Israel detains international peace activists supporting the Palestinians

The three, Itallian Vittorio Arrigoni, South African Robin Horsell and Austrailain Shareen lock, are challenging the practice by the Israeli authorities to isolate Palestinians from international support and solidarity, International Solidarity Movement said.

The organization said: Italian, Vittorio Arrigoni, 34, was injured Thursday evening when Israeli authorities tried to deport him and two other detained UK residents,from South Africa and Ausralia, by force, according to Israeli lawyer Gaby Lasky. Lasky added that the authorities failed to notify her or the consulate of Vittorio's injury and originally instructed their guards not to allow the three detainees to communicate with their attorney or concilate representatives. Vittorio

was returned to detention the next day.

One of the detained activists, Robin Horsell, a UK-based South African who formerly campaigned against apartheid gave his reasons for fighting deportation: "Israel gives spurious grounds for deportation or refusal of entry. But the real reason is our support for human

rights and justice. We hope this legal challenge sets a precedent that in future will allow international citizens full access to Palestinian lands."

In Bombay, India, the Israeli Consulate also denied visas to five conference participants from the Gandhian center of non violence.

..Nonviolence International and the Holy Land Trust have issued the following statement:

"The recent detention of three peace campaigners, traveling to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem, demonstrates Israel's fear of groups and individuals that are genuinely committed to nonviolent approaches to resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Mubarak Awad, founder of Nonviolence International, said "Clearly, Israel is afraid of the power of nonviolence."