Ramallah, 18-05-07: Palestinian Minister of Information Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi condemned Israeli military violence against journalists, and international and Palestinian peaceful demonstrators in the West Bank today.
In the first of two separate attacks, Israeli soldiers assaulted 4 journalists and 3 non-violent Palestinian demonstrators at a weekly protest against construction of Israel’s Apartheid Wall. The protest took place in Bani Naim near Hebron, where 400 hectares of Palestinian land has been confiscated to build the Wall.
In the second attack, Israeli soldiers beat journalists and solidarity activists at a peaceful rally protesting at the site of another segment of Israel‘s illegal Apartheid Wall on land belonging to the village of Um Salamuna near Bethlehem. Two international activist were arrested.
Dr. Barghouthi stressed that these are yet more examples of Israel’s systematic use of force against peaceful demonstrators, this time also against journalists and internationals. He added that the non-violent popular movement against the Apartheid Wall will not be broken by Israeli violence and that it will continue until the Occupation ends and Palestinians achieve true independence.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip with air strikes, missiles and artillery fire, killing 7 Palestinians and wounding more than a dozen others. Dr. Barghouthi pointed out that that these operations did nothing to ensure the security of Israel but only escalated the level of violence in the Gaza Strip, where the internal situation remains difficult.
He added that the Israeli government knows the way to stop rocket fire aimed at Israel: by accepting the complete, comprehensive and reciprocal cease-fire that the National Unity Government offered two months ago. But Israel has refused and keeps refusing this offer, just as it is refusing the Arab initiative for comprehensive peace and chooses instead to intensify the violence against Palestinians in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He said that this behaviour proves there is no Israeli partner for peace.