(ENGLISH) "Whoever is fasting during Ramadan, will eat grass" (israeli army to Jenin people) News from Jenin area, Nov. 2003

Oct. 31, 2003: Palestinian student wounded with live bullet in the thigh (PCHR)

(See full PCHR reports in http://www.pchrgaza.org)

In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers fired at a Palestinian university student, Wassef Wasfi Ghaleb al-Khatib, 19, from Ya`bad village, southwest of Jenin, who was on his way to his university, wounding him with a live bullet in the right thigh.

According to PCHR`s investigations and the student`s testimony, at approximately 13:00, al-Khatib and 3 of his colleagues, including a girl, moved from their village towards their university in Nablus.

At approximately 15:30, when they were about to cross a settler bypass road towards Zawata village, west of Nablus, they were surprised by the arrival of an Israeli military jeep. The jeep stopped and an Israeli soldier got out of it. He ordered al-Khatib to come to him. The soldier checked al-Khatib`s ID card and ordered him to bring the ID cards and bags of his colleagues. The soldiers checked the ID cards and searched the bags. Soon, another Israeli military jeep arrived at the area. The soldier handed the ID cards to the officer of the second military jeep and ordered the 4 students to go to Beit Eiba checkpoint to get their ID cards. Al-Khatib shouted at the soldier who had gotten into the jeep, in order to ask him to allow the girl to travel to Nablus. Immediately, the Israeli soldier fired at al-Khatib, wounding him with a live bullet in the right thigh. A few minutes later, an Israeli military ambulance arrived on the site and evacuated al-Khatib to Beit Eiba checkpoint. A Palestinian ambulance arrived at Beit Eiba and evacuated him to Rafidya hospital in Nablus.

Nov 2, 2003: Collective puinishment (PCHR)

Israeli occupying forces have continued to close the roads leading to Jenin. PCHR`s field worker in Jenin reported that on Sunday 2 afternoon, a number of Israeli armored personnel carriers and military jeeps pursued Palestinian vehicles that were attempting to leave the town and dozens of Palestinian vehicles were held in al-Jabriyat area in the south of the town.

Nov. 3, 2003: Two palestinian boys wounded with live bullets in Sirris (PCHR)

At approximately 14:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Sirris village, an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority, southeast of Jenin. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps.

Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the boys, wounding 2:

1. Mohammed Jamil Khalil al-Akhras, 16, wounded by 2 live bullets in the right side and hand; and

2. Ashraf Nash`at Sharif `Awada, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.

Nov. 4, 2003: Low-down from Jenin (ISM)

Here is the low-down from Jenin: the city is surrounded, the roads in and out are ALL closed, there`s no work, no one has $$, there`s no way to bring in water, no way to take out the garbage, moral is rock-bottom and people can`t afford to celebrate Ramadan properly. In the Mayor`s own words, "The city is dying." The situation is so incredibly sad, and the sadness is multiplied, to me, by how truly cool the people here are.

Toronto man sues Israelis. Canadian activist held for 30 hours Blames his arrest on racial profiling (ISM, SPECIAL TO THE STAR)

Canadian political activist Mustafa Henaway testified in a Tel Aviv court yesterday he was the victim of racial profiling by Israeli police when they detained him for 30 hours last month without producing an arrest warrant.

The testimony was part of a hearing in a $6,700 suit Henaway has launched against the government of Israel. The 24-year-old political science major at York University accuses Israeli security authorities of false arrest, negligence and causing him emotional stress.

"Because of my ethnic background, I was clearly singled out and targeted," said Henaway, who spoke with the help of a Hebrew translator. "I looked like the archetype suicide bomber."

Attorney Shamai Leibowitz said yesterday`s proceedings marked the first time a foreign humanitarian worker had sued the Israeli government for false arrest and emotional abuse during questioning. The government plans to respond formally to the accusations within 45 days. No date has been set for a continuation of the trial.

Henaway arrived in the country July 8 as a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement, a group that brings in foreign nationals mostly from North America and Europe who agree to serve as "human shields" to protect Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza from the Israeli army.

