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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT (ISM)
Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians (GIPP)
Sunday, October 27, 2002
For Immediate Release

MASSIVE ISRAELI SETTLER ATTACK ON FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS IN PALESTINE
Number of Internationals Injured and Hospitalized

[Yanoun, Nablus] Militant Israeli settlers attacked a group of
international volunteers working with Palestinians to harvest olives
in the olive groves near the Palestinian village of Yanoun.

Immediately after a Palestinian operation in the Israeli settlement
of Ariel in the Israeli- occupied Palestinian Territories that
killed two Israeli settlers and soldiers, a group of about a dozen
armed Israeli se! ttlers spotted the workers from their settlement
(which is illegal under the Fourth Geneva Conventions), and
descended upon the international volunteers, kicking, punching and
beating them with stones and rifles butts. The internationals were
out in front of the Palestinian workers, trying to protect them from
the settlers. The injuries are as follows:

James Deleplain - US citizen, 74 years of age - repeatedly hit in
the face, wound under his left eye and massive swelling, kicked in
the back and both the right and left rib cage, with a possible
broken rib. James had pneumonia two weeks ago and has been coughing
since, therefore the beating, especially in the rib cage has left
him in a very weak state.

Mary Hughes-Thompson - US and British citizen, 68 years of age -
repeatedly hit in both arms. Possible broken arms. Speaking to
Mary while she was on her way to the hospital, she stated "I am convinced they were trying to kill me."

Robbie Kelly - Irish c itizen, 33 years of age- beaten in the face
and body with rifle butts. Swollen mouth, bruised ribs and 7
stitches in his left ear.

Omer Allon- Israeli citizen, 24 - cuts and gashes in both legs and
bruises all over his body.

Also the internationals' money and passports were stolen by the
attackers, all of whom were of teenage years according to the
volunteers. Palestinians in the area may have also been attacked
but we don't have concrete information yet.

Over 100 international volunteers are in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories as part of the International Solidarity Movement's (ISM
and GIPP) Olive Harvest Campaign. For more information about this,
please see www.palsolidarity.org . Internationals and Israelis have
been providing a continual presence in the village of Yanoun, due to
constant Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian villagers and their
property. Last week the villag! ers of Yanoun left the village, not
able to withstand the repeated attacks and denied protection by the
Israeli police and military. They only returned a few days ago
accompanied by Israelis and internationals, hoping monitor, witness
and protect.

Injuries are being treated at Lijnat il-Zakaat Hospital/Clinic in
Aqraba: +972-(0)9-259-8550.

For more information:
Sami Hayek: +972-(0)67-758-947
Robbie Kelly: +972-(0) 628-476
ISM office: +972-2-277-4602

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The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People
64 Star Street, P.O.Box 24
Beit Sahour - Palestine
Tel: 02-277-2018
www.rapprochement.org
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The center is a non-profit making NGO, started in 1988 during the first Intifada.
PCR runs community service programs, youth empowerment and training programs.
PCR is also very much involved in the non-violent resistanc! e against the Israeli Occupation to Palestine.