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IMC-Palestine: American held captive by armed Israeli soldiers
An update on an American who was detained by armed IDF soldiers during the recent raids throughout the occupied territories.
March 8, 2002
For Immediate Release
American held captive by armed Israeli soldiers
US Consulate fails to act again
Nablus: On Tuesday, March 5, 2002, US citizen Brett Davis (Bloomington, Indiana), was physically assaulted and taken captive by armed Israeli soldiers while making his way out of the Palestinian city of Nablus.
A number of calls by his companions, fellow US citizens, to the US Consulate were met with an unwillingness to help in anyway. Although Brett is now safely out of the soldiers' hands, the lack of action and concern by the US representatives is alarming. They never even called to inquire of his status - whether he had been harmed or worse.
There is emerging a pattern of neglect of US citizen calls for assistance when incidents involve abuse of Americans by the Israeli Armed Forces and when it involves US citizens doing human rights work with Palestinians.
Attached please find a letter detailing the incident and calls that were made to the US Consulate on March 5, and a personal testimony by Mr. Brett Davis. Digital video footage of assault is available. For more information, please contact Huwaida at +972-52-642-709 or by email at huwaidaa@yahoo.com
Contact information for the US Consulate in Jerusalem:
Mr. Ron Schlicher
Consul General
PO Box 290, 18 Agron Rd
(West) Jerusalem
Tel: +972-2-622-7230/50
Fax: +972-2-624-9462
Brett's Account
March 6, 2002
Mr. Ron Schlicher
Consul General
US Consulate
Jerusalem
Dear Mr. Schlicher:
Greetings. I would like to share with you the events of yesterday, March 5, 2002 and the concerns I have which have to do with how your office handled them. My general intention in being in Palestine and Israel are to better understand the conflict here from Palestinian and Israeli perspectives so to assist other Americans at home to understand this conflict better through my published writing and public speaking. After hearing about the missile strikes in Nablus and the invasion of Balata refugee camp, I wished to see first hand the effects of these latest events there and I was put in contact with four people from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), all of whom are US citizens, who were in Nablus at that time and could help facilitate my visit there.
Coming out of Nablus with the four people from ISM, on our way to return to Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, for myself, our group had to walk approximately a two-kilometer span where the road was blocked off so that we could reach the next group of taxis. As we were walking, an Israeli Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) with five soldiers drove up from a nearby camp and parked next to the road. I immediately walked up to the nearest soldier, who I later discovered was the captain, and asked him what the latest events in the area were and I was curious why they were in Area A, an area under Palestinian control. The captain immediately demanded to see my passport. I inquired why and who he was. He told me to shut up and to show him my passport, and again when I questioned him, he said that I would be arrested and told me to stand close to the APC, which I did. I, and the people I was traveling with from the ISM, all began questioning the soldiers as to why I was being detained. The people from ISM stated that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) cannot arrest civilians and that they have no right to detain civilians without reason and that the police should be called if I was going to be arrested. The captain said that he was calling the police to come arrest me, but that he was only going to make the call when he wanted to and gave no indication as to when that might be. ISM volunteer, Sofia Ahmed, continued to question the soldier as to why I was being detained, he yelled at her to shut up and I witnessed Ms. Ahmed being physically shoved by the captain when she would not stop questioning him as to why I was being detained. I also continued to ask why I was being detained and finally the captain gave his answer, "because I say so." That, of course, didn't sit well with me or the people from ISM as Americans in general are not very agreeable to have our freedom be violated as it was in this instance. I and my companions asked several more times if I was going to be arrested by the police, on what charge we couldn't guess, the captain said on alternating sentences and was and wasn't going to call the police and so we all finally got the idea that I was, without question, being detained for no reason other than the captain wanted to. Further we realized that he had no intention of calling the police and having me arrested. The three females of the ISM team came over to me at this point, locked their arms and we stated that since I was not being charged with anything, we were going to leave. This upset the captain and he and another soldier used physical force to separate me from the others. They then put me into the APC and closed the back hatch. Two soldiers were inside the APC with me, one of which enjoyed pointing his gun at me. I'll say at this point that not once did I physically resist in any way or raise my voice at anyone involved in this incident.
