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</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=5>Sumoud Notes on the Israeli
Raid on the Jericho
Prison</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3> <br><br>
By Rafeef Ziadah and Hazem Jamjoum<br><br>
Sumoud, March 16, 2006<br><br>
Sumoud Political Prisoners Group strongly condemns the Israeli attack and
9-hour siege on the Jericho prison that took place yesterday. Three
Palestinians were killed and tens injured during the siege. Ahmad
Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmi and four other prisoners were kidnapped during
the siege by Israeli forces. <br><br>
Sumoud notes the following: <br><br>
• The kidnapped prisoners are legitimate, well-respected political
leaders of the Palestinian people who have consistently fought to defend
their people against Israeli attacks and occupation. Ahmad Sa’adat was
elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council at the head of the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) ticket. <br><br>
• During the siege, Israeli military and political leaders openly
announced their intention to commit war crimes. One Israeli colonel
involved in the operation told the newspaper Ha’aretz "The objective
is to arrest them, but there are no negotiations. Either they come out or
they will be killed." The willingness to simply surround a
Palestinian prison and assassinate those inside is an indication of the
barbaric and racist nature of the Israeli state. It is remarkable that
statements such as these - an open call to commit war crimes - can pass
without comment within the Canadian media. It is one further confirmation
of the cheapness with which Palestinian life is viewed by those in the
West. <br><br>
• The Palestinian Authority bears complicity in the kidnapping of the six
prisoners and the killing of the three Palestinians during the arrest.
Sa'adat was never tried or accused before a court of law. His arrest was
illegal and his release had been demanded by the Palestinian High Court,
Amnesty International and other! human rights organizations. The other
prisoners had been tried in a kangaroo court that did not meet the
minimum standards of due process. Despite this travesty, the PA continued
to submit to British, American and Israeli pressure and refused to
release the prisoners. <br><br>
• We note that the Israeli raid on the Jericho prison took place with the
full consent of British and American forces. The fact that “international
monitors” simply disappeared from the prison prior to the raid is a
striking indication of this fact. Once again, the Palestinian people are
reminded that they should have no faith in the false “neutrality” of the
international community. <br><br>
• Israel is renowned for its use of violent torture against Palestinian
political prisoners. There is no doubt that those kidnapped from Jericho
will face this type of torture and we hold the British and US governments
responsible for their conditions in detention. <br><br>
Sumoud demands the immediate release of those kidnapped from Jericho
along with the 8000 political prisoners currently held by Israel.
<br><br>
For more information contact Sumoud <br><br>
Email: <a href="mailto:sumoud@tao.ca">sumoud@tao.ca</a> or see
<a href="http://sumoud.tao.ca">http://sumoud.tao.ca</a> <br><br>
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