No to Israel's Policies of Intimidation and Terrorization

Condemning the political arrests of human rights activists Ameer Makhoul, and Omar Said

A statement by Palestinian feminist and women organizations

List of organizations:

Al-Bir -Cultivating Culture and Community in Wadi 'Ara, al-Fanar, Al-Tufula Center The Nazareth Nurseries Institute, al-Zahraa Women, Assiwar- The Arab Women Movement to Support Victims of Sexual Assaults, Aswat- Palestinian Gay Women, Coalition of Women for Peace, Community of Learning Women, Kayan – Feminist Organization, Gender Studies Program - Mada al-Carmel, Hope- Women organization for charity, Muntada- Arab Forum For Sexuality and Education and Health, MA`AN – Negev Women`s Forum, Princess of the dessert, Sidreh, The Working Group for Equality in Personal Status Issus, Women Against Violence, Women and Horizons, Women and Their Bodies, Yasmin al-Nagab, AWC - Arab Women in the Center, Women's Organization for Political Prisoners (WOFPP).

As Palestinians living inside Israel commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba; Israel continues its political persecutions of Palestinian leaders, recently arresting two veteran activists: Dr. Omar Said, a political activist and Mr. Ameer Makhoul- director of Ittijah and chairman of the Popular Committee for the Defense of the Political Freedoms.

The arrests were conducted in fierce violation of basic human and civil rights and mark an alarming escalation in Israel's political persecutions to anyone who defies its institutionalized policies of discrimination. Ameer Makhoul and Omar Said join a long list of political persecutions routinely practiced by Israel's General Security Service 'Shabak', including denying professor Noam Chomsky, a Jewish political activist, access to enter Israel. Clearly, Israel's militarized practices are severely violating international declarations of human rights, and are publicly killing the freedom of speech; a basic democratic value.

You can read the rest of the statement clicking here