17 April, Paris: Commemoration of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day

17 April 2017

Monday, 17 April
6:30 pm to 8 pm
Librarie Quilombo
23 rue Voltaire, Paris 11th

Followed by:
8 pm
CICP
21 rue Voltaire, Paris 11th

Facebook for both: https://www.facebook.com/events/278186659307004/

In 1975, this date was adopted by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and has since become an international day of solidarity for all strugglers imprisoned for their anti-colonial, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist commitment. The objectives of this day are to fight against isolation and invisibility, bring forward the history of struggle and support the demands of our imprisoned comrades. April 17 is a day of global mobilization.

Palestinian prisoners will begin an open hunger strike on 17 April, following the last open collective hunger strike of 2014 and the strike of 2002 involving 2,000 prisoners. Let us show our solidarity with them!

Program of the event – part of the Week of International Solidarity with Political Prisoners (16-22 April 2017)

6:30 to 8 pm – inauguration of the exhibition, “In Between,” an artistic homage to Palestinian political prisoners. Includes reproductions of works by Palestinian youth from Dheisheh refugee camp as well as original pieces by the French painter Sania.

This event will also include the screening of a video project shot in Palestine and a discussion with Sania and Reihanna, a vounteer with CICP who will speak about work in Dheisheh with the Center Laylac.

8 pm – Commemoration of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The evening will include the screening of short films by youth from Dheisheh refugee camp and the testimonies of former child prisoners.

Presentations will follow, with Youssef Habache, former Palestinian political prisoner and member of Addameer; Naji Owda, former prisoner and director of Laylac Center in Dheisheh; and presentations by the Unified Campaign for the Liberation of Georges Abdallah.

**

C’est en 1975 que cette date a été retenue par le Front Populaire de Libération de la Palestine, et relayée depuis par de nombreux mouvements internationaux pour l’instauration d’une journée internationale de solidarité avec tous les militants emprisonnés en raison de leur engagement, qu’il soit anticolonialiste, anticapitaliste, anti-impérialiste, etc. Les objectifs de cette journée sont de lutter contre l’oubli, transmettre la mémoire des combats et rappeler les revendications de nos camarades emprisonnés.
Le 17 avril est désormais devenu une journée de mobilisation mondiale.

Des prisonniers politiques palestiniens commenceront une grève de la faim illimitée ce 17 avril prochain. La dernière grève de la faim illimitée date de 2014. Elle s’inscrit suite à celle de 2012 impliquant 2 000 prisonniers. Démontrons notre solidarité avec eux ! Venez nombreuses et nombreux !

★ Programme de cette journée du 17 avril, incluse dans la semaine internationale de solidarité avec les prisonniers politiques (du 16 au 22 avril 2017) :

☞ 18h30-20h : Inauguration de l’exposition « In Between » (Hommage artistique aux prisonnier.e.s politiques palestinien.ne.s)

Reproductions d’œuvres réalisées par des jeunes palestiniens du Camp de réfugiés de Dheisheh et l’artiste peintre française Sania, qui exposera également quelques œuvres originales.

☞ A partir de 18h30, vernissage de l’exposition autour d’un verre de l’amitié et de la solidarité – Diffusion d’une vidéo sur le projet tourné en Palestine – Discussion avec l’artiste peintre française Sania, à l’origine du projet et de Reihanna, volontaire du CICP et d’Échanges et partenariats qui sera de retour de sa mission au Centre Laylac – Présentation d’un ouvrage trilingue sur le projet.

Librairie Quilombo
23 rue Voltaire, Paris 11e
Métro : Rue des Boulets (L9) ou Nation (RER A / L1, L2, L9)
Entrée libre

☞ 20h : Célébration de la Journée des prisonniers palestinien.ne .s :

N’oublions pas les enfants palestiniens incarcérés !

Vidéo – Projection de courts-métrages réalisés par les jeunes du camp de réfugiés de Dheisheh avec le soutien de Regarde à vue, suivie de trois témoignages recueillis en 2015 d’enfants palestiniens ayant connu la prison.

☆ Cours d’Arabe Palestinien

Les mots et les choses… Une petite introduction linguistique à la pensée politique des jeunes du camp de Dheisheh. Regarde à vue – 7min43

☆ NightTime Stories

Histoires du camp de refugiés de Deheisheh (Palestine). Regarde à vue – 19min05

★ Intervention de Youssef Habache, ancien prisonnier politique palestinien, membre d’Addameer (association pour la défense des prisonniers palestiniens – Palestine), représentant du Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits de l’Homme en Palestine et CDP-Palestine

★ Intervention de Naji Owda, ancien prisonnier politique palestinien, directeur du Centre LAYLAC – centre social autogéré qui favorise l’action des jeunes pour le développement local dans le camp de réfugiés de Dheihsheh, près de Bethléem, membre de Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P, Défense internationale des enfants – section Palestine) qui travaille notamment sur la question des enfants et adolescent.e.s palestinien.ne.s incarcéré.e.s

★ Intervention de membres de la Campagne unitaire IDF pour la libération de Georges Abdallah.

Organisée par la Campagne unitaire IDF pour la libération de Georges Abdallah, le secrétariat international de la CNT, le Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits de l’Homme en Palestine, CDP-Palestine et le Centre Laylac.

Centre international des cultures populaires (CICP)
21ter rue Voltaire, Paris 11e
Métro : Rue des Boulets (L9) ou Nation (RER A / L1, L2, L9)
Entrée libre

1500 Palestinian prisoners launch largest collective hunger strike in years: Take action in support!

17 April 2017

Take Action | Demands of the Strike

Over 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners have announced they will launch a collective hunger strike today, Monday, 17 April, on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day 2017. The strike, which will come under the slogan “Freedom and Dignity,” highlights a number of key demands of the Palestinian prisoners, including family visits, appropriate medical care, ending abusive conditions and stopping the use of solitary confinement and administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. As the strike begins, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges supporters of justice around the world to take action to support the Palestinian prisoners whose bodies and lives are on the line for freedom and dignity.