Henaway spent most of his time in the West Bank city of Jenin, escorting Palestinians who were breaking curfew in an area known as a beehive of militant activity.

On Oct. 14, Israeli police and soldiers forced him to leave the West Bank, declaring the Palestinian village in which he was staying a "closed military zone.". The following day, as Henaway and two colleagues boarded a taxi in northern Israel, police appeared and took the Canadian into custody after noticing his visa had expired. "They just pulled up and said that I looked suspicious," he said.

Over the next day, Henaway was interrogated by agents of Israel`s Shin Bet security service as well as police, who accused him of involvement in terrorist activities. Henaway said his Israeli minders used demeaning insults like "Arab dog," but he wasn`t physically abused.

Henaway, a Toronto native, was released Oct. 16 but ordered to leave the country by today. Yesterday`s court proceedings were held to gather his testimony before his departure.

Leibowitz, who usually defends international activists against Israeli efforts to deport them, said Henaway`s suit could set a precedent that would force authorities to treat the activists differently.

"Dozens of them are arrested, and here is a guy who decided to sue, and not just take this abuse and go back to his country," he said.

At yesterday`s hearing, government attorney Yariv Ligumsky tried to expose inconsistencies between Henaway`s testimony and an affidavit he signed.

Nov. 5, 2003 Two palestinians arrested in Seilat al Harthiya (PCHR)

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin, and arrested 3 Palestinians from the Jaradat family.

Nov. 7, 2003: House demolitions (OCHA)

As reported by OCHA (Weekly Briefing Notes No. 27, 05 - 11 Nov, 2003 (http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/), 6 houses were completely demolished and one partially demolished today in Jenin town.

Nov. 8, 2003 (PCHR) (http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2154.shtml) Children killed by israeli army in raid over Jenin refugee camp

At approximately 5.30am, on Saturday, 8 November 2003, 7 Israeli tanks, 15 military jeeps, a military ambulance, 2 helicopters and 1 surveillance aircraft, moved into Jenin town and refugee camp, under cover of intense shelling. During this attack, 2 Palestinian civilians, including 1 child, were killed by Israeli fire:

- Mohammed Abdul Rahman Salah, 18, hit by a live bullet in the head

- Mwatez Wasif Mustapha Arouri, 16, hit by 2 live bullets in the chest and the shoulder.

In addition, other 4 more Palestinians were wounded, 2 of whom (7 and 9 years age) sustained serious injuries.

Children killed in raid over Burqin (ISM)

We`ve been taking eyewitness reports from Burqin village regarding the November 8th incursion that resulted in the deaths of Moafaz Wasif, 16, and Laith Mazen, 15. Five others were wounded by gunfire and several beaten.

SEE EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT (NOV. 30)

House demolitions (OCHA)

As reported by OCHA (Weekly Briefing Notes No. 27, 05 - 11 Nov, 2003 (http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/), one house were completely demolished today in Jenin town.

Nov. 12, 2003: 2 children shot in 2 days, 3 houses occupied by soldiers in Yamun (ISM)

ISM activists in the town of Yamun -- west of Jenin, where Israeli soldiers have imposed a curfew for the last two days -- (not to mistake with Yanoun, in the Nablus region) report that that a 13-year-old boy was just shot in his side by soldiers.

This is the second child shot in as many days (yesterday`s was 7 years old), despite that no one in the town is shooting back.

Three homes have been occupied by soldiers for the last two days, with the familes of each locked in one room of each house. In one case, 30 people are locked in one room, and soldiers have refused to allow food in, brought by both ISM activists and representatives from the Red Crescent (food was however delivered to another family yesterday). 6 ISM activists are present in the town, and are still attempting to assist the families in occupied homes.

The Wall is Partially Brought Down in Jenin (ISM)

After extensive planning and preparation, today the illegal Israeli Apartheid Wall was extensively damaged in the farming village of Zbooba, west of Jenin. The action was planned over the course of several weeks by
Palestinian farmers separated from their lands, the Jenin ISM (International Solidarity Movement) and other concerned individuals. Participating in the successful action were 200 Palestinians, 35 Israelis and 28 West Bank ISMers.