One of the soldiers, the one that was pointing his gun at me, told me that it was only himself, his fellow soldier and me in the APC and that he was going to use violence to take my passport if I did not give it to him. At this time I think the captain realized that his rigid demand had escalated things to his detriment and he took the approach that if I only showed my passport all would be fine and I could go, coincidently none of the ISM team that was with me were asked to show their passports.
My pride and stubbornness were inflamed and I respectfully said that I would not willingly give them my passport, but told them where it was and stated that I would not resist them taking it. The soldier who had pointed his gun at me and threatened me now took off my Indiana University ball cap and pressed the barrel of his M-16 forcefully into my forehead, pushing my head against the side of the APC. The other soldier then withdrew my passport, which was passed outside to the captain and returned to me in a few short moments. I asked the soldiers for their names and ID numbers, but was not given this information. I was then held for several hours inside the APC for no reason. The captain again asked me to show him my passport. I was truly confused and asked him if he had seen it when it was taken from me. He did not answer and asked me again to show him my passport, so it became a game of wills and I knew that what he was doing was from the beginning illegal and disrespectful. After another hour or more, the soldiers' shift had finished and they drove the APC, with me still in it, into their base. There the captain said that he had no jurisdiction to arrest me and that he had called the police who would be there in 30 minutes to arrest me and the four people from ISM if I did not show him my passport. I was displeased by this whole experience and would have rather been arrested than to agree to the captain's pointless demand. An hour later the captain said, in a threatening way, that I better show him my passport because he had authority to use violence against me if I did not. I was alone in the middle of 30 or so IDF soldiers in their camp; I nonetheless stated again that I would not resist him taking it and indicated where my passport was, but declined to freely give it to him. He then told me to leave and I walked away from the base wondering what had just happened.
Now I wish to express my concerns with your office. I understand that the team of people from ISM called your office on my behalf, asking your assistance in this matter. They spoke with Ms. Victoria Coffineau, who I believe has possibly had a personal disagreement with a member of ISM in the past. Because of that personal disagreement, I am told that Ms. Coffineau's response to the call for help was met with hostility and total indifference. It may surprise your office that this could be the case, given the seriousness of my situation. Whatever Ms. Coffineau's personal opinions of other people happen to be, her position demands professionalism and sincerity when it comes to representing US citizens in this area of conflict. I request that you review your policies in protecting the rights of US citizens in the Occupied Territories.
Please correspond with me with anything that might pertain to my case.
Yours sincerely,
Bret Davis
For Immediate Release
American held captive by armed Israeli soldiers
US Consulate fails to act again
Nablus: On Tuesday, March 5, 2002, US citizen Brett Davis (Bloomington, Indiana), was physically assaulted and taken captive by armed Israeli soldiers while making his way out of the Palestinian city of Nablus.
A number of calls by his companions, fellow US citizens, to the US Consulate were met with an unwillingness to help in anyway. Although Brett is now safely out of the soldiers' hands, the lack of action and concern by the US representatives is alarming. They never even called to inquire of his status - whether he had been harmed or worse.
There is emerging a pattern of neglect of US citizen calls for assistance when incidents involve abuse of Americans by the Israeli Armed Forces and when it involves US citizens doing human rights work with Palestinians.
Attached please find a letter detailing the incident and calls that were made to the US Consulate on March 5, and a personal testimony by Mr. Brett Davis. Digital video footage of assault is available. For more information, please contact Huwaida at +972-52-642-709 or by email at huwaidaa@yahoo.com
Contact information for the US Consulate in Jerusalem:
Mr. Ron Schlicher
Consul General
PO Box 290, 18 Agron Rd
(West) Jerusalem
Tel: +972-2-622-7230/50
Fax: +972-2-624-9462
Brett's Account
March 6, 2002
Mr. Ron Schlicher
Consul General
US Consulate
Jerusalem
Dear Mr. Schlicher:
Greetings. I would like to share with you the events of yesterday, March 5, 2002 and the concerns I have which have to do with how your office handled them. My general intention in being in Palestine and Israel are to better understand the conflict here from Palestinian and Israeli perspectives so to assist other Americans at home to understand this conflict better through my published writing and public speaking. After hearing about the missile strikes in Nablus and the invasion of Balata refugee camp, I wished to see first hand the effects of these latest events there and I was put in contact with four people from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), all of whom are US citizens, who were in Nablus at that time and could help facilitate my visit there.
