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you can find news about ISM-Vancouver activities. For the latest
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News
Release
For
Immediate Release
Vancouver, March 8, 2003
Israeli Occupation Forces attack traditional economy of Nablus
ISM-Vancouver activists witness IOF’s attempt to demolish
centuries-old soap factory in the old city of Nablus
NABLUS –
During an invasion of the old city of Nablus in the evening of March
6, 2003, an Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) demolition of a centuries-old
soap factory at Arayoun Square was narrowly averted. The explosives
were being prepared and the area had been cleared for the blast
when last ditch negotiations by the Red Crescent along with the
presence ISM international volunteers thwarted the IOF operation,
reports ISM-Vancouver’s Carel.
The manufacture
of soap from olive oil is one of the traditional industries of Nablus
and one of its largest employers until the IOF began systematically
destroying soap factories in the city. Nablus soap has been world
renowned since the 16th century when it was the soap of choice for
Queen Elizabeth I. The largest soap factory in Nablus was obliterated
during the April 2002 invasion by a bomb dropped from an F16.
“It seems
hard to imagine that Palestinian soap is a threat to Israel’s
security,” said ISM-Vancouver volunteer Gordon. “This
is another example of Israel’s depopulation strategy: destroy
the Palestinian economy so that Palestinians are forced to emigrate
in order to feed their families.”
The
IOF demolition team arrived at approximately 5pm in Jeep #610939
and Explosives Van #667333. “A platoon of 25 soldiers had
already cleared a houses adjacent to the factory. They forced the
family with two infants and a grandfather with a heart condition
to stand outside in the cold,” reports Carel. “They
had also arrested ten men from the neighbourhood,”
After the arrival
of the demolition team, the infantry platoon secured the perimeter
of Arayoun square. “Then we were startled by a very large
explosion as the soldiers blew open the doors of the factory,”
said Gordon. “Several IOF soldiers went inside, and we thought
they just wanted to search the factory.” According to Gordon,
a soldier opened the van and removed several red metal ordinance
cases.
A doctor from
the Palestinian Red Crescent, who had been treating a man the soldiers
had beaten up, approached the ISM activists. “She told us
the soldiers were planning to blow up the soap factory and that
she was negotiating with them,” said Carel. “They
told her they believed it was for making bombs.”
The soldiers
demanded that the two Palestinian ambulances and all medical personnel
leave the square because of the impending demolition. The doctor
asked the ISM activists to remain in the square to monitor the situation
and she went to continue negotiating with the soldiers over the
fate of the soap factory.
The ISM activists
put out an urgent call for more international volunteers to come
and help protect the factory. “As more volunteers began arriving,
we decided to link arms and sit next to the factory to try and prevent
the soldiers from demolishing it,” Carel said.
The doctor
reported that the soldiers had agreed to talk to the owner about
the factory, and if he proved to them it really was a soap factory,
they would not blow it up. The owner took the soldiers on a tour
of the factory, cutting open the soap and showing them the olive
oil to prove there were no bombs inside. Meanwhile, ISM activists
occupied the street in front of the factory.
The soldiers
decided not to blow up the factory and quickly withdrew from the
scene. The Palestinian people in the square erupted into a spontaneous
street party.
“Although
this was a wonderful victory, it may be short-lived because the
IOF is clearly targeting this factory and the economic infrastructure,”
explained Gordon. “Given the sophistication of Israeli intelligence,
it’s just not credible they really thought it was a bomb factory.”
“It is
vital that people and governments in North America and Europe demand
that Israel stop this economic terrorism committed under guise of
security,” Carel concluded.
Gordon and Carel are available for interview by email.
Their email is gordon@ism-vancouver.org. Digital photos are available
on request.
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For
more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Reem, Coordinator of ISM-Vancouver by email at
info@ism-vancouver.org.
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