1/17 Urgent Update from Kate Raphael

Today's news:

Well, the hearing in my case today did not go well. The judge felt I was acting in
bad faith and had, in fact, only thought about making Aliyah (http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliyah) after signing the
agreement to leave on the 17th. After discussing the options extensively with the
team and some Palestinian friends today, we decided that I need to leave tomorrow as
according to the agreement I signed. Optimally, I would have refused to sign such
an agreement, but at the time I had no alternative, because there was urgent work I
needed to do. Gaby is going to try to get a hearing soon on our request to annul
the deportation, but I am not optimistic about that. She feels that I should not
try to return until we have a hearing date, that even if I got in, they would hold
it against me because they take for granted that the agreement is that I leave and
stay out for some time. I, on the other hand, feel that if they wanted me to stay
out for some period of time, they needed to say that; they didn't, so I don't see
why I should not try to come back in a few days.

I maintain that all of this shows my good faith: I always said I wanted to stay here
long-term, and I do. The only reason they see that as a problem is because I do not
support the policies of the government. However, the Law of Return, for better or
worse, clearly says that ALL Jews have the right to live in Israel, not all Jews who
support apartheid.

Gaby thinks it is important that people fax the Minister of Interior, preferably by
Sunday morning but after is still good. IWPS's call for support follows, including
a sample letter to the Ministry. She also thinks (and I agree) that Jewish public
opinion is the key, and suggests people try to get Jewish newspapers to write about
it. Letters to the editor might be easier to get than articles, but if anyone has
contacts with the Jewish press, you could definitely try.

In a bizarre and worrying twist, tonight a member of the Knesset called Ofer prison
about Ayad and Naim and was told that they were released yesterday. We know that is
not true, because their families have heard nothing. We are all very worried about
what it might mean. It cannot be good, that they are lying to an MK. Thanks to
those of you who already expressed support for them; if you haven't, please do it.

I will keep you posted from Jordan; once again, thanks so much for all you have done
and continue to do.

Free Palestine!

Kate

***********************************************************************************

Defend the Right of Palestinians to International Jewish Support

An Israeli administrative judge today rejected the petition of international peace
activist Kate Raphael to remain in the country in order to establish residency under
the "Law of Return," which guarantees all Jews the right to live in Israel. Saying
that "I fear the appeal is without good will," the judge ordered her to leave the
country today, January 17, as agreed under the terms of her release from Hadera
prison one week ago.

Kate was arrested on December 31, along with three other internationals, at a
nonviolent protest against the destruction of olive groves in Budrus village in
Ramallah District. She was jailed for 9 days. In the last two weeks, seven men who
are organizers in the village have also been arrested and are held virtually
incommunicado in military prisons. The Ministry of Interior and the judge are
attempting to deny Kate's right to live in Israel/Palestine because she does not
support the apartheid policies of the government. This is part of the campaign to
isolate Palestinian activists from the outside world and crush their resistance.
However, we maintain that Jews who stand against injustice must have equal rights
with Jews who support it.

Kate will leave the country as agreed, in order not to jeopardize her future ability
to live in Palestine or Israel. She will attempt to return as soon as possible in
order to file her application for residency with the Ministry of Interior. Our
lawyer is requesting an immediate hearing on the appeal of the deportation order
against her. Your support is urgently needed:

Call or fax the Ministry of Interior (by Sunday morning if possible) and demand that
they repeal the decision to cancel Kate's visa and deport her. Tell them to let her
return to the country to live and work for peace.

Minister of Interior Avraham Poraz
Fax No. (972) (0)2-566-6376
Phone (972) (0)2-670-1402
sar [at] moin.gov.il

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Minister of Interior Avraham Poraz

Fax No. 02-566-6376

Please repeal your decision to cancel the visa of Kate (Kathryn Eve) Raphael and
deport her from Israel. As a Jew, she has an equal right with every other Jew to
live in Israel. Moreover, she is doing important volunteer work to promote a better
society and support nonviolence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Kate has said for a long time that she wanted to live in Israel/Palestine. She
requested information about aliyah before she left San Francisco in July. She said
when she entered Israel on November 30 that she was considering making aliyah. She
was unable to file her application for a residency visa before she was arrested on
December 31 because the Ministry of Interior was closed.

Israel should welcome Jews like Kate who want to come to Israel to build true
democracy and peace.

Sincerely,

Please also fax

Military Attorney General, Brig. General Menahem Finkelstein, Fax: 03-569-4370

or call Prison Commander, Ofer Military Prison 02-588-4204/4348

and demand the release of

Ayad Ahmad Hussein Morar
Na'eem Ahmad Hussein Morar
Abdelnasser Ahmad Hussein Morar
Abdelrahim Omar Mustafa Awad
Abdelrahman Omar Mustafa Awad
Hamzi Omar Mustafa Awad
Mustafa Sami Mustafa Awad

If they tell you any of them have been released, we do not believe that is true at
this time.


Peace,

IWPS House Team