Small group of American activists head to Palestinian territories to act as human shields

AP | 3/30/02 | MALCOLM FOSTER

[kattracks]

NEW YORK, Mar 30, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Steve Quester is spending his spring break in the West Bank.

Quester, a public school teacher, is joining about 20 other American activists who are traveling to the Palestinian territories to act as human shields for Palestinians as the Israeli military mounts retaliatory strikes for a series of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.

"We're going to put ourselves in the way between Israeli military aggression and a helpless civilian population," said Quester, 39, who departs Sunday for a ten-day trip. He and other activists, several of whom are already in the Mideast, plan to stay in Bethlehem, Nablus and Gaza.

The group, which includes Jewish and Palestinian Americans, hopes to engage in various nonviolent protests and activities "to stop the madness that's going on there," said Quester, who teaches first grade in the New York borough of Brooklyn.

Their goals include removing Israeli roadblocks around Palestinian towns, observing Israeli-controlled checkpoints, helping rebuild demolished Palestinians homes and accompanying Palestinians on protest marches, he said.

The activists are part of a growing contingent of foreigners, mostly from Europe, who are in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to protest the Israeli occupation and recent military action. On Thursday, about 600 activists arrived in Ramallah, where Israeli tanks have surrounded the offices of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat since Friday.

The U.S. activists are working in cooperation with a Palestinian-led coalition called International Solidarity Movement that has appealed to foreigners to bring attention to conditions under the Israeli occupation. This is the third time that Americans have made trips to the Mideast in conjunction with the coalition, most recently in December.

An American member of this coalition, Adam Shapiro, and an Irish woman, Caoimhe Butterly, spent Friday night inside Arafat's Ramallah compound. Shapiro left the offices Saturday, but Butterly decided to stay because she has medical training.

The Israeli siege is part of a major military offensive launched after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 22 Passover diners on Wednesday.

Quester, who has lived in Israel for three years and speaks fluent Hebrew and "shaky" Arabic, says his "heart breaks for everyone killed in the violence."

He believes the suicide bombers are "desperate and hopeless" and that that ultimately "all the heartbreak flows directly from Israel's policy" of occupying the Palestinian territories.

He hopes his trip will boost the morale of Palestinians "by seeing more internationals standing shoulder to shoulder with them."

"I'm a Jew," Quester said. "The Israeli army and government are perpetrating a great evil on the people of Palestine, and they're doing so in my name. I can't let this stand."

Also, as an American, Quester said he opposes the financial and military aid that the United States provides Israel, which in his opinion perpetuates the violence.

Israel receives more than dlrs 3 billion a year in civilian and military aid from the United States.

"We U.S. citizens have a special responsibility to stop the madness that's going on there," he said.

By MALCOLM FOSTER Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[Publius6961]

Best news I've heard for months!
Darwin award winners not much good for anything else.

Can we contribute to the tickets? Free tickets!!!

[wretchard]

"The Israeli army and government are perpetrating a great evil on the people of Palestine, and they're doing so in my name. I can't let this stand."

The phraseology and style are right out of the Campus Left playbook. "Not in my name". "International". "Solidarity". I remember meeting guys like these in another era. There was always the air of failure and stale cabbage about them. The Chairperson of the Cleveland Chapter of the International Movement to Free Whoever turns out to be a part time teacher from a high school, who at age 50, is still working on a "thesis", and has drawers full of letters from revolutionary "friends" in Third World countries, who are, for the most part, obvious con men.

A lot of these guys will jump at the chance of a free ticket to anywhere overseas and fifteen seconds of fame. The Left is the sump for broken people seeking acceptance at any price.

[Dog Gone]

This is disturbing. What are U.S. Jews teaching their children?

I don't know. I would think every Jew in the world would be a conservative, but the overwhelming majority in this country are liberal Democrats.

It's amazing.

[chachacha]

Quester, who teaches first grade in the New York borough of Brooklyn.

Don't ya jist luv it? Another fine example of what's wrong with America! SHOOT THE B-S-A-D-><A-T-R-S. Better yet don't let them back in the USA. After all what makes them better then poor little Johnny.

[CRAW]

Looks like there might be a job opening for a first grade teacher in Brooklyn

[week 71]

After seeing it for real and not media spin, they may come back Zionists.

[sinkspur]

"We U.S. citizens have a special responsibility to stop the madness that's going on there," he said.

Stop the suicide bombers, dope. If you dare.

It is a tribute to the IDF that it doesn't put tank tracks all over these idiots.

[Procyon]

My immediate thought: "Killing two birds with one stone", but how thoughtless and insensitive of me. Pardon me while I draw the curtains on reality.

[Calvin Locke]

Observing (as opposed to "knowing") the erstwhile Reverend, I think he'll just send his [former] mistress.

[pa_dweller]

"We're going to put ourselves in the way between Israeli military aggression and a helpless civilian population,"

Yeah? A 150 gr. .308 ain't gonna care!

[watchin]

These dupes will place themselves as human shields, and be disposed of like Danny Pearl when the Palestinians have no more use for them. Some people will never get it.

[sheik yerbouty]

The Israelis could bar them from entering.

[rdb3]

Well, Steve, here's to the next 5.56mm finding its way through your gray matter. I mean, you're not using it anyway.

[happygrl]

Guess their safer there, than in Tel Aviv cafe.

Yes they are. Israeli's don't target civilians.

[LarryLied]

the overwhelming majority in this country are liberal Democrats.

And trying their best to turn America into a version of the mid east where everyone is at everyone's throats. I don't get it either. Identity politics will destroy America. Yet some are determined to push it and push it.

[Senator Pardek]

Small group of ANTI-American activists head to Palestinian territories to act as human shields

I hope they learn the hard way that soft flesh, crackable bone, and flammable hair do not make for very effective "shields".

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

I hope the Israeli army paints the streets with their blood and that the American government doesn't allow any survivors back in the country.

BE A TRAITOR, PAY THE PRICE.

[happygrl]

Looks like there might be a job opening for a first grade teacher in Brooklyn

Poignant thought there, rolling eyes!!!

[Visalia]

I'm sure the Israelis will talk real nice and diplomatic to these morons. "Ah, hey young human shield sir, please get out of the way of this tank." LMAO!