Via: The Palestine Telegraph.
The Palestinians will not be left alone
We condemn the unacceptable and provocative stance of the Israeli police that has arrested a Greek woman, working in the Greek consulate in East Jerusalem, for daring to question (protest) the confiscation of the passports of the international activists that were in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah on a an informative tour of the area. The neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah is one of the neighborhoods of East Jerusalem that are attacked daily by police and settlers, with their only aim being to drive the Palestinians out of their homes. The illegal house demolitions, the violent evictions of families-who have been living in their houses for decades-and the illegal construction of settlements in place of those houses are an everyday phenomenon in the area. Creating a de facto demographic composition of East Jerusalem population is their plan.
The Palestinians are resisting in any way they possibly can, refusing to abandon their homes, even when those homes that are destroyed are replaced with protest tents which are centers of struggle and education on the issues of the occupation. It was this kind of a tent that 40 international activists, members of NGOs, visited to be informed and updated. According to the Israeli police this was considered an illegal gathering, who came to confiscate all the passports of the visitors and proceeded to write up a record of their personal details. The Greek diplomat, whose office in the Greek consulate is only a few meters from the tent, protested strongly against the police s unacceptable methods, they answered by taking her passport and arresting her and a rabbi-member of a human rights organisation.
There was immediate intervention by the Greek General Consul on her behalf and the Israeli authorities had to answer for this forceful disregard for diplomatic immunity, the woman was set free after a few hours.
Once again we have a clear indication of the importance of the international movement of solidarity, to deter Israeli plans, especially in these days when the Palestinians of East Jerusalem are being forced out of their homes by any and every means. There should be no witnesses while they carry out these plans; they aim to remove such annoyances in every way, even if they are diplomats.
This episode is a continuation of previous episodes that began with the incessant provocation by far right groups in the old city of Jerusalem, the new status quo at Ben Guirion airport in Tel-Aviv is to ask for peoples signatures that vouch they will not visit the West Bank,and the criminalisation of Palestinians that host international peace activists in their homes.
An overall effort for complete genocide and ethnic cleansing is underway.
We will, in every way we can, stand by the Palestinian people in their struggle for the prevention of their definite uprooting form their land. We will continue to travel to every corner of Palestine, as many as we can for as long as we need to.
We ask for every progressive person in our country to condemn these actions, to demand the Greek government stop its policy of approach with the murderous state of Israel, and with any opportunity to witness Palestine.
Athens, 28/10/09
Greek Association for Solidarity with the Palestinian People INTIFADA
