Several Palestinian political prisoners near death

ACTION ALERT

Call US State Dept. to demand Israel free political detainees

(CHICAGO 05/08/2012) – At least six Palestinian political prisoners are near death after hunger striking for between 47 and 70 days, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. These six men, along with nearly 2,500 other political prisoners, are staging the strike to protest Israel’s use of administrative detention, and other abusive practices such as imprisoning children, solitary confinement, banning family visits, seizing all personal property and torture.

Administrative detention allows Israel to hold Palestinians without charge or trial on “secret evidence,” which is never shown to prisoners or their lawyers. The six-month terms can be renewed indefinitely and some prisoners have spent years in jail without charge or trial.

Thaer Halahla, 33, from Hebron, and Bilal Diab, 27, of Kufr Ra’i, Jenin, have not eaten or taken nourishment for 70 days, the longest-lasting hunger strike among Palestinians in Israeli detention. The Israeli Supreme Court rejected their appeals of their detentions on May 7, effectively sentencing both men to death.

Since 1967, Israel has arrested and detained nearly 20 percent -- or 700,000 -- of the Palestinian population in the occupied territories. Children are no exception. Since 2000, Israeli Occupation Forces have arrested at least 8,000 children, some as young as 12 years old, according to Addameer, a Palestinian prisoner rights group.

The American Muslims for Palestine believes we must stand in solidarity with these prisoners who are risking their lives for the sake of human rights for all. We must not allow their peaceful resistance to go unnoticed. It is our duty to answer their call by contacting the US State Department to ask then to intervene and force Israel to comply with international law by releasing political prisoners.

TAKE ACTION

The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) find the resounding silence by the United States to be absolutely deplorable and in direct contradiction to the values due process and also human rights, which we cherish.

AMP calls on its supporters to fast in solidarity with the prisoners. We also call on all those who support human dignity and social justice to call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, in the State Department and demand the US intervene to force Israel to release all political prisoners immediately.

• THURSDAY, MAY 10: Please join AMP in a day of solitary by fasting from sunrise to sunset.
• FRIDAY, MAY 11: National Call-In Day. Call US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffery Feltman from noon to 3 p.m. EST to ask the US to force Israel to comply with international lay by releasing all political prisoners.

CONTACT INFO

Call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs at 202.647.7209

TALKING POINTS

1. State your name and the city and state where you reside. Be polite but firm.
2. The fact that Israeli occupation forces deny due process to Palestinians is racist and Indicative of an apartheid state.
3. U.S. support of Israeli occupation in light of these facts hurts American interests abroad and threatens our national security.
4. The US should demand that Israel uphold the basic values of life, liberty and dignity Inherent to all human beings.
5. The US should demand that Israel release all Palestinian prisoners.
6. Once you call, please email AMP at [email protected] with Hunger Strike in the subject line. Please tell us when you called and what state you reside in.