Palestinian prisoners from across political lines announced they would participate in and support the strike, especially in Hadarim, Gilboa, and Nafha prisons. Prisoners in Beersheva, Ashkelon and Ramon prisons will also launch their participation in the strike today, with more to come in the future, Ma’an News reported. The strike’s demands were announced by Fateh prisoners with imprisoned Fateh Central Committee member and prominent political leader Marwan Barghouthi serving as the spokesperson for the strike. A statement by Barghouthi highlighting the strike’s causes was published in the New York Times on 16 April.

“Israel’s prisons have become the cradle of a lasting movement for Palestinian self-determination. This new hunger strike will demonstrate once more that the prisoners’ movement is the compass that guides our struggle, the struggle for Freedom and Dignity, the name we have chosen for this new step in our long walk to freedom,” wrote Barghouthi.

Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan, known for his denunciation of hunger strikers as “terrorists,” has threatened to move all Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike to the Negev desert prison and establish a “field hospital” to deny the prisoners access to medical care in civilian hospitals – and potentially threaten them with force feeding. Indeed, the Israeli Prison Service announced “punitive measures” against 700 Palestinian prisoners who began the open hunger strike on the evening of 16 April, declaring that “the strike and other protest activities are illegal and will be dealt with firmly.”

As the strike begins, Israeli jails hold approximately 6,500 Palestinian political prisoners. This number includes nearly 60 women and 300 children. Nearly 600 are imprisoned without charge or trial under administrative detention, while over 1,000 are sick and require medical treatment.

This is the largest collective hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners since 2012 and before that, 2004, when mass hunger strikes united thousands of Palestinian prisoners for key demands, many of which were achieved in those strikes yet have come under repeated and sustained attack. There is a lengthy history of collective hunger strikes in Israeli jails organized by the Palestinian prisoners’ movement, stretching back decades.

While the strike was announced by Fateh prisoners with Barghouthi as their spokesperson, prisoners from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas, the People’s Party and others have declared participation in the strike, especially in prisons like Hadarim, Gilboa and Nafha, where there is nearly unanimous participation in the strike among political prisoners. Perhaps the last mass strike which saw such broad participation was the 2014 administrative detainees’ hunger strike which involved all of those Palestinians held without charge or trial – at the time, a number below 200.

In Barghouthi’s piece, he urged international solidarity, noting the support of South African former prisoners of the anti-apartheid struggle for Palestinian prisoners. “Israel is not the first occupying or colonial power to resort to such expedients. Every national liberation movement in history can recall similar practices. This is why so many people who have fought against oppression, colonialism and apartheid stand with us.” Fateh prisoners also emphasized the importance of support for the strike, noting that it was “urgent” that their cause becomes an Arab and an international one, instead of only being supported on the local and national level.

The Prison Branch of the PFLP also highlighted the importance of Palestinian support and international solidarity: “we call on all the Palestinian people and their supporters and friends around the world to stand side by side with the prisoners in their continuing battles inside the prisons, escalating the mass movement to support the battle of wills, challenge and confrontation, and to once again reaffirm the centrality of the cause of the prisoners.”

As 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners launch their hunger strike, we urge all supporters of Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinian people to urgently take action and join in the campaign of solidarity to achieve their demands.

Take action:

1) Organize or join an event as part of the Week of Action for Palestinian Prisoners’ Day in support of the hunger strikers. Protest outside your local Israeli embassy, consulate or mission, or at a public square or government building. You can drop a banner or put up a table to support the prisoners and their strike. See the list of current international events here, and add your own: https://samidoun.net/2017/04/schedule-of-events-actions-around-the-world-for-palestinian-prisoners-day-2017-week-of-action/

2) Join the social media campaign to support Palestinian prisoners. Take a picture of yourself or send a graphic with the hashtags below. Post on your own Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and share with the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/225669854578279/ Slogans via Addameer:
Palestinian Human Rights Defenders are #NotATarget #PalestinianPrisonersDay
Palestinian children are #NotATarget #PalestinianPrisonersDay
Stop Administrative Detention #StopAD
Freedom for Palestinian Political Prisoners #April17 #PrisonersDay
I stand in solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners #PrisonersDay

3) Write letters and make phone calls to protest the violation of the rights of Palestinian political prisoners and urge your government officials to pressure Israel to accept the demands of the Palestinian political prisoners.

4) Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Join the BDS Movement to highlight the complicity of corporations like Hewlett-Packard and the continuing involvement of G4S in Israeli policing and prisons. Build a campaign to boycott Israeli goods, impose a military embargo on Israel, or organize around the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

Materials to support your events and organizing are available for download here: https://samidoun.net/2017/03/call-to-organize-palestinian-prisoners-week-of-action-14-to-24-april-2017/ Please contact samidoun@samidoun.net or reach out to us on Facebook for questions or to share your actions.

Demands of the Strikers

The demands of the strike:

1) Installation of a public telephone in each prison and section for Palestinian prisoners to communicate with their loved ones.

