CPTnet
May 17, 2004
HEBRON URGENT ACTION: Israeli High Court to hear Greg Rollins' petition on
May 20. Send faxes to Israeli ministers.
Christian Peacemaker Teams member Greg Rollins (Surrey, BC) is awaiting the
result of a petition to the Israeli High Court charging "contemptuous
violation of a court order." Rollins was the center of a case before the
Israeli High Court last year challenging an Israel military order barring
all Israelis and internationals from Palestinian-controlled areas. The
order was rarely enforced but had a chilling effect on the work of Israeli
and international peace groups.
Rollins was arrested under the terms of this order while observing the
detention of a large number of Palestinian men in Hebron. The ruling on his
case stated that the military order was too broad and should not be enforced
in the absence of any specific illegal activity.
Sani Khoury, with the law firm of Kuttab and Khoury said, "Our settlement
[regarding last year's case] is in writing and has the force of a court
order. It says that there are no restrictions on Greg's entering Israel,
any past restrictions in Interior Ministry computers must be removed,
previous [attempted deportation] proceedings will not be held against him
--no restrictions."
However, Rollins was denied entry to Israel at the Ben Gurion airport on
March 11, 2004. Representatives of the Interior Ministry admitted that they
had no reason to deny Rollins entry into Israel, but the Israeli security
services labeled him a security threat and claimed they had new reasons for
denying him entry.
On May 20th at 9am, the High Court petition will be heard and the Israeli
security services must present to the judge their reasons for denying
Rollins entry into Israel.
Jonathon Kuttab, with the law firm of Kuttab and Khoury, said, "The Israeli
government needs to keep the promise that they made. They need to be a
friend of people who want peace. Preventing non violent peace advocates
from entering only allows extremists on both sides to prosper."
Please fax the Israeli Justice Ministry's State Attorney's Office as well as
the Israeli Foreign Minister and Interior Minister to request that they
allow Rollins to re-enter the country. A sample fax is provided below.
---------------------------------------------
SAMPLE FAX:
Inav Golomb
Justice Ministry
State Attorney's Office
Fax: 011-972-2-646-6655
and
Silvan Shalom
Foreign Minister
Fax: 011-972-2-530-3367
Email: sar@mfa.gov.il
and
Avraham Poraz
Interior Minister
Fax: 011-972-2-670-1628
Email: sar@moin.gov.il
(date)
RE: ENTRY OF GREG ROLLINS, CANADIAN ADVOCATE OF NONVIOLENCE
Dear (add the name from above):
On May 20th the Israeli High Court will hear a petition pertaining to why
the Israeli government is not upholding a court order. As you know, Mr.
Rollins was the subject of a High Court case last year, where the final
court order determined that he presented no security risk to Israel and
should be free to come and go without restriction.
Mr. Rollins has been a strong advocate of nonviolence in Hebron, and by his
example and influence must be seen as a constructive presence in the West
Bank.
Blocking the entry of Mr. Rollins is against the best interests of Israel
and makes it appear as if Israel does not want a reduction of violence in
Hebron.
I urge you to uphold the previous court order and permit Mr. Rollins to
enter Israel immediately.
(Signed)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jun 01 2004 - 09:29:09 EDT