University of California Expells Internationals

The Palestine Chronicle ^ | May 22 2002

[vance]

University of California Expells Internationals

WASHINGTON: Earlier today, Nauman Zaidi and Robert O'Neill, illegally detained American nationals held in Masiyahu prison (Ramle, Israel), were called in to the warden's office.

They were presented with a fax from their American university, the University of California, which informed them they had been expelled due to their involvment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Both young men had been part of the group who took food and medical assistance to the beleaguered Palestinians and clergy in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. The two men are studying under an 'Education Abroad' programme, and have been in Cairo for the past year. This action against them means that all their study have been in vain as they will not be able to transfer the work undertaken back to the States. In addition, their expected graduation this summer has been denied them. They have been given 48 hours to protest the action.

However, their incarceration in an Israeli prison makes it impossible for them to take the necessary steps to prevent the actions initiated by the University The warden then attempted to coerce them into signing the document. O'Neill expressed his anger at the blatant effort to 'make an example' of him and Nauman for performing what can only be described as actions of humanity.

Until now, their status at the University is unknown.

[ElectricStrawberry]

PING

Now why the hell do they consider bringing food to terrorists "humanitarian aid"?

[Tuor]

University of California Expells Internationals

Wow. I'm kind of amazed that the socialists in California did such a thing. It's a nice change.

Tuor

[AppyPappy]

Here's another sob story

Their cause was clear on their signs and fliers, which read: "Free American peace activists in Israel," "Feeding people is not a crime" and "Help us free Nathan Musselman!" Musselman, a 24-year-old Roanoke man, has been detained in Israeli prisons for three weeks. A member of Roanoke's Oak Grove Church of the Brethren, he has worked with an international coalition of peace activists in the West Bank for about a year. On May 2, Musselman and 12 others staged a demonstration outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The protest was meant to serve as a diversion