2) Family Visits

A) Resume the second monthly visit, which was cut by the International Committee of the Red Cross
B) Regular visits every two weeks without cancellation or interference
C) No prevention of visits by relatives of the “first and second class”
D) Increase the duration of visits from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours
E) Allow photography with parents every three months
F) Facilities for the comfort of prisoners’ parents at the prison entrance
G) Children and grandchildren under the age of 16 allowed visitation at each visit

3) Medical Care

A) Close the so-called “Ramle prison hospital,” as it is unfit for necessary treatment
B) End of the policy of medical neglect against prisoners
C) Regular, scheduled periodic medical examinations
D) Surgical procedures received quickly and without delay
E) Introduction of specialist doctors from outside the prison system
F) Release of sick prisoners, especially those with disabilities and terminal illnesses
G) No transfer of the cost of treatment to prisoners and their families

4) Respond to the needs and demands of the Palestinian women prisoners for private transportation and direct visits with their family members without barriers

5) “Bosta” and Transportation

A) Secure the humane treatment of prisoners during transportation and movement
B) Prisoners must be returned to prisons, clinics and courts and not kept at crossing points for lengthy periods.
C) Rehabilitation of these crossing points to make them fit for human use, including providing meals

6) Access to satellite channels tailored to the needs of prisoners

7) Installation of a cooling system in prisons, especially Megiddo and Gilboa

8) Reform kitchens for all prisons and put them entirely under the supervision of Palestinian prisoners

9) Introduction of books, newspapers, clothing, food and other gifts for prisoners from their families during visits

10) Ending the policy of solitary confinement

11) Ending the policy of administrative detention

12) Re-introducing access to education via the Open Hebrew University

13) Allow the prisoners to provide high school (tawjihi) examinations under officially agreed-upon guidelines

Lena Jarbouni released after 15 years of Israeli imprisonment

16 April 2017

Palestinian prisoner Lena Jarbouni, the longest-serving woman prisoner in Israeli jails, was released from HaSharon prison on the morning of Sunday, 16 April. Jarbouni, 43, from Arraba al-Botouf village near Akka in occupied Palestine ’48, was welcomed by her family and friends who greeted her after 15 years of imprisonment.

In a brief interview with Asra Voice Radio immediately following her release, Jarbouni urged Palestinians to rally around the prisoners’ struggle, including the strike that will begin on Monday, 17 April, calling for unity around the cause of Palestine.

Jarbouni was the elected representative of the Palestinian women prisoners in HaSharon prison and known for her advocacy for Palestinian girls’ right to education inside prisons. Despite an agreement to release all women prisoners in the 2011 Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner exchange, Jarbouni (and several other women serving shorter sentences) was excluded from the exchange as a Palestinian citizen of Israel and so remained imprisoned for over five years after her fellow prisoners were released.

She has been imprisoned since 18 April 2002 and was accused of providing support to the Palestinian resistance and membership in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement. When she was seized by Israeli forces, she was working in a sewing workshop and helping to support her family, including her parents, brother and sister. Israeli forces ransacked the home with dogs in April 2002 at 2:00 am, claiming they were searching for “drugs;” however, Lena was seized and held under interrogation for 40 days. Her sister, Lamis, was also seized by Israeli forces and reported her own torture under interrogation before her release.

Jarbouni’s father and grandfather were both political prisoners in Israeli jails, and her uncle was reportedly jailed for 14 years for his participation in the Lebanese resistance to Israeli occupation.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network salutes and welcomes Lena Jarbouni upon her freedom. Throughout her years inside prison, she was always on the front lines of struggle, involved in hunger strikes, prisoner organizing and protest. She was thrown in solitary confinement for her participation in prisoner protests and denied appropriate medical care for ongoing illnesses, yet always remained committed to building resistance and mutual solidarity among the women prisoners. As we enter Palestinian Prisoners’ Day 2017, we recall Lena Jarbouni’s words one year before and echo them in our organizing:

“On Prisoners’ Day, I greet the Palestinian people and all of the free people of the world…Hundreds of women prisoners held behind bars have stood firm in the struggle, along with the sons of our people, confirming that the Palestinian women are struggling against the occupation and fighting for social justice, emancipation and equality in all spheres of life.

On this day, we salute the longest-serving prisoner Karim Younis, and all of the prisoners throughout Palestine, the Palestinian prisoners’ national movement, and the Arab prisoners, and we salute the child prisoners, boys and girls, sick prisoners, and those in solitary confinement and all of our steadfast people. We assure you that we are held as captives behind bars, but we are free in our minds, and in our convictions. Our freedom remains in our hope and our conviction in the freedom of Palestine.”

Badee Dwaik of the #AlKhalil4 on the “daily torture” of Israeli imprisonment

15 April 2017

Palestinian organizer Badee Dwaik, co-founder of the Human Rights Defenders group that has been coordinating actions and popular organizing to confront settlements and occupation in al-Khalil, was recently seized by Israeli occupation forces with three of his colleagues in the #DismantleTheGhetto movement, Anan Odeh, Ishaq al-Khateeb and Younis Arar.

The four organizers, swiftly known as the #alKhalil4, were participating in a Land Day protest on Thursday 30 March when they were attacked by occupation forces. Following his release, Dwaik spoke with Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network about his experience under arrest and interrogation. He noted that he had previously been arrested, interrogated and jailed on multiple occasions, but that this experience highlighted intensified repression. In fact, only one month prior, on 24 February 2017, Israeli occupation forces had invaded Dwaik’s home and threatened him with arrest.

The four organizers were part of an action that involved planting olive trees, where they were attacked by settlers. Despite the attack, they continued marching to the center of their city of al-Khalil, which has been subject to forcible closure by the Israeli occupation and its settlers. As the demonstration continued, occupation forces declared the area a closed military zone and picked Dwaik, Dana, Arar and Khateeb out of the crowd of about 50, accusing them of participating in an “illegal demonstration.”

Dwaik noted the presence among the harassing settlers of the notorious Ofer Ohana, who was also present for the extrajudicial execution of Abdel-Fattah Al-Sharif by Israeli occupation soldier Elor Azariya. The murder of al-Sharif came to light as it was videotaped by Imad Abu Shamsiya, co-founder of Human Rights Defenders. Ohana was videotaped kicking a knife near the body of Sharif and referring to Sharif and his fellow slain Palestinian, Ramzi al-Qasrawi, as “the trash.” Dwaik noted that Ohana has threatened Abu Shamsiya and Dwaik and repeatedly harasses them as they carry out tours of al-Khalil with internationals.

