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.
only because they're vegans....
They should smoke up some delightful spare ribs for the guys as they decide to come off the strike. First meal, Pork, It's what's for dinner!
I strongly suggest they also bake some bread :o)
Why, thankee! I keep thinking of others as this campaign season wears / drags / creeps (double entendre intended) along, but I just can't seem to part with this one yet!
GretchenM, German-British-Dutch-French Huguenot-American
Couldn't we say that this hyphenated crud is discriminatory to those whose ancestors didn't keep records of their migrations? It's not their fault if their forefathers and mums didn't write it all down. So we could conclude that the proponents of the Hyphenated Way are acting in a superior manner over those less fortunate.
Lies aren't confined to Palestinians or democRATs.
Sometimes republicans lie, too. It's just that not everyone notices. Or cares.
As long politicians have the right letter after their names, their "people" will overlook a lot of lies.
Oh, this is just EEEEEEEEEE-vil! Those Israelis are tricky so-and-sos.
They oughta try that at Camp X-Ray. And yes...it should be BBQ'd PORK!
That reminds me...I'm barbequing trout tonight for dinner...Mmmmmm.
I'm outraged this is ten times worse than panties....
Where's the MSM, Michale Moore, and Richard Doofus?
Beef, I expect. I've had Kosher BBQ. It's good. More to the point it smells good.
I know BBQ usually means pork, but don't they do BBQ beef in Texas?
Oh, yes...bbq beef, quality rib meat, is incredible. Never had Kosher though. And pork ain't the healthiest meat in the world...but a little dab for the muhammadan clan would be fun.
Beef, Turkey, Chicken and Lamb are all BBQ'ed on things called "mangals" in Israel.
Let me be the cook!
And make sure its some darn good looking Hooters girls doing the food serving too!!
Well maybe not, since I hear some of these terrorists types gets turned on by Goats & Camels and such the like....
If McGreevy had brought Tzahi Hanegbi from Israel to head up NJ security, he'd have had a good guy. But unfortunately, he was looking for a guy with Monica's credentials. The Clintoon legacy lives on in the Dem party.
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