8/2 Anti-War Committee Press Release: "Minnesota Activists Jailed in Israel"

For immediate release: August 2, 2009
For more information contact:
Jess Sundin at 612.272.2209
Meredith Aby at 612.819.3149

Minnesota activists jailed in Israel

Israeli security forces have refused entry to three U.S. solidarity
activists. They are being treated as criminals, while their only goal was
to learn about the reality of life for the Palestinian people. Sarah
Martin and Katrina Plotz have refused voluntary deportation, and are
appealing their case to the Israeli courts. We expect their case to be
heard today, and we urge supporters to take the actions below. The third
traveler, Karen Sullivan, was already deported and is on her way home to
Minneapolis.

Thousands of people have been denied entry by Israel, especially those who
wish to see the Palestinian Territories. Not only international solidarity
activists, but millions of Palestinian refugees living all over the world
are prevented from returning to their homeland. Israel's policy of denying
entry to people who support the Palestinian struggle and want to report on
the situation, is one aspect of a campaign to isolate the Palestinian
people from the world. This campaign includes hundreds military
checkpoints inside the Palestinian Territories, blocking humanitarian
shipments into the Gaza Strip, and the building of a massive Apartheid
Wall.  Palestinians experience repression every day.

Precisely because the official Israeli view receives much more widespread
coverage in the U.S. media than does the impact of these policies on the
lives of Palestinians, it is important that people like Sarah and Katrina
be able to go and report the situation accurately, and show the
Palestinian people that the world has not completely abandoned them.

In spite of its special relationship with the U.S., the Israeli government
showed no regard for the rights of American visitors, whose only crime was
to express solidarity with the people of occupied Palestine. Katrina, of
the Anti-War Committee, and Sarah, a member of Women Against Military
Madness, have refused to cooperate in the face of this injustice, and they
need our support.

If their appeal is denied, Sarah and Katrina will be deported. Karen
reported that she was escorted onto her departing flight by an armed
Israeli guard, and that she was interrogated upon re-entering the U.S. 
None of them should be treated like criminals.

Supporters from across the country are flooding Israeli and U.S.
officials’ offices with messages demanding the immediate release of
Katrina and Sarah, and that they be allowed into the country to witness
the reality of life inside the Palestinian Territories, where they have
been invited and are welcome.

Local members of the Anti-War Committee, Meredith Aby and Jess Sundin are
available for interviews. Also, husband of Katrina, Jon Plotz, is also
available for interviews at 651.796.4473. We hope that Karen Sullivan will
be available for interviews when she returns to home.