The four were arrested under false pretenses, Dwaik said. They were accused of being in the street, said Dwaik, even though three of the four were standing on a grassy hill and one of the four, Anan Odeh, was off to the side of the road. At the present time, while the four were released on bail, they continue to face allegations in Israeli military court – where Palestinians are convicted at a rate of over 99 percent – of “disturbing the public peace of the area,” organizing an “illegal action,” attempting to escape from the army, and “blocking the street.”

Dwaik noted that he denied all allegations under interrogation and refused to sign any paperwork or confessions. He and his fellow organizers were taken by occupation forces to the Kharsina military camp near Kiryat Arba settlement. Dwaik, who has diabetes, was sent to a medical worker; he stated that he needed medicine for his diabetes, but that the medical worker gave him two cold tablets but nothing to address his actual medical condition.

Later, Dwaik reported, he was taken to Shaare Tzedek hospital from 11:00 pm to 3:30 am, during which he received medical tests. He was told that he would receive insulin, but when Dwaik explained that his diabetes is treated with medication, they told him they would sell him a tablet. However, they still did not provide his medication and he was instead told that he would receive medication in jail.

Dwaik was then sent to the Etzion detention center (jail), where he reported that he was subject to an experience seemingly designed for humiliation and subjugation. The jail officers demanded Dwaik strip down, including removing his underwear. As he refused to remove his underwear, the jail officers demanded him to repeatedly move about and stand up and sit down in an attempt to humiliate him. He was then told that he would be left there until the morning without clothes. However, when he still refused to remove his underwear, he was finally given his clothes and put in the room with his fellow detainees.

The conditions at Etzion and other detention centers, where Palestinians are often held under interrogation and prior to being transferred to the major prisons, have been repeatedly highlighted by former prisoners for their unsuitability for human life. Palestinian prisoners have even launched hunger strikes to demand to be moved to regular prisons and have repeatedly reported beatings and assaults in the Etzion jail.

When he arrived in Etzion, he was told that his belongings would be registered; however, the jailers refused to register his belt and instead confiscated it; Dwaik noted, “I have been arrested many times before, but was never ordered to remove underwear or had my belt confiscated.” Among his belongings was also 42 NIS ($11.50 USD), which was registered at the time. Dwaik noted that he was denied cigarettes despite being registered as a smoker; when he questioned this, he was told that he was “being punished” because he refused to remove his underwear the night before.

Dwaik particularly highlighted the unlivable conditions in Etzion. The room where he was sent contained five or six bunk beds, but the beds were blank and had no mattresses; instead, Dwaik said, prisoners are forced to fold blankets beneath them to serve as makeshift mattresses. These blankets, Dwaik noted, are unclean and pose a danger to health; they are used by many prisoners and are rarely washed. The Palestinians detained in Etzion are served leftover food from the army’s meals, often significantly later when the food is sparse and cold. The cells themselves are in a very poor condition and insects are visible inside the room, as well as mice and other vermin. “Some people get stuck in the detention centers for long periods of time, even 2 months, and it is a form of daily torture,” Dwaik said.

Dwaik noted that there are no books or recreation time for detainees held in Etzion, and that some other prisoners had reported the shower areas being closed for four or five days at a time. Despite the earlier interactions with medical staff, he still did not receive diabetes medication. Instead, he was told that he would be sent to Ofer prison in the afternoon.

He noted that Palestinian prisoners are often left without food because they are transported to the military court or from jail to jail during mealtimes; no replacement meals are provided. This is such a common problem that it is even included among the demands of Palestinian prisoners in the large hunger strike planned to begin on 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.

Ofer is a large Israeli prison and the only major Israeli occupation prison (rather than detention centers and interrogation centers) inside the West Bank. The prison has 10 sections of about 120 people each, for a total of approximately 1,200 prisoners, Dwaik reported. Most are political prisoners, but Palestinians arrested for “non-political” charges by the Israeli occupation – such as, for example, Palestinian workers seized for working inside Palestine ’48 without a permit – are also held in the prison. During his short time in Ofer, he was repeatedly transferred from one section to another. While in the prison, he saw a number of fellow Palestinian prisoners, including imprisoned BDS campaigner Salah Khawaja and youth organizer Hassan Karajah, both of whom greeted the international activists working for their freedom and that of their fellow prisoners.

The case of the four was brought before the military court in Ofer on Sunday, 2 April. While Dwaik and Dana were brought to the military court, he noted that their fellow #alKhalil4 detainees, al-Khateeb and Arar, weren’t even brought before the military court. During the hearing, the military prosecutor urged that the four be held for five additional days for further interrogation, stating that there is a “secret file against” Dwaik, the framework that is used to order Palestinians to imprisonment without charge or trial under administrative detention. Dwaik noted that this was also the first time that a “secret file” had been raised against him despite numerous arrests. While the military court judge refused to release the four – as demanded by their lawyer – he ordered them held only one more day and a new military court hearing the following day, Monday, 3 April.

He noted the degrading experience of waiting for a military court hearing to begin. “You are moving from room to room all the time and you are shackled hand and foot all the time. We had to wait on Monday from 8 am to 3 pm as we are handcuffed. They only take off the handcuffs when you’re in the military court, then they handcuff you again and shackle your feet. It is a system that is meant to humiliate,” Dwaik said.

Dwaik noted that on Monday, as he entered the military court in Ofer, he saw Palestinian student Kifah Quzmar, who was exiting the military court, having been ordered to six months in administrative detention. Quzmar told Dwaik of his sentence and expressed his greetings to the organizations and people around the world engaged in the campaign for his release.

