Message from Neta Golan (Israeli activist at Arafat's besieged headquarters)
GUSH SHALOM Press Release 1/4/2002
GUSH SHALOM - pob 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033 - http://www.gush-shalom.org/
Press Release 1/4/2002
Message from Neta Golan
(Israeli activist at Arafat's besieged headquarters)
This evening we got a call from our fellow-activist Neta Golan, who
yesterday succeeded in entering Yasser Arafat's besieged headquarters.
It was only a short conversation, since the call broke off and could not
be resumed.
Neta Golan, who is known for her courageous solidarity
actions and has spent weeks in besieged villages, told that the mood in
the compound is good though the supply of food and water is running low
and in spite of the army's psychological warfare. Through loudspeakers
there are made constant threats and from time to time "shock grenades"
are lobbed. These grenades cause loud explosions but little physical harm.
She said, everybody there is steadfast and determined not to leave except
as free persons.
"I and my friends - international peace activists
from Italy, France, the US and other countries, some of them of Jewish
origin - have come here to act as a human shield in case of any IDF attempt
to break in. The government should know that among those determined to
face the soldiers unarmed and bar their way is also an Israeli from Tel-Aviv."
Neta Golan started to tell about members of the
International Solidarity Group, located in Beit Jala, who marched today
unarmed towards the Israeli tanks stationed there, and fire was opened
at them. Seven of them were wounded, one was taken to hospital in a serious
condition.
Then the call was abruptly cut off and could not
be resumed - as happened on several previous occasions.
Following are several phone numbers at which Neta
Golan and other members of the International Solidarity Group can sometimes
be contacted - all of them subject to frequent interruption and cutting
off:
972-(0)59-567800; +33-6-73865632 (French mobile phone); +33-6-61552019;
972-(0)52-642709; 972-(0)67-251268; 972-(0)55-559145; 972-(0)59-312574;
972-(0)67-270398; 972-(0)55-840767; 972-(0)814992; +39-3389773899 (Italian
mobile phone).
Further details:
Adam Keller, Gush Shalom spokesperson:
+972-3-5565804 / +972-56-709603