Coming out of Nablus with the four people from ISM, on our way to return to Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, for myself, our group had to walk approximately a two-kilometer span where the road was blocked off so that we could reach the next group of taxis. As we were walking, an Israeli Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) with five soldiers drove up from a nearby camp and parked next to the road. I immediately walked up to the nearest soldier, who I later discovered was the captain, and asked him what the latest events in the area were and I was curious why they were in Area A, an area under Palestinian control. The captain immediately demanded to see my passport. I inquired why and who he was. He told me to shut up and to show him my passport, and again when I questioned him, he said that I would be arrested and told me to stand close to the APC, which I did. I, and the people I was traveling with from the ISM, all began questioning the soldiers as to why I was being detained. The people from ISM stated that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) cannot arrest civilians and that they have no right to detain civilians without reason and that the police should be called if I was going to be arrested. The captain said that he was calling the police to come arrest me, but that he was only going to make the call when he wanted to and gave no indication as to when that might be. ISM volunteer, Sofia Ahmed, continued to question the soldier as to why I was being detained, he yelled at her to shut up and I witnessed Ms. Ahmed being physically shoved by the captain when she would not stop questioning him as to why I was being detained. I also continued to ask why I was being detained and finally the captain gave his answer, "because I say so." That, of course, didn't sit well with me or the people from ISM as Americans in general are not very agreeable to have our freedom be violated as it was in this instance. I and my companions asked several more times if I was going to be arrested by the police, on what charge we couldn't guess, the captain said on alternating sentences and was and wasn't going to call the police and so we all finally got the idea that I was, without question, being detained for no reason other than the captain wanted to. Further we realized that he had no intention of calling the police and having me arrested. The three females of the ISM team came over to me at this point, locked their arms and we stated that since I was not being charged with anything, we were going to leave. This upset the captain and he and another soldier used physical force to separate me from the others. They then put me into the APC and closed the back hatch. Two soldiers were inside the APC with me, one of which enjoyed pointing his gun at me. I'll say at this point that not once did I physically resist in any way or raise my voice at anyone involved in this incident.
One of the soldiers, the one that was pointing his gun at me, told me that it was only himself, his fellow soldier and me in the APC and that he was going to use violence to take my passport if I did not give it to him. At this time I think the captain realized that his rigid demand had escalated things to his detriment and he took the approach that if I only showed my passport all would be fine and I could go, coincidently none of the ISM team that was with me were asked to show their passports.
My pride and stubbornness were inflamed and I respectfully said that I would not willingly give them my passport, but told them where it was and stated that I would not resist them taking it. The soldier who had pointed his gun at me and threatened me now took off my Indiana University ball cap and pressed the barrel of his M-16 forcefully into my forehead, pushing my head against the side of the APC. The other soldier then withdrew my passport, which was passed outside to the captain and returned to me in a few short moments. I asked the soldiers for their names and ID numbers, but was not given this information. I was then held for several hours inside the APC for no reason. The captain again asked me to show him my passport. I was truly confused and asked him if he had seen it when it was taken from me. He did not answer and asked me again to show him my passport, so it became a game of wills and I knew that what he was doing was from the beginning illegal and disrespectful. After another hour or more, the soldiers' shift had finished and they drove the APC, with me still in it, into their base. There the captain said that he had no jurisdiction to arrest me and that he had called the police who would be there in 30 minutes to arrest me and the four people from ISM if I did not show him my passport. I was displeased by this whole experience and would have rather been arrested than to agree to the captain's pointless demand. An hour later the captain said, in a threatening way, that I better show him my passport because he had authority to use violence against me if I did not. I was alone in the middle of 30 or so IDF soldiers in their camp; I nonetheless stated again that I would not resist him taking it and indicated where my passport was, but declined to freely give it to him. He then told me to leave and I walked away from the base wondering what had just happened.