In addition, Dwaik noted, some international observers in Palestine attempted to attend the military court hearing for the four, but were barred from entering. Journalist Amira Hass attended the hearing along with the representative of Defence for Children International in al-Khalil. In the military court hearing on Monday, the alleged “secret file” went unmentioned; instead, the military prosecutor now demanded 7,000 NIS ($1912 USD) from each of the four as bail. Dwaik stated that he does not have the money for such a high bail and that he would stay in jail instead; negotiations then ensued and a bail of 3,500 NIS ($956 USD) was set for each of the four. He noted that #DismantleTheGhetto campaigners and supporters donated to cover the bail, which was paid around 3:00 pm; however, the four were not released until 10:30 pm.

During their release, Dwaik noted, “they push you with their guns and don’t let you check that you even have your belongings.” He lost his belt, and the 42 NIS ($11.50) he had when entering prison was stolen. Throughout his time in Israeli jail, he never received any medicine for his diabetes.

Dwaik noted that “all of the Palestinian political organizations support the #DismantleTheGhetto campaign, and all of the NGOs that support human rights. This is why we were targeted, because this is a unified Palestinian campaign with many actions.”

“We need more work for the Palestinian cause and people to keep building support for Palestine. The #DismantleTheGhetto campaign in al-Khalil is part of these efforts,” Dwaik said. He stated that Palestinian prisoners need international support and that many will be launching a strike on 17 April, noting that Samidoun and other groups have an important role to play in building solidarity with the prisoners. “Palestinian prisoners are struggling for their dignity and freedom every day,” Dwaik said, “from the 13-year-old children like Shadi Farrah to the veterans who have spent 30 years behind bars.”

17 April, Toulouse: Rally for the Palestinian Prisoners!

13 April 2017

Monday, 17 April
4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Square du Général Charles de Gaulle
31000 Toulouse, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/601896656681838/

In Toulouse, Coup Pour Coup 31 calls for a rally and an information table, on Monday 17 April 2017 at the Square Charles De Gaulle from 4:00 pm. Come out to show your support for Palestinian resisters! Solidarity is our weapon! Palestine lives, Palestine will be victorious!

A Toulouse, Coup pour Coup appel à se rassembler autour d’une table d’information, le lundi 17 avril 2017 au square Charles De Gaulle à partir de 16h.

Soyons nombreux et nombreuses pour montrer notre soutien aux résistant.e.s palestinien.e.s !

La solidarité est notre arme !

Palestine vivra, Palestine vaincra !

17 April: International Day for Palestinian Prisoners

“There will be no peace until the last prisoner is freed” – Ahmad Saadat

Every year, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day is marked on 17 April. This international day for Palestinian prisoners is an occasion to pay tribute to the men and women locked up by the thousands for fighting apartheid, occupation, settler colonialism and the ethniccleansing of the Palestinian people. Their struggle for national liberation is repressed by the zionist state and its international supporters by all possible means. Confinement, torture, humiliation, intimidation of families, and prohibition of visits are all practices routinely used in an attempt to suppress the movement for a liberated Palestine.

The imprisonment of Palestinians impacts not only the prisoners, but their families as well. When someone is jailed, it is the whole family that is imprisoned as well: sharing economic difficulties, queuing up for ages for the visits and trials, denied contact and companionship.

Nearly every single family in occupied Palestine has at least one member who has spent time in Israeli prison. Prison holds a central place in Palestinian life and Palestinian resistance.

We must intensify the international solidarity movement on this day to highlight the resistance against Israeli occupation! The Palestinian prisoners have always played a leading role, not only in struggling to liberate themselves from prison, but as leaders of the Palestinian national liberation movement, organizing and struggling from behind the bars of the occupier’s prisons. For example, in 2016, the prisoners’ movement and an international mobilisation stood together to see Bilal Kayed released from administrative detention – imprisonment without charge or trial – after already completing his 14 ½-year sentence in an Israeli jail.

Palestinian prisoners represent the resistance of those confronting the oppression of the Zionist state. If we stand for Palestine, we must stand for its liberators, for those who organize the resistance : the Palestinian prisoners. 7000 are held captive, among them 300 children, and nd an significant number of students. Among those imprisoned students is Kifah Quzmar, arrested by Israeli occupation forces on 7 March. He was then subjectto interrogation for 20 days; he is now imprisoned without charge or trial alongside hundreds of fellow Palestinians under “administrative detention.”. Palestinian prisoners also include major political leaders of the Palestinian people, such as Ahmad Sa’adat, the general secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He was originally jailed by the Palestinian Authority in 2002, under U.S. and British guard, before the prison itself was attacked by Israeli occupation forces and Sa’adat and his comrades abducted; he has been a captive in Israeli prisons since 2006.

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese communist struggler fighting for Palestinian liberation, has been held in French prisons for 32 years and has been eligible for release since 1999 yet the French government refuses vigorously to release him. He must be considered a Palestinian prisoner as well – a struggler imprisoned for his involvement in the Palestinian resistance and liberation struggle.

On this international day of mobilization we demand :

* Freedom for all the 7000 Palestinian prisoners, including the approximately 550 detained in administrative detention and 456 sentenced for over 20 years

* Immediate lifting of the siege on Gaza

* End the occupation, colonization and ethnic cleansing

* Right of return for all Palestinian refugees

* Immediate release of Georges Abdallah

Issued by:

Coup Pour Coup 31, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

“Il n’y aura pas de paix tant que le dernier prisonnier n’aura été libéré.” Ahmad Saadat

Chaque année, le 17 avril marque la Journée des Prisonnier.e.s Palestinien.ne.s. Cette journée internationale pour les prisonnier.es palestinien.ne.s est une occasion de rendre hommage aux hommes et aux femmes enfermés par milliers pour avoir combattu l’apartheid, l’occupation, le colonialisme et le nettoyage ethnique du peuple palestinien. Leur lutte pour la libération nationale est réprimée par l’Etat sioniste et ses partisans internationaux par tous les moyens possibles. L’enfermement, la torture, l’humiliation, l’intimidation des familles et l’interdiction des visites sont des pratiques utilisées pour tenter d’étouffer le mouvement d’une Palestine libre.

