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Sunday, August 7, 2011

Prisoners begin Hunger strikes

Prisoners begin Hunger strikes (Monday, 11 July 2011)

The 2 Swansea women are being held in a prison in Ramle so we are unaware if they too have began a hunger strike.

However the Israeli authorities released two older German men from Bersheeva prison yesterday, but only on condition that they sign an Israeli legal document that was presented to them only in Hebrew and English, languages they do not understand. The Israeli authorities even refused to give them a copy of the paper they signed. Since their release, they have given insights into the prison conditions.

A number of Belgians being held in Bersheeva prison, began a hunger strike last night. The Belgians demand, on behalf of all the prisoners, to have contact with their families and with their attorneys. They demand an international investigation into the behavior of airline companies and Israeli officials. They also demand to be able to have contact with each other in the Israeli prison. For example, because the French and Belgian men and women are separated in the Bersheeva prison, the men do not know whether the women are also aware of the hunger strike. It is believed that the French men have joined the hunger strike. According to the Germans who were released from Bersheeva, the German men and women there are also participating in the hunger strike, but the men and women are not allowed to speak with each other. 
 

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/prisoners-begin-hunger-strikes.html

Swansea women being talked about on Twitter (Monday, 11 July 2011)

The Swansea women are getting Tweeted now. Latest from the radio stations in Swansea
Link to their story here

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/swansea-women-being-talked-about-on.html

 

Western Mail: Hunger Strike threat (Monday, 11 July 2011)

by Ciaran Jones, Western Mail
Four female activists from Wales detained as they entered Israel to visit the West Bank town of Bethlehem could be deported today.The women were detained as part of a so-called “flytilla” protest after they landed at the country’s Ben Gurion Airport along with eight other British nationals on Friday.

But they were last night refusing to comply with threats of deportation and one may even go on hunger strike in an attempt to break the stalemate, the Western Mail has learned.The women have been named as: Pippa Bartolotti, 57, the deputy leader of the Wales Green Party; Dee Murphy, 56, from Swansea, a founder member of Swansea Palestine Community Link; Fiona Williams, 46, from Mumbles; and Joyce Giblin from Newport.

The “flytilla” was organised in protest at a flotilla of ships being prevented by Greece from sailing to the Gaza Strip in a bid to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.The women are among 124 activists – mostly European, though understood to include at least two American citizens – being held at Givon prison in Ramle.

Ms Williams’ partner, 47-year-old John McLean, said the Swansea council worker was being held alongside people in their 70s and 80s.“It’s pretty outrageous how [the Israeli authorities] can perceive those people as being a threat and justify it,” said Mr McLean. He added: “They are going to resist all attempts to be deported until they are forcibly removed. It’s a peaceful protest and at the moment no explanation has been given on the Israeli side as to why any of them are being held for questioning.”

The women were handcuffed and taken to a nearby prison after their easyJet flight from Luton touched down on Friday.Father of four Mr McLean said they were being held in cells of between six and eight people and had been singing protest songs.

“They are all in very good spirits and very determined,” he said.

Mother of one Ms Williams had been “extremely nervous” ahead of leaving for Israel, he added.Both Ms Williams and bookkeeper Ms Murphy are members of Swansea Action for Palestine. Group spokesman Paul O’Connor said one female Welsh traveller had managed to get through the airport and make it to the West Bank.

And frustrations at the deadlock faced by the detained travellers could lead Ms Murphy – who visited Gaza last year and has travelled to the West Bank before – to begin a hunger strike, he suggested.

He told the Western Mail: “It wouldn’t surprise me. Probably not Fiona, but I can suspect Dee – she does have very strong views on this.”

Sofiah Macleod – from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, responsible for coordinating the activists from the UK – said the British detainees were being held in cells with campaigners from France, Belgium and Germany.He said they had flown in to the country intending to take part in a week-long cultural programme.

“They have been seen by lawyers and the consul but are still being denied entry to proceed to Bethlehem. There have been no charges and we are not aware of what the charges are or what legislation they are being held under.”

Jake Griffiths, leader of the Wales Green Party, said party MP Caroline Lucas was planning to raise the issue of the group’s treatment in Parliament this week.
He added: “Obviously we are supporting the campaign Pippa has been involved in to raise the plight of the Palestinians.”

He added: “There does not appear to be any grounds for her being detained, as travelling to the West Bank is meant to be permitted for British citizens.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered authorities to “act with determination, while trying to avoid unnecessary friction” with anyone taking part in a provocation, a statement from his office said.

It is understood the busy holiday season is making it difficult to find flights back to the UK for the activists.A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that a number of British nationals were detained on Friday at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

“All the British nationals currently detained pending deportation have been visited by consular staff from the embassy in Tel Aviv and we have been in contact with families in the UK.

“We understand they will be deported in the next few days.”
Read More

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/western-mail-hunger-strike-threat.html


Irish media reports about D Murphys arrest in Israel (Monday, 11 July 2011)

Irish woman faces deportation from Israel
Irish Times
Dozens of comments are being made on Irish blog about D's participation:
Irish woman held in Israel over ‘flytilla’ protest
TheJournal.ie

Latest news on those expelled yesterday were 22 Belgians, 13 Germans and a man from Spain. 35 had left on a Lufthansa flight and one person on an Alitalia flight.
Israeli officials have cautioned that they are not technically deporting the activists, but, rather, repatriating them, while saying they will not be punished. However, some activists claim Israeli authorities have banned them from returning for a decade. Once we hear more, we will report here.


http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/irish-media-report-about-d-murphys.html


South Wales Evening Post: Pair held by Israeli police (Monday, 11 July 2011)

Swansea's local newspaper reported today:

Two Swansea women who have travelled to Israel to protest against the blockade of Palestine have been held by police for questioning.Council worker Fiona Williams, from Mumbles, and book- keeper Dee Murphy, from Mount Pleasant, are part of a group of 16 people from the UK, who flew to Ben Guirion airport in Tel Aviv last week.Ms Williams said: "We intend to express solidarity with the Palestinians in the West Bank and draw attention to life under Israeli occupation."
Dee Murphy added: "We are resolved."

Scores of people have been refused permission to fly to Tel Aviv, according to the pair, following demands from Israel.In Paris, more than one hundred people have been refused permission, as well as two journalists in Amsterdam.
The Parisian campaigners claim they will be deported once they arrive in Tel Aviv.
Read more
 

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/south-wales-evening-post-pair-held-by.html

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