Friends,

Marwan is a friend of mine, we were at two nonviolent protests in the West Bank a couple of weeks ago.  I’m going to be uploading a video soon to YouTube that shows him explaining his commitment to nonviolence and his commitment to resisting the occupation.

Please go to Holy Land Trust’s Facebook page or http://www.holylandtrust.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=548&Itemid=90 and ENGAGE IN ACTIONS.

Peace,

Paul Alexander

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday – March 30^th, 2010

Israel Arrests a Palestine Network Founder in a Non-Violent Protest Against Israel’s Denial of Christian Right to Worship in Jerusalem

Ramallah – March 30^th 2010: The Palestine Network calls for the immediate release of Palestine Network Founding Member Marwan Fararjeh, PLO leader Abbas Zaki and all detainees and calls upon governments of the world for immediate pressure on Israel to suspend all acts of provocation by Israel including denying Palestinian Christians their right to worship in Jerusalem.

On Sunday, March 28^th, 2010, Palestinians, foreigners and Israeli peace supporters went out on a nonviolent protest in teh Holy town of Bethlehem against Israel’s denial of Palestinians from the West Bank to enter Jerusalem to pray at the Holy places of Christianity during Easter.

During the protest, a small group of sixty peaceful demonstrators managed to cross the Separation Wall before they were surrounded by armed Israeli  forces.  At no time were any members of the protest violent or threatening to the soldiers, police and private security contractors, even as they were being forcefully detained. The Israeli security forces arrested sixteen participants of the demonstration, including A Palestine Network Founder and A Holy Land Trust Nonviolence Team member Marwan Fararjeh and his colleague Ahmad Al Azzeh. They also arrested PLO leader Abbas Zaki, a member of the Fateh Central Committee, Fadi Hamad, an Associated Press photographer, seven more Palestinians, four Israelis and an international demonstrator.   While Israeli quickly released five non-Palestinian protesters, the eleven Palestinians were detained.

As of Monday, March 29^th we have received information that the eleven demonstrators are being held at the Ofar detention center near Ramallah, and will be held for four days.  The detained are reportedly in good spirits, and are grateful for the international support that they have received in challenging the occupation and its practices.

We call on the friends of Palestine to voice with their governments an urgent need for immediate steps to end the aggression on the people of Palestine, their land, and property.

Marwan Fararjeh A Palestine Network Founder arrested in a peaceful protest against Israel’s denial of the right of Christians to worship in Jerusalem during Easter.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors of the Palestine Network:

Ramzi E. Khoury
Executive Director

For more information, contact:
Palestine (Arabic or English): Ramzi E. Khoury, Executive Director -  ramziekhoury@yahoo.com
Latin America (Spanish): Mauricio Abu Ghosh, Chairman of the Board of Directors -  Mauro@tsar.cl
Europe (French): Nabil Hajjar. Member of Board of Directors – nabil.el-haggar@univ-lille1.fr
(Danish): Mohammad Ibrahim, Member of Board of Directors – mohamad.ibrahim@live.dk

Press Officer: Diana Al Zeer: +97 (0 or 2) 569590300

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The Palestine Network is an independent network of Palestinians and friends of Palestine from all over the world who are engaged in supporting the Palestinian National Project of an independent and sovereign Palestine with Jerusalem its capital. The Palestine Network was launched during its Founding Conference (Feb. 23rd – Feb. 27th) in Bethlehem, Palestine, with 90 representatives from 23 countries.Pale