L’emprisonnement des Palestinien.ne.s influe non seulement sur les prisonniers, mais aussi sur leurs familles, surtout les femmes. Lorsqu’une personne est emprisonnée, c’est la famille entière qui est également emprisonnée: partageant des difficultés économiques, faisant des heures d’attente pour les visites et les procès.

Presque toutes les familles en Palestine occupée ont au moins un membre qui est passé par les prisons israéliennes. La prison a donc une place centrale dans la vie et la résistance palestinienne.

Nous devons intensifier le mouvement de solidarité internationale ce jour-là pour rendre visible la résistance contre l’occupation israélienne ! Les prisonniers palestiniens ont toujours joué un rôle de premier plan, non seulement en se battant pour leur libération, mais en tant que dirigeants du mouvement de libération nationale palestinienne, organisant et luttant derrière les barreaux des prisons. Par exemple, en 2016, le mouvement des prisonniers et une mobilisation internationale ont permis de libérer Bilal Kayed de la détention administrative – emprisonnement sans inculpation ni procès – après avoir purgé sa peine de 14 ans et demi dans une prison israélienne.

Les prisonnier.e.s palestinien.ne.s représentent la résistance de ceux qui font face à l’oppression de l’Etat sioniste. Si nous défendons la Palestine, nous devons défendre ses libérateurs, pour ceux qui organisent la résistance: les prisonnier.e.s palestinien.ne.s. 7000 sont détenu.e.s en captivité, dont 300 enfants, et un nombre important d’étudiants. Parmi les étudiants emprisonnés, Kifah Quzmar, arrêté par les forces d’occupation israéliennes le 7 mars. Il était alors soumis à un interrogatoire pendant 20 jours. Il est maintenant emprisonné sans inculpation ni procès aux côtés de centaines de Palestinien.ne.s sous «détention administrative». Parmi les prisonniers palestiniens, il y a également les principaux dirigeants politiques du peuple palestinien, comme Ahmad Sa’adat, secrétaire général du Front Populaire pour la Libération de la Palestine (FPLP). Il a été initialement emprisonné par l’Autorité Palestinienne en 2002, sous garde américaine et britannique, avant que la prison elle-même ne soit attaquée par les forces d’occupation israéliennes et Sa’adat et ses camarades ne soient enlevés. Il est captif dans les prisons israéliennes depuis 2006.

Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, combattant communiste libanais luttant pour la libération palestinienne, est détenu dans les prisons françaises depuis 32 ans et libérable depuis 1999, mais le gouvernement français refuse vigoureusement de le libérer. Il doit être considéré comme un prisonnier palestinien aussi – un résistant emprisonné pour son implication dans la résistance palestinienne.

Lors de cette journée internationale de mobilisation, nous demandons:

* La libération de tous les 7000 prisonnier.e.s palestinien.ne.s, dont environ 550 détenus en détention administrative et 456 condamnés pour plus de 20 ans

* La levée immédiate du blocus à Gaza

* La fin de l’occupation, de la colonisation et du nettoyage ethnique

* Le droit au retour pour tous les réfugié.e.s palestinien.ne.s

* La libération immédiate de Georges Abdallah

Signataires :

Réseau de solidarité des prisonniers palestiniens Samidoun, Coup Pour Coup 31

15 April, Paris: Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners

13 April 2017

Saturday, 15 April
3:00 pm
Metro Jourdain
Paris, France
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/678719208979900/

At the church square of Metro Jourdain, we will symbolically commemorate the Place of Palestinian Prisoners as we approach the International Day of Solidarity with them on Monday, 17 April

The event will include a photo workshop, photo exhibition, wall of expression, music and political materials. The event is organized by various associations including Jeunes Communistes Paris Nord-est, GUPS, AFPS, Comite Palestine 19 and UJFP.

15 April, London: Palestinian Prisoners Day

13 April 2017

Saturday, 15 April
3:00 pm
Under Hungerford / Golden Jubilee Bridges on the Southbank (between London Eye and Southbank Centre)
London, UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1986958591533520/

To mark Palestinian Prisoners Day, Inminds human right group will, on Saturday 15th April 2017, hold a vigil on the Southbank of the River Thames in London to highlight the plight of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons, and to demand their freedom.

Figures for March 2017 show the Israeli occupation abducted 509 Palestinians last month, including 75 children, 13 women and 5 Palestinian MPs; and issued 111 administrative detention orders – indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial. Today here are around 6,500 Palestinians caged in Israel prisons including around 300 children and 62 women including 14 minor girls. Over 500 Palestinians are held without charge or trial indefinitely under administrative detention orders.

Inminds chair Abbas Ali said “The Israeli occupation is enforced by terrorising the indigenous Palestinian population; abducting its children; and imprisoning anyone who resists. In many cases the formality of a charge let alone a trial or even a set length of sentence are ignored – people are just locked up indefinitely on the whim of the colonizer. During interrogation physical torture, even of young children, is standard practice as is sexual abuse of children. Women have been electrocuted into submission, and some prisoners like Arafat Jaradat have died under torture. If they survive the interrogation then they face the military court and its ‘conveyor belt’ trial system with its ‘rubber stamp’ 99.74% conviction rate. In no other country in the world is such injustice law.”