Now I wish to express my concerns with your office. I understand that the team of people from ISM called your office on my behalf, asking your assistance in this matter. They spoke with Ms. Victoria Coffineau, who I believe has possibly had a personal disagreement with a member of ISM in the past. Because of that personal disagreement, I am told that Ms. Coffineau's response to the call for help was met with hostility and total indifference. It may surprise your office that this could be the case, given the seriousness of my situation. Whatever Ms. Coffineau's personal opinions of other people happen to be, her position demands professionalism and sincerity when it comes to representing US citizens in this area of conflict. I request that you review your policies in protecting the rights of US citizens in the Occupied Territories.
Please correspond with me with anything that might pertain to my case.
Yours sincerely,
Bret Davis
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Finally, I am fighting morons like you who don't realize that saying things like "Israelis don't have any jurisdiction in Area A" is as moronic as saying that the Oakland P.D. has no jurisdiction in Piedmont while in a high speed chase of a car-jacker.
Fuck you. You don't know me, and I sure as fuck don't want to know you.
That has to be the most incomprehensible and wrong statement ever made on sf-imc about this issue. Come back when you have an inkling of an idea about what is going on there.
There is no difference between you and the 3-K. Just different clothes. The ideology is the same. Sharon is the Grand Imperial Wizard of Israel. You appear to be just another bigot in a white sheet. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
And what a goodie goodie. Working to send kids to private elitist schools. Where they can be indoctrinated in the same filthy mind set that you harbor. Wow, what a contribution to the world. Blah blah blah. That moniker must have been applied by someone who knows you well.
I have never seen you add anything but hate, rage and anger to the debate. You are twisted, my friend. I hope your children see you for who you are, and make the choice to change the legacy. You are a poster boy for what is wrong in the middle east. A hate filled, angry human being, blind to the truth, and god damned proud of it. I see your kind tooling down the road with a gun in the rack, a stupid hound in the back and a confederate flag hanging off the antenna. That is you, blah. Do you scratch your ass in public settings? I bet you do, Bubba Bernstien.
You shame the Jewish people.They are far to good for the likes of you. Crawl back in your hole, grab your penis, and masturbate to the images of dead Palestinian children, you fool.
I won't dignify your comment with a reply, as I believe it speaks for itself.
I should, however, point out that you seem to be the one displaying some pent up "hate, rage, and anger", as you put it. It's a beautiful Sunday. Try to enjoy it.
Love, Blah
war is going on wittle wabbit boy, WAR !!
moron indyboys and girls defending moron indyboys abroad. classic sack of fools. tie it up and throw it in the water. these indyboard idiots thinking they should show us all the "truth". fascist aliens chemtrailed us and broke our computers. tacos and ghosts are following us.
and net "tough guys" ? hahahahahahaha. hahahahaha. you bunch of weak kneed limp wristed spineless fruitopians built this indypussy board because no one you know will listen to your pansy assed hallucibabble. raise a fist anywhere in this country in defense of your psycho bullshit and watch it get lopped off. run toward a cop with a fire extinguisher raised in front of you and meet your fucked up maker. "pussy"? you bunch of girls slay me. hahaha. hahahahahahaha.
"OK, Mr. Smart Guy, tell me how I'm wrong, then."
I thought you were serious. Again, blah, I am sorry. I really thought you were looking for another persons view of your ideology and attitude. So, you were not serious. You actually didn't want to hear a critique of your views. I take it all back then.
Save the fish, and kill a Palestinian for the Holy Land. I must admit that you puzzle me somewhat.
Love back at ya. Kisses too.
FYI, the reason I wouldn't (and won't) respond to your comment is because it is vitriolic at best.
If you want to talk about issues, fine. I'm happy to do it, no matter if the subject is sovreignty, war, racism, etc. But when you call ME a racist without knowing me, your rhetorical objectivity goes out the window, and you can't even begin to understand where your adversary is coming from. Which, to me, is a conversation that is not worth having.
