Posted on 08/16/2004 3:22:04 PM PDT by johnfrink
Israel declared psychological war on hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners today, saying it would barbecue meat outside their cells to try to break their spirit.
The 1,700 inmates, seen by Palestinians as symbols of resistance to Israeli occupation, want wardens to stop strip searches, allow more frequent family visits, improve sanitary conditions and install public telephones, supporters said.
But Israeli officials call the protest launched Sunday a ploy by the prisoners to secure easier communication with militant groups waging an almost 4-year-old uprising, and have vowed to fight their liquids-only fast.
The Prisons Service said it would draw on tactics used in hunger strikes by jailed Northern Irish militants in the 1970s and 1980s, such as withholding basic amenities.
"Among the various methods we plan to employ is holding barbecues outside the walls of the affected prisons," a Prisons Service spokesman said.
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem says about 7,000 Palestinians, excluding common criminals, are being held in Israeli civilian prisons or military jails.
About half are either being detained without charge or until the end of criminal proceedings against them. The other half have been convicted of security-related offenses.
Recent sweeps for militants in the West Bank and Gaza have swollen the prisoners' ranks.
"We declare, in the name of God, our national decision to launch an open hunger strike," the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement. It accused Israel of "robbing us of all our rights, treading on our dignity and treating us like animals."
In Gaza, about 3,000 Palestinians held a rally in support of the hunger strikers. Khaled al-Batsh, a senior leader of the militant Islamic Jihad group, said gunmen should kidnap "Zionist soldiers and settlers to be swapped for our prisoners."
Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian during a confrontation with stone throwers in the West Bank city of Nablus, witnesses said. The army had no immediate comment.
Israeli helicopters hit a rocket crew in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun overnight, military sources said. But locals said two Palestinians killed in the missile strike had no militant links.
The hunger strike was praised by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, himself a virtual prisoner who has been confined to his West Bank compound by Israeli forces for 2 1/2 years.
"The president ... hailed our heroes in Israeli jails for being steadfast," a Palestinian government statement said.
Issa Qaraqe, a prisoners' rights activist in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, has said the hunger strike would spread from Israel's main prisons to military detention camps.
Today, the Palestinian government called on its people to hold a one-day solidarity fast Wednesday.
But Israelis remained largely unmoved by the threat of escalation by the prisoners, many of whom openly identify with Islamic groups sworn to the Jewish state's destruction.
"As far as I'm concerned they can strike for a day, a month, until death. We will ward off this strike and it will be as if it never happened," Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie told reporters freedom for Palestinian prisoners must be "the main issue" in achieving any peace settlement with Israel.
BBQ conspiracy ping
Perhaps some fava beans with liver and a nice Chianti would be interesting!
Nice big pig roast with all the trimming put on by the Christians and Atheists over there...LOL
Pork...
The Liba will call this COW-ARDLY.
Kosher BBQ?
Please pass the Pulled Goat.
LOL! I suggested this very thing a couple of months ago here!
Let them eat.....water.
Sounds like a great place for an "In and Out" store,Fast and Fresh"
Soilent green with BBQ sause is what they might be used to.
lol
Reuters forgot to embellish its sympathy for Arafat by adding a (sob) and (sniffle) to the above.
Where can I send my own BBQ recipie?
heck even the though of a BBQ is getting me hungry now -
Honey fire up thar grill and throw on a couple of Prime Rib steak!!
If the locals know who the militants are, why are they not turning them in to the police, hmmmm?
"As far as I'm concerned they can strike for a day, a month, until death. We will ward off this strike and it will be as if it never happened," Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi said.
I like this guy !
Makes me hungry just thinking about the smell of a barbecue and I'm not on a hunger strike.
It won't matter that these tactics were used by other nations. The Israelis will be denounced for their cruelty in broad and damning terms.
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