Participants departed from the Zbooba community center and marched peacefully to the Apartheid Wall, actually a fence in this region, at which time the planned direct action was initiated. Internationals and Israeli
activists cut thru the large razor wire protective fence and proceeded to cut the main fence, while pulling away cut parts using grappling hooks, ropes and digging bars. Despite the large presence of IOF, Israeli police
and Border Patrol from the outset, very extensive physical damage was inflicted on the fence and its razor wire enclosure. Amid sound / concussion grenades, tear gas and warning shots, activists opened up a 20-30
meter section of both fences completely, while also inflicting considerable damage on other sections. With soldiers kicking them thru the fence, activists finished the planned activity by completely severing a large
section of the main fence, then peacefully retreating into the larger crowd of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals. The IOF then proceeded thru the hole in the fence and fired many shots over the heads of the crowd, and were met only with a rousing chorus of "Free, Free Palestine!!!".

The action was completely non-violent thru its entirety and the resounding message was one of Israeli/ Palestinian solidarity.

Largely due to the pronounced Israeli presence, no participants were arrested or injured. The action was a complete success by all accounts, and most importantly the beleaguered Palestinian farmers declared it a victory against the tyranny of the Wall and attempts to isolate them from the larger world.

See photos of the action at ISM website, in The Wall is Partially Brought Down in Jenin (http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/12Nov03_22_57_02Jeninunknown.htm)

Nov. 13, 2003 (International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) providing the Security Update for today).

a) JENIN AREA REPORT

* Clashes with IDF in Birqin village

* Clashes with IDF in Al Yamun village, 1 Palestinian, 16 years old, injured

* Laith Suboh, 15, passed away from injuries sustained last Saturday

* Musharaf Younis of Jenin Refugee Camp, was deported from Israeli

prison to Gaza

b) PALESTINE STATISTICS second week 2003 (OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes No. 27, 5 - 11 Nov 2003)

These are numbers for the whole occupied territories during past week:

1. Casualties

Palestinians: 18 deaths, 31 injured
Israelis: 0 deaths, 1 injured

2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams

Denial of access: 5 incidents (in one incident an injured woman died as a result)
Delay (45-120 min.): 2 cases
Attack/abuse of ambulances and staff: 1 incident
Damage/Shooting at ambulance: 6 incidents

3. Curfews

Curfews were reported in the following locations: Jenin city, Jenin refugee camp, Beit Rima, Deir Ghassana, and Kafr Ein (2 days), Maithaloun, Jalbun, Marda, Kafr ad Dik, Deir Sharaf and al Yamun (1 day)

4. House demolitions

Demolished: 27
Partially Demolished: 10
Other: 1 dental laboratory and 1 farm house

5. Landlevelling/confiscation

IDF confiscated orders for 424 dunums (104.77 acres) of fertile farm land in Bardala and Kardala in Tubas district.

Nov 18, 2003 ISM takes reports on the deaths of children Moafaz Wasif and Laith Mazen 10 days ago in Burquin (ISM, quote from palsolidarity mail)

"We`ve been taking eyewitness reports from Burqin village regarding the November 8th incursion that resulted in the deaths of Moafaz Wasif, 16, and Laith Mazen, 15. Five others were wounded by gunfire and several beaten.

(...) For "Moafaz Wasif, Sixteen" by Ethan and other ISM reports and volunteer journals, please see: http://www.palsolidarity.org/reports/journals_reports_main.php"

SEE EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT (NOV. 30)

Nov 23, 2003: Ten-Year Old Brahim Jalamni Shot and Killed in Jenin 2 (Ethan, ISM. See full reports and related photos at http://www.palsolidarity.org/reports/writings/23Nov03_17_42_38JeninEthan.htm)
On the afternoon of November 22, at approximately 2:30 PM, Israeli military forces launched an incursion into east Jenin that resulted in the death of ten-year old Brahim Ahmed Ali Jalamni.

Anti-apartheid wall demonstration in Barta (ISM)

The Israeli incursion coincided with a pre-planned anti-Apartheid Wall demonstration in the Barta village region of the Jenin district that took ISM Jenin volunteers several kilometers away from the scene of Brahim`s death.

