Urgent appeal—emergency response for Palestine

Following is a statement the Inter na tional Action Center issued March 14 following the Israeli seizure of Pales tinian political leaders from a prison compound in Jericho on the West Bank. After the seizures, 15,000 Pales tinians demonstrated in Gaza against the United States, Britain and Israel.

The International Action Center has learned today, March 14, that the Israeli military has illegally and in violation of international treaties assaulted a prison compound in Jericho on the West Bank, opening fire on guards and prisoners.

This illegal act was done in connivance with the British and U.S. forces that were obligated by international agreement to guard the prison compound and are responsible for the well-being of the prisoners. U.S. and British forces left the area just before the Israeli attack.

There are injured prisoners who have not been evacuated. The prisoners are suffocating from the fires and the fumes. Three Palestinians were killed, including at least one guard, Ibrahim Abu al-Amin, and 35 have been injured in the attack. Eight hundred children are confined to their school all day.

Among the prominent Palestinian prisoners seized is Ahmed Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Early reports on Al-Jazeera were that Saadat, though without arms, had taken cover inside the prison and was determined to fight rather than surrendering. As of noon EST the report is that the heavily armed Israeli force succeeded in seizing him.

The IAC joins the demands of the Palestinian organizations that the Israeli forces release all the prisoners and leave the West Bank and Gaza.

The IAC also holds the U.S. and British authorities responsible for the crimes committed at the prison compound in Jericho and responsible also for the safety of the Palestinian prisoners seized by the Israeli forces.

Free Ahmed Saadat
and all the Palestinian prisoners.

Free Palestine.

Call the White House 202-456-1111,
202-456-1414 or (+1-) 202 - 456 1111
The State Department 202-647-4000
Department of Defense 703-428-0711

Israeli Ministry of Defense:
Tele: +972 - (0)3 - 697 5540
+972 - (0)3 -697 5423
+972 - (0)3 -697 5349

Fax: +972 - (0)3 -697 6711

American Consulate, Jerusalem
Fax: +972 - (0)2 - 627 7230
E-mail: [email protected]

U.S. Embassy, Tel Aviv
Tele: +972 - (0)3 - 519 7575

State Department, Bureau of Near East Affairs, Office of Public Affairs
Tele: (+1-) 202 - 647 5150
(+1-) 202 - 647 6575

UK representatives: British Embassy,
Tel Aviv, Tele: +972 - (0)3 - 725 1222 Fax: +972 - (03) - 527 8574

Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Human Rights Department
Tele: (+44) - (0)207 008 3000

Demand the safety and immediate release of these political prisoners— prisoners that the U.S. is bound by international agreement to protect.