Inminds chair Abbas Ali added “Some 20% of the Palestinian population of men, women, children and the elderly have been imprisoned by the Israeli military since 1967, every single Palestinian family has been effected. The prisoners form the cornerstone of Palestinian society, their suffering is felt in every home. We are here to show our solidarity with them and their families, and to demand their freedom from occupation dungeons. We are also here to demand that companies complicit in their suffering, like HP that provides the IT infrastructure for Israel’s torture dens and dungeons, end their complicity in these war crimes.”

Please join us on Saturday 15th April 2017 on the Southbank of the river Thames under Hungerford Bridge near the Southbank Centre.

If you support this activity please share this alert widely, thank you.

JazakAllah,

Abbas Ali

Inminds Palestinian Prisoners Campaign
www.inminds.com/caged

15 April, Berlin: Demonstration for Palestinian Political Prisoners

13 April 2017

Saturday, 15 April
3:00 pm
Rathaus Neukölln / Karl-Marx-Straße 83
Berlin, Germany
For more information: http://palaestina-solidaritaet.de/2017/03/30/berlin-sa-15-04-2017-kundgebung-zu-politischen-gefangenen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1854956604763820/

Organized by the Democratic Palestine Committees – Berlin

Every year, on 17 April, Palestinian prisoners, the Palestinian people, and supporters of justice and liberation for Palestine all over the world mark the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners.

This date is one of protests, rallies, marches, forums and actions to commemorate, support and build solidarity for the struggle of imprisoned Palestinians.

There are approximately 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners behind Israeli bars today: women, men, children and elders.

Nearly 600 of them are held in administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial, while others face military courts with a conviction rate of over 99%.

Hundreds of Palestinian children, as young as 12 years old, are held in Israeli prisons. Palestinian political leaders, including PFLP General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi, and Samira Halaiqa and 11 more members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, are held behind bars.

Among the Palestinian political prisoners are writers, scholars, journalists, students and artists.

This year, thousands of Palestinian political prisoners have announced that they will launch a hunger strike beginning on 17 April to achieve a list of demands, including an end to the prohibitions and cuts to family visits, proper medical care and an end to medical neglect and an end to isolation and administrative detention. This strike comes five years after the collective Karameh strike of 2012, and is once again a critically important struggle for justice.

The Day of the Palestinian Prisoners 2017 also represents the 40th day after the death of Basil al-Araj, a symbolic figure of the new Palestinian resistance. He was assassinated on March 6 by the Israeli army.

Call for the immediate release of all Palestinian political prisoners.

Demand that the US company Hewlett Packard (HP) end its contracts with Israeli jails and detention centers, occupation and security forces, checkpoints and settlements and immediately discontinue providing technology that Israel uses to suppress the Palestinian population.

Jedes Jahr am 17. April begehen palästinensische Gefangene, das palästinensische Volk und seine Unterstützer auf der ganzen Welt den internationalen Tag der Solidarität mit den palästinensischen Gefangenen.

Dieses Datum ist ein Datum von Protesten, Kundgebungen, Demonstrationen und Aktionen, um an den Kampf der inhaftierten Palästinenser zu erinnern.

Gegenwärtig sitzen etwa 7.000 palästinensische politische Gefangene in israelischen Gefängnissen hinter Gittern: Frauen, Männer, Kinder und Alte.

Fast 600 von ihnen sind in sogenannter Administrativhaft – eine Inhaftierung ohne Anklage, ohne Prozess, mit massiver Einschränkung des Besuchsrechtes.

Hunderte von palästinensischen Kindern unter 16 sind in israelischen Gefängnissen inhaftiert. Ihre Haftbedingungen unterscheiden sich nicht von denen der Erwachsenen, sie sind grausamer und entwürdigender Behandlung, darunter Folter und Einzelhaft, ausgesetzt.

Führende palästinensische politische Persönlichkeiten, darunter PFLP-Generalsekretär Ahmad Sa’adat, Fateh-Führer Marwan Barghouthi und Samira Halaiqa und 11 weitere Mitglieder des palästinensischen Legislativrates sitzen hinter Gittern.

Unter den palästinensischen politischen Gefangenen sind Schriftsteller, Gelehrte, Journalisten, Studenten und Künstler.

Für den 17. April 2017 haben tausende von palästinensischen politischen Gefangenen den Beginn von Hungerstreiks angekündigt, um Forderungen durchzusetzen, zu denen die Einstellung der Verbote und Kürzungen von Familienbesuche gehört sowie die Forderung nach angemessene medizinischer Versorgung und ein Ende der Isolations- und der Administrativhaft. Dieser Streik findet fünf Jahre nach dem kollektiven Karameh-Streik von 2012 statt und ist erneut von entscheidender Bedeutung im Kampf für Gerechtigkeit.

Der Tag der palästinensischen Gefangenen 2017 erinnert auch an den 40. Tag nach dem Tod von Basil al-Araj, einer Symbolfigur des neuen palästinensischen Widerstands. Er wurde am 6. März von der israelischen Armee ermordet.

Fordert die sofortige Freilassung aller palästinensischen politischen Gefangenen.

Fordert das US-amerikanische Unternehmen Hewlett Packard (HP) auf, seine Verträge mit israelischen Gefängnissen und Haftanstalten, Besatzungs-und Sicherheitskräften, Kontrollpunkten und Siedlungen zu beenden und die Bereitstellung von Technologien, die Israel zur Unterdrückung der palästinensischen Bevölkerung einsetzt, umgehend einzustellen.

