PRESS RELEASE

Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron
For Immediate Release, 29 May 2008
CPT Contacts: office 011-972-(0)2 222 8485
Email:cptheb@palnet.com,
For more information visit http://www.hebronorphans.blogspot.com

Act Now! Stop the Closing of Orphanages and Schools in Hebron by the Israeli Military

Breaking News:
In his meeting on May 21st with members of the Steering Committee for Supporting the Orphans, Mr. Jawad Bulos, lawyer for the Islamic Charitable Society(ICS), gave a briefing on the legal side of closing and confiscating the ICS facilities."The very first moment the Charity received the closure orders I appealed to the Military Legal Advisor and asked him to arrange a meeting with me. The advisor refused to meet me and later he rejected our appeal. I was forced, then, to appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court," said Bulos.'' Five days after my appeal to the court, the court unexpectedly refused to issue a stop order (prohibition order). I was informed later that the court will not discuss our appeal before October,'' added Mr. Bulos. Although it appears that the military is working towards closure on the ground Bulos does not think that the military will take further actions that might embarrass the court. Yet, '' I can not trust the Israeli Military,'' he said. These events leave the future of the orphanages and schools in a confused state.
Bulos further stated, “We discussed all details and ways of getting out of this tunnel. The military officers seemed not interested”. He concluded his briefing by saying that he believes that the work of both local and international groups is equally important.

Act Now!

It is therefore of utmost importance that all NGOs and internationals who have been involved in this campaign continue to pressure their governments to insist that Israel not only stop this action but also pay restitution for the losses suffered by the institutions involved. Please contact your Congress Representatives or Members of Parliament as soon as possible.

The Steering Committee also encourages all NGOs or visitor to the West Bank to spend a night or more in the Orphanages to discourage the Israeli Army from further actions.

Contact CPT Hebron for these arrangements: cptheb@palnet.com (subject line should contain Hebron Orphanage)


You can find the Israeli embassy in your country at http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Diplomatic+missions/Web+Sit...

CANADA:
Embassy in Tel Aviv:
The Canadian Embassy, PO Box 9442,
Tel Aviv67060, Israel.
Fax: (011 972 3) 636-3380. Email: taviv@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Office of the Prime Minister,
80 Wellington Street Canada,
K1A 0A2. Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada,
Maxime Bernier,
House of Commons Ottawa ON, K1A 0A6.
Fax: (613) 995-0687
Email: BerniM@parl.gc.ca

You can mail your MP at the House of Commons address, or find their email address at http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM

UNITED KINGDOMEmbassy in Tel Aviv:
British Embassy,
192 Hayarkon StreetTel Aviv 63405,
Israel. Tel:(+972 3) 725 1222;
Fax: (+ 972 3) 527 8574.
Email: webmaster.telaviv@ fco.gov.uk

Prime Minister Gordon Brown,
10 Downing Street,
London SW1A 2AA
To email the Prime Minister go to
http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp

Foreign Secretary David Miliband,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London SW1A 2AH.
Tel: 020 7008-1500

To email MP, MEP's, MSPs, or Northern Ireland, Welsh and London AMs,
go to http://www.writetothem.com/

Contact details for UK Members of Parliament and House of Lords:http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm

Contact details for the Members of the Scottish Parliaments:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/index.htm

SWEDEN:
Contact PM Fredrik ReinfeldtPhone:46 8 405-1000,
email via senior registry clerk:www.sweden.gov.se

Contact Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt,
Phone: 46-8-405-1000 ,
email via senior registry clerk: www.sweden.gov.se

USA:
Embassy in Tel Aviv:
US Embassy71 Hayarkon Street,
Tel Aviv 63903,Israel.
Email: Mary Glantz, Human Rights, glantzme@state.Gov;
Michelle Schohn, schohnjm@state.gov,
or ac5@bezeqint.net

President George W Bush,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20500

Register your message with the White House Comment Line:202-456-1111
e-mail:comments@whitehouse.gov.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
2201 C Street NW, Washington,
DC 20520

To contact your Senator go to
http://www.senate.gov/general/ contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

To contact your Representative go to
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Or call the Capitol Switchboard at(202)-224-3132
and ask for the appropriate Congressional office.

Please write to the Israeli military and urge them to return the confiscated properties. Send appeals electronically to:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/Contact+Us/