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Bir Zeit
Harrassment of Palestinian Students
Although the academic year began on 1 September 2003 constant and continued harrassment, humiliation, physical threat, attacks and harm to Bir Zeit University students and professors at the Israeli military checkpoint at the Palestinian village of Surda, have kept the University closed since 13 September.
The Israeli Army has, since early October, prohibited even pedestrians from crossing the kilometre long checkpoint situated near the village of Surda. The majority of staff and students, who live in Ramallah, have been forced to cancel classes and any activities. In addition, there has been a heavy curfew imposed by the Israeli Army on the town of Bir Zeit itself, which has prevented people from leaving their homes. Students have been forced to clear the streets of rocks and debris, student identification cards have been confiscated, students have been arrested, shots have been fired at unarmed people and sound bombs and tear gas have been thrown at them, Tanks and jeeps are located near the entrance to the University and roadblocks set up along the road at Surda to prevent access to it.
The Jewish people has long prided itself on being the “people of the book”, and as such, it is particularly shocking that the Government of Israel does not respect the desire to study of hundreds of thousands of young Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, thereby improving their lives and aspirations. These actions are carried out to break the Palestinian will and hopes for a better life.
European Jews for a Just Peace condemn wholeheartedly these actions, which have nothing to do with security for the State of Israel and are among the most reprehensible of the Israeli occupation.
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