Bulldozers destroy forests east of Jenin (ISM)

From eyewitness accounts: Israeli bulldozers, jeeps, and armored personnel carriers arrived in east Jenin, and the bulldozers began destroying a forested region bordering the east side of Shakaria road. Upon arrival at this urban-rural interface where Palestinian homes stand amongst groves of trees, Israeli forces engaged Palestinian resistance fighters who were firing from a position to the west and above the Israeli forces.

Nov. 30, 2003: REPORT ON WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE ISREALI ARMY IN THE JENIN REGION OF THE WEST BANK, OCCUPIED PALESTINE

Murder of two children on Nov. 8th, 2003 in Burqeen village, shot by Israeli soldiers shortly after 12:00pm. The Israeli Army also injured 6 others in the attack(ISM, www.palsolidarity.org)
Compiled by ISM Jenin, with the testimonies of eyewitnesses, victims and family statements of the deceased. First names are used to maintain the safety of the witnesses and the injured. All of the testimonies, except for Laith`s mother`s statement (she spoke English), were translated on site.

The army arrived into town just after the noon prayer was heard from the mosque. The children were all on there way home from school. At first, an armored personnel carrier (APC) drove into the centre of town and began crushing cars. Then two army jeeps followed. The soldiers exited their vehicles and right away opened fire at everyone on the street.

Burqeen is approx. 6,000 people. It is just south of Burqeen Valley, on the other side of the hills from Jenin.

- Moataz Wasif (age 16), was shot by an Israeli soldier, and died immediately.
- Laith Mazen (age 15), was shot by an Israeli soldier, and died from his injuries on Nov. 12 in the hospital.
- Naseem, Male Child (age 16) & Majdee, Male Child (age 15) & Mussab, Adult Male (age 20): All three were beaten with M-16 guns and kicked by the Israeli Military, tied up & blindfolded, and taken to a military base, threatened that they would be killed at gunpoint, force fed grass and water during fasting for Ramadan, then abandoned in Jabriette forest, out side Jenin.
- Ryad, Adult Male (age 35), was injured by a gunshot wound in the abdomen.
- Rawdah, Adult Female (age 55), was injured by shrapnel in the hand, and lost parts of two fingers.
- Abdallah, Male Child (age 14), was hit with four pieces of shrapnel, logged into his chest.

Eyewitnesses testimonies

- Mouayah, shop owner in Burqeen, witness of the army attack in the town centre: "The tank (APC) entered first, then after the two jeeps arrived. The tank was crushing cars, then the soldiers from the tank started to shoot with their own guns. The soldiers came out of their jeeps and opened fire at people with their guns. They started to shoot the water tanks on the roofs up there. 6 cars crushed right here. We were all scared in the shop and hid back here behind the wall. There were over 15 soldiers, and they were only here for 30 minutes."

- Jameel, 33 year old male, a shop owner in Burqeen, witness of the army attack and shooting of Laith Mazen: "The Israeli army came in right here (his shop is right at the town centre). It was 12:00 and all the kids were on their way back home from school. First the APC arrived and began crushing cars. Some kids started throwing stones. I saw one jeep at the corner. When the jeep arrived, all of the soldiers got out of the APC and the jeep. There were about 20 soldiers. Everyone the army saw, they shot at. When the soldiers started shooting, Laith ran away. He was not throwing rocks. The soldiers ran after the child and shot him through his back, out through his chest. He was only 30 meters from them when he was shot. He tried to run for safety around the corner, but collapsed as he reached the corner. He was carried to a house and stayed there for 30 minutes, because the army refused to let the ambulance through to carry him to the hospital. Two days ago, some kids from another village were threatened by some soldiers on their way to Burqeen school. The soldier said: "let your friends in Burqeen know that we will be coming into town to make them act polite, so they don`t throw stones at us".

