Press Release: Israeli's treatment of International Peace Activists "appalling"

Below is a press release I have just received about the Peace Cycle's current situation.




PRESS RELEASE - please circulate
8th September, 2006, Israel

Israeli's treatment of International Peace Activists "appalling"

Twenty three men and women from the UK and Austria are getting a small but bitter taste of life under Israel's occupation of the Palestinian West Bank.

The peace activists, who have cycled to the Middle East as part of the "Peace Cycle" ride from London to Jerusalem, have had their passage through the West Bank hindered at every turn by the Israeli authorities. After an eight hour wait at the Allenby Bridge border crossing from Jordan on Wednesday, the cyclists were apparently allowed through only because the Israelis, "despite trying their hardest, could not come up with a legal reason to deport them", according to sources. Mohammed, a Palestinian man, who had cycled with the group all the way from London to Jordan, was taken away for interrogation. He was then driven to Jericho, without the other cyclists being informed of his whereabouts.

Since entering the West Bank, the rest of the group has experienced delay after delay at the numerous Israeli checkpoints dotted around the Palestinian territories. At each one, they have been told they cannot enter, although no valid or legal reasons have been given.

Yesterday the group of cyclists, which includes a British man in his 70's, were held for seven hours at a checkpoint close to Jenin, in the north of the West Bank. One of the cyclists was close to tears as she said; "we were treated so well in every country we passed through in Europe and the Middle East, but now we are being treated like animals - the Israeli soldiers won't even let us use the toilet or give us water".

The cyclists were expected at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin where they were due to perform a musical piece to the children of the refugee camp, using their bicycles as instruments. The Peace Cycle has raised funds for The Freedom Theatre but are now being prevented from delivering them. Later in their schedule they have planned to meet with the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, Bishop Riah, and Israeli peace activist Jeff Halper. However, despite being armed with nothing but bicycles, and calling for nothing but peace, their mission appears to be being thwarted by Israel and their plans are in disarray.

While the Peace Cyclists waited on one side of the Al Jalamal crossing, unable to enter the West Bank, Mohammed waited on the other side, unable to enter Israel. He shouted to the Peace Cyclists through a mesh fence 30m away, he told us that his ID card had been black marked and that once he returned to his town he may never be able to leave again. He now waits for the cyclists so that he can cycle with them back to his town. He wants to once again cycle alongside the Peace Cyclists in the way he was able to throughout Europe and the Middle East, but is being prevented from doing in his own country.

The Peace Cycle's mission is to call for the implementation of UN Resolutions and to work for peace for every person in Israel and Palestine, whether they are Jewish, Christian or Muslim, and to ask for all people in the region to be treated justly and fairly.

For more information, contact Laura Abraham, founder of the Peace Cycle,on +44-(0)-794-1056616.
www.thepeacecycle.org