Got it? Good. Now let me go on my Sunday walk.
Latest atrocity, U.S. H.R. 2098, the Koby Mandel Act now in Judiciary Com. on Crimes would set up new office in Dept. of Justice to investigate Palestinian terrorism. Israeli terrorism gets free pass. More racism from our government.
More than $100, 000,000,000 given to Israel by pro-Israeli, racist polititians. What kind of kick back are they all getting?
Free Palestinians. Free U.S. taxpayers.
Stay in your berkeley and Sf homes and plot the revolution. Take down the jews then the Americans that support them.
Keep it up. It's all a grand conspiracy aint it? Hahahahaha
Do some more drugs it may help!
Free Palestine? From what? From Who? The Jews? They have historical evidence among others things that gives them a claim to the land. Not all of it, but a claim. So do the Arabs. But they are not indigenous, the Arabs and Islam swept out of the Arabian Peninsula in its great imperialistic crusade back in the 600's.
One state for the Jews, one for the Palestinians. If you really want peace an djustice, than accept that both sides are gonna have to swallow some painful sacrifices and deal.
A complete look at your crazy analogy to WW II would show that the total Germans casualties were far less than the total casualties of the Allies. The U.S. was only one of the Allied countries fighting the Germans.
This above show the ignorance of your comparison.
The body count does not prove anything by itself in any conflict. For those of us who believe that all human beings are equal, the total body count has importance.
It is only racists who think otherwise.
And that racist comment, please, you sound like a second year student at Cal after her first cultural studies class. You can do better. Address my two state ideas with something more thoughtful than calling me a racist.
I have found that people who present absurd one sided arguments, without facts, are often racist. In any event, 14 countries had more people killed in WW II than did the U.S. and now, you want a silver metal. Grow up!
Hold on a minute, I'm still rolling around on the floor laughing...........there, now I can address this JJJ genius.
You want some historical evidence of a people who lost their land. Don't look any further than the ground you are standing on, Mr. History. That's right. The Americas. They were owned and operated by indigenous peoples long before your ancestors came and robbed it, while killing what is estimated to be 10 million people in the process. Do the Native Americans have the right to throw your ass out of this country on an old land claim? No, they don't. They have a responsibility to accept the world the way it is today, rather than kill for land claims against people who died 400 years ago.
To follow the logic of many Nazionists, we Native Americans have the right to throw JJJ and all of his friends out of the country. But I will bet you that the Nazionists living in America wouldn't dig that very much. They wouldn't groove on being told that their new home "in the country" is built on Native American land, and they have to get the fuck off or die. I'll tell you what. Why don't all of you Nazionists show your stuff, your resolve to be righteous god loving individuals, and get your asses out of America. Sign your land deeds over to the Native Americans. If you don't want to do that, then shut your mouths about Jewish land claims in the middle east.
But no. Our Nazionist friends will not sign their land over to the Natives. Because they don't walk the walk. They believe they are above such things. So does the KKK.
Spare me the references to age old migrations and land claims. We cannot impose todays morality on a people who lived hundreds of years ago. Nor can we expect to be able to come along and take property from people because their ancestors, 300 generations back, once owned it. What a crock of shit.
Hey all you Nazionist funksters. Sign your land over to a Native and get out of America. What's good for the Jew is good for the Indian. If you can get away with it, then why can't we? Hey, all you Jewish folks there in New York City. Certainly you wouldn't mind being bombed out of your homes so a few Mohawks could build a nice Native community where your home used to stand.
Well, we don't enjoy it. We live with it. We accept it. Life goes on and we are still here. Just like the Jews. Like all people of the world who's ancestors have suffered genocide.
I think you may have missed the point entirely. Or don't want to address it when put into such a context?
I was just saying with all the hustle and bustle, noise and traffic in NYC today, the Indians did the right thing by selling and getting out of there. The better deal, you see.
I will disagree with the ‘robbery’ comment. Just because a particular people may squat on a piece of land doesn’t mean its theirs to hold forever, they must defend that land. Indians lost their land because they brought bows and arrows to a gunfight.
You are right about the noise and bustle in NYC.