Ryad, 35 year old male, was working in his shop down the road from the town centre, when the Israeli army entered the village, at the town centre. He was 200 meters from the soldiers when one of the soldiers shot him in the abdomen with an M-16. "I quickly closed up my shop, as I usually do when the army arrives, I knew they were here because of the children yelling and because I could hear the tank, but this time was different. When I looked down the street, the APC was crushing car after car. It was like a play, this is the first time I have seen them act in this way, such an unusual way. As the tank continued to crush cars, some children threw rocks at the APC. As soon as the APC stopped crushing many cars, all of the soldiers jumped out and started shooting at anything that moved. Because it was heavy shooting, everybody tried to find a way to hide, to go home. I tried to go near to the wall for safety, but still looking out of curiosity. One of the first scenes I saw, was four soldiers chasing the young boy, Laith, down the road towards me. Soldiers from a near distance were shooting many bullets at him. One of the soldiers was shooting into the tree above. Branches from the tree were falling all over the road. Other soldiers were shooting at the ground. One soldier was shooting at Laith, and the soldiers were very close to him. I saw Laith go around the corner, so I couldn`t see if he was shot or not. Just looking at the scene, I was shot in the abdomen.

Mazen, Laith`s father, was right there when I announced I was hit. I lifted up my shirt to show him. Mazen went to the other side of the road to get his cousin`s car for help, but the soldiers kept firing. I tried to cross the street, but they were shooting too much at me. A bullet shot right in front of my face. For 20 minutes, they kept shooting, while I was bleeding. One of my neighbours from my side of the road helped me over fences and through yards, until we reached the main road, so that I could make it to Jenin Hospital. My intestines were injured. I spent two and a half hours in surgery. I spent one week in the hospital. I will take at least three months to recover. Many soldiers shot that day, but only one of them shot to kill. In two minutes, I saw him shoot at Laith, shoot down the road to kill Moataz and then he shot me. My wife was also shot at, coming from work, from another direction. They shot at her in the taxi, 20 cm away from her head. It`s like a drama, soldiers started shooting randomly at every moving target, and it`s not normal."

Witness, Mazen, Laith`s father, showed us where he was standing when the attack took place. He suffered minor injuries to his hand from shrapnel. "I was standing right in front of Ryad when he was shot. (Down the road from the town centre, in view. Shrapnel grazed my hand (he pointed to his scar on his right hand). Even when Ryad was shot, they kept shooting. They shot at the car to prevent assistance to a hurt man. The soldier was shooting to kill, above the waist, not below at the legs. The soldiers were 25 meters away from my son when he was shot."

I sat with the family of Laith Mazen, who died in hospital four days after he was shot. His father, Mazen, invited us into their home. It took some time for his mother to understand the reasons for our visit. She said: "Why are you here asking questions about my son`s death? Do you think that your questions will change anything? Can you find the soldier who killed my son? Do you know that many people have come before you to ask questions about the killing of my son? Do you think your questions will make a difference, because they definitely will not bring back my son?"

(...) I told her that many people back at home are fed lies through various forms of media about Palestinians and the Israeli occupation, and do not know the truth about the war crimes that are committed here by the Israeli army. She was quite surprised by this and thought that everybody knew the crimes the Israeli army and government are committing, but didn`t care enough to pay attention or do anything about it. I told her that when I returned home, I would try to educate people about the truth, and hoped that some people would listen and want to do something about it.

She wanted to tell me about her son`s death: "To be honest, I feel that they (the soldiers) came to kill that day. It was not like all the children were throwing rocks. Many days, the army jeeps pass, and kids throw stones. When you hear that kind of shooting, you know that they have come to kill. One man (soldier), shot three. The same man (soldier) killed my son and Moataz and injured another. Three guys from Burqeen were also beaten. They came to beat them with shoes and guns. And because of Ramadan, they were fasting. The soldiers ordered them to eat grass, ordered them to drink water. The soldiers told them: "Whoever is fasting during Ramadan, will eat grass." I am lucky because I have only lost one child, some mothers loose two or three. Last year they killed his cousin (her husband`s), and shot him many times in the chest. They said he was a "wanted" person, but no he was not. They want to kill. The kill is in their blood. They shot my son here (in the back) and it came out here (out the chest). They shot a special bullet to explode in the body."

Her husband, Mazen, added: "All the people here are very peaceful. There are no wanted people in this village."

