requirements that foreigners entering the Gaza Strip sign waivers absolving the Israeli army from any responsibility if the army shoots them and declare that they are not peace activists and not connected to the International Solidarity Movement. Protestors will also insist that Israel stop its arrests and deportations of ISM volunteers and other international peace workers.

For more information call: 323-993-3322 or 818-404-5784

NOTE: On Saturday, May 17th, ISM co-founder Adam Shapiro, Cindy and Craig Corrie, parents of Rachel Corrie will be in the Los Angeles area.

ENDORSERS INCLUDE: Women in Black-Los Angeles (www.wib-la.org), Palestine Aid Society (www.palestine-aid-society.org), Emergency Committee for a Free Palestine, Palestinian American Women's Association of Southern California, National Lawyers Guild, International Action Center (www.iacenter.org), Free Palestine Alliance-Local Chapter, The Writing Empowerment Project, ¡Café Intifada!, All African Peoples' Revolutionary Party, L.A. Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee, Council of American Islamic Relations- Southern California and the Coalition for World Peace (www.coalitionforworldpeace.org)

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