Palestine & Israel

Collected Quotes

“If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention”
January 22, 2004

Rachel Corrie, 23, before she was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza Strip, March 16, 2003. ( REUTERS) The driver dragged his blade over her a second time while reversing back over her body. Corrie died of skull and chest fractures. (International Solidarity Movement)168

Students killed216
Students injured2,514
Teachers killed17
Teachers arrested71
Primary and secondary schools, 2001-2002 school year, Palestinian Ministry of Education (July 2002) 170
One Man, One Vote. Since Israel has de facto annexed the territories, and there is now just one political entity between Jordan and the Mediterranean, we want majority rule. 78

Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times (October 16, 2002). By 2010 there will be more Palestinians than Jews living in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza combined.

John Reese (Seattle Community Activist Network)

It’s the longest red light in the world. 165

John Reese, describing the check point crossing a settler highway at Khan Younis, Gaza (May 9, 2003). The intersection is open to Palestinians twice a day for one hour. Reese has traveled for 7 months in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and the Palestinian Hydrology Group.

Violence against Human Rights Workers by Israeli Soldiers on the Rise 166

International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Handout (April 2003)

British Peace Activist Tom Hurndall, Shot in Rafah, Gaza (International Solidarity Movement)169

Raffaele Ciriello, Italian photographer, killed by an Israeli soldier, March 13, 2002
Harald Fischer, German doctor, killed by an Israeli helicopter, November 13, 2002
Iain Hook, British UN worker, killed by an Israeli soldier, November 22, 2002
Caoimhe Butterly, Irish ISM worker, shot by an Israeli soldier, November 22, 2002
Rachel Corrie, American ISM worker, killed by an Israeli army bulldozer, Mar 16, 2003
Brian Avery, American ISM worker, shot by an Israeli soldier, April 5, 2003
Tom Hurndall, British ISM worker, shot by an Israeli soldier, April 11, 2003, died January 13, 2004 166,168

Casualties among foreign workers in Palestine (April 2003) 

We internationals stick out like sore thumbs. It’s murder. Our government should be outraged. 165

John Reese (May 9, 2003)

The aim is to deport any foreigner who supports us. We consider these people to be international witnesses to the suffering of the Palestinian people. 166

George Rishmawi, a co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement and Coordinator for the Rapprochement Centre, discussing an Israeli army raid of the ISM office in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour (May 11, 2003). American Christine Razowsky, Australian Miranda Sissons, and Palestinian Fida Gharib were arrested. The foreigners were charged with entering a restricted military area.

It is unacceptable because military forces have obligations, and if they are in occupied territories, as the Israeli forces are, under international law they have clear obligations. 166

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, responding to a new Israeli demand that all foreign nationals entering the Gaza Strip sign a waiver exempting Israel from any responsibility if they are killed or injured (May 9, 2003)

To keep 3.5 million people under occupation is bad for us and them. This can’t continue endlessly. 172

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, referring to Israel’s 36-year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza (May 26, 2003)


Footnotes

78 “Campus Hypocrisy,” Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times, October 16, 2002, pg. A27.

168 “Israeli Bulldozer Driver Murders American Peace Activist,” Nigel Parry and Arjan El Fassed, The Electronic Intifada, March 16, 2003.

165 John Reese, “Palestine: It’s Hell” Tour, Madison, WI, May 9, 2003.

166 “Violence Against Human Rights Workers By Israeli Soldiers On The Rise,” International Solidarity Movement, Seattle, Washington, April 2003.

168 “Israeli Bulldozer Driver Murders American Peace Activist,” Nigel Parry and Arjan El Fassed, The Electronic Intifada, March 16, 2003.

169 “Israeli Soldier Shoots British ISM Activist Tom Hurndall In Gaza,” The Electronic Intifada, April 11, 2003.

170 “Right to Education in Palestine,” Palestine Now, Grassroots International, September 24, 2002.

172 “The ‘New’ Ariel Sharon Leaves Israelis Mystified,” Ravi Nessman, Associated Press,
The Capital Times, Madison, WI, May 28, 2003, pg. 7A.

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