She continued: "If you want to do something for people here, do something for the children. My daughter there, who is just three, has been sick with a fever, and you know how children talk in their sleep with a fever, and she yelled out in fear "yahoodi, yahoodi, they are shooting". And my son here, who is very active, is no longer, he does not move much since his older brother died, he is in shock."

(...) Layla, 45 year old mother, who tried to save Moataz Wasif. "While I was in the kitchen, my son came running in and said: "There is a tank crushing cars. There was a shooting." My son quickly tried to close the door and said: "they killed him!" My son tried to prevent me from going outside, but I went out to help the boy. Moataz had just been dropped off by the taxi from Jenin into the middle of the situation. He had been in Jenin visiting his aunt, and was wearing his new clothes for Ramadan. When I went out, I didn`t look both ways, I just went towards the boy. The shooting didn`t stop. When I reached him, I said, "get up". He didn`t move, so I rolled him over, but he was already dead. I thought maybe he had just fallen. People were shouting at me because the shooting didn`t stop. They were still shooting at me, so I hid behind the tractor to be safe. I was screaming in shock, and the woman from the house across the road, pulled me inside the house. There were ten women in that house giving condolences. They helped me to safety.

Witness, Zakayah - 43 year old woman, who also received minor injuries on her arm from shrapnel. She showed us the dress that she had been wearing with a big hole in the sleeve, as well as the marks from the shrapnel. She also pointed out the bullet hole in the window frame and the bullet hole in the wall when the soldiers shot at the woman standing in the window screaming. "Moataz was coming from his Aunt`s house in Jenin, he was trying to go to his house down the side road, but soldiers were shooting down the street from both directions. He was shot by the soldiers at the top of the road. There was a boy with Moataz who tried to pull him to safety once he was shot. One of the women here was shot in the fingers at this window. The soldiers opened fire on our house, when all the women here began screaming. They shot through the window (she pointed to the damage). There were 8 children in the house. I went outside the door to help the a woman into our house. When I was back inside, I felt burning on my arm and noticed I was hurt."

Witness - Rawdah, Adult Female (age 55), was injured by shrapnel in the hand, and lost parts of two fingers. Her hand was bandaged up. She showed us the x-ray of the fingers that were missing. "I was at the window upstairs when the shooting began, and tried to run downstairs, I saw him get shot, but could not exit the house, because it was too dangerous. Zakayah`s brother`s condolences service was at house when it happened. I saw Moataz walking, behind him a young boy. No stones were being thrown. Soldiers were hiding behind the telephone pole up the road shooting down. Moataz tried to go the other way and then I saw him get killed. He fell on the trolley, one foot high, when he was shot. I ran back upstairs. When I looked out the window and screamed out the window, I heard the sound of bullets go by my ear, and as I moved, shrapnel hit my hand. One of the local cars drove me down to the square, where the APC was parked, but they left me bleeding inside the ambulance for 1 hour, because the soldiers said that I was resisting. My sister went to the hospital in a different way, and beat me to the Jenin hospital. That day, they killed in cold blood. They burned my heart. All of the shooting took 5 minutes. The soldiers had asked some children two days ago: "when will the children get out of school, so we can punish them for throwing stones".

Boy, age 15, kidnapped and injured from being beaten and kicked by the soldiers. I was in the square when the soldiers came. Some kids were throwing rocks, but I tried to run away. Two soldiers chased me, caught me, and dragged me by the arms to the jeep, and tied up my hands behind my back. A soldier hit me with his M-16. He put his foot on my neck and threatened me that he will shoot me in the head. They took us (him and two others) to Arabi (military base 17 km away). At the base, one of the soldiers put a gun to my head and said: "I will count to three then kill you." After two, another soldier said: "he`s too young to shoot him". They spoke to us in Hebrew. We were blindfolded the whole time and they took pictures of us. They forced us to eat grass and drink water. Then they drove us to Jabriette forest and left us there, after 5-6 hours."

He had severe swelling in his right eye, cuts across his left cheak and bruises on his body from the beating and kicking. His mother showed me the doctor`s note that read: The patient came to the eye dept at Jenin hospital. We checked his right eye. As he stated, he was beaten by one of the isreali soldiers.