15 April, Manchester: BDS protest: Manchester Day of Action for Palestinian Prisoners

13 April 2017

Saturday, 15 April
12 pm – 3 pm
Piccadilly Gardens
Manchester, UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/424909251209003/

From 14-24 April protesters around the world will be standing in solidarity with the struggle for a free Palestine and for the release of all political prisoners in Israeli jails. Join the 15 April BDS rolling picket in Manchester targeting shops and banks which collaborate with the occupation. As we write, British foreign secretary Boris Johnson is defending Israeli airstrikes on Syria and calling for an end to boycotts on Israel. The University of Manchester acting to ban pro-Palestine events. And British banks like Barclays fund the arms companies fuelling the occupation. British imperialism is part of the problem and we have a duty to act. Bring megaphones, flags, banners, placards and people!

Support the Palestinian call for action:

“Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all organizations and groups that support justice, liberation and Palestinian freedom to organize events from 14-25 April in support of Palestinian prisoners, the prisoners’ movement’s collective hunger strike and demands, and the demand to end security coordination. 2017 is a year in which we mark 100 years of the Balfour declaration and colonization; 70 years of al-Nakba; 50 years of extended and intensified occupation. This is also the year to struggle for Palestinian freedom and support liberation for Palestinian political prisoners!”

For more info on the prisoners check out the Samidoun website:
https://samidoun.net/

Manchester Boycott Israel Group – Victory to Palestine!
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) Manchester
RCG – Revolutionary Communist Group
Victory to the Intifada

www.frfi.co.uk

14 April, Vienna: Commemoration of the 40th day of the assasination of Basil al-Araj

13 April 2017

Friday, 14 April
6:30 pm
OKAZ
Gusshausstrasse 14/3, 1040 Vienna, Austria (near Karlsplatz metro)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/187418165107576/

Basil al-Araj represented a model of a political activist engaged in resistance despite a degraded political context. His writings moved beyond the despair of the present divisions and concessions toward a vision of resistance, freedom and liberation.

Basil al-Araj was assassinated by a Zionist death squad in full view of the pawns of the Palestinian self-rule “authority,” and while his body was detained by the occupation who refused to return him to his family to complete his burial, the forces of security coordination insisted on continuing with the trial of the martyr, along with a group of young strugglers already imprisoned in Israeli jails under administrative detention. Then Palestinian security forces suppressed the demonstration which rejected this trial of the martyr and his comrades and condemned security coordination with the occupation; they did not hesitate to beat protesters, including the father of the martyr, Mahmoud al-Araj. This event comes to honor and remember basil al-Araj and adhere to the growing call of progressive Palestinians to honor the martyr and denounce the murderers and their accomplish. We urge all friends and comrades in Vienna who knew the martyr Basil al-Araj in life or in death, and all who support the Palestinian liberation struggle, to join in the commemoration of the martyr Basil al-Araj on the 40th day of his assassination.

Organized by the Friends of Basil al-Araj in Vienna, in cooperation with Handala Palestinian Cultural Forum, the Palestinian Arab Club and OKAZ.

فعالية إحياء ذكرى أربعين الشهيد باسل الأعرج في فيينا.

السادسة والنصف من مساء الجمعة، 14 نيسان (أبريل) في قاعة المركز الثقافي العربي النمساوي (عكاظ) Gußhausstraße 14/3
الحي الرابع، بالقرب من محطة Karlsplatz

في كل مكان نقولها: لا للتنسيق الأمني! الخزي للمتعاونين مع العدو! عاشت المقاومة!

لقد مثل الشهيد باسل الأعرج حالة متقدمة في العمل النضالي الفلسطيني إذ قدم نموذجا للناشط السياسي كجزيرة مقاومة وسط سياق سياسي متآكل، وخطابا يتجاوز دواعي اليأس التي يقدمها الحاضر وحدود التقسيم التي فرضتها اتفاقيات التنازل ليؤسس لاستمرارية حركة المقاومة المتطلعة نحو المستقبل، نحو الحرية والتحرر.

اغتالت فرقة اعدام صهيونية باسل الأعرج في مخبئه في رام الله على مرأى ومسمع عساكر سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية، وبينما احتجزت سلطات الاحتلال جثمان الشهيد ورفضت تسليمه الى أهله لإتمام مراسم الدفن، أصرت سلطة التنسيق الأمني على محاكمة الشهيد مع ثلة من الشباب المناضل الموجودين أصلا في السجون الاسرائيلية بتهمة مقاومة الاحتلال. ثم قمعت عناصر الأمن الفلسطيني التظاهرة التي خرجت رافضة لمحاكمة الشهيد ورفاقه ومنددة بالتنسيق الأمني مع الاحتلال ولم تتوانى عن الاعتداء بالضرب على المتظاهرات والمتظاهرين ومنهم والد الشهيد، السيد محمود الأعرج.
وفاء لنهج المقاومة ولذكرى الشهيد، وانضماما إلى حراك القوى الوطنية والتقدمية في كل مكان (رابط لبيان 17 أبريل) للاحتفاء بنهج الشهيد والتنديد بالقتلة والمتواطئين ندعو كل الأصدقاء والرفاق في فيينا ،من عرفوا نهج الشهيد باسل الأعرج أو تعرفوا إليه عقب استشهاده، وكل المؤمنين بديمومة النضال العالمي ضد الاستعمار والصهيونية، إلى المشاركة في فعالية إحياء ذكرى أربعين الشهيد باسل الأعرج في فيينا.

السادسة والنصف من مساء الجمعة، 14 نيسان (أبريل) في قاعة المركز الثقافي العربي النمساوي (عكاظ) Gußhausstraße 14/3
الحي الرابع، بالقرب من محطة Karlsplatz

أصدقاء باسل الأعرج في فيينا

بالتعاون مع المنتدى الثقافي الفلسطيني (حنظلة)، نادي فلسطين العربي، والمركز الثقافي العربي النمساوي (عكاظ)

Take action:

Demands of the Strikers

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