Internationals denied entrance: Unable to bear witness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Anna: 0547585890

For the third day, Israeli police and military are denying internationals at Tel
Rumaida in Hebron the right to escort children to school, issuing orders that
the area is a closed military zone ONLY to internationals.

Internationals have been walking children back and forth from school since
September 1, because of settler violence against them.

Since Israel refuses to allow the UN peacekeeping forces in, international
volunteers are the only safeguard for the Palestinians living near this illegal
settlement. Settlers have stoned the children, thrown garbage, eggs, and
excrement at them, and terrified their children.

"We are helpless to do anything to most of them, because they are under 12."
said one policeman. "And someone sliced my tires the last time I came up
there."

By arbitrarily denying internationals from many organizations the right to
escort children, they and their teachers are being left at the mercy of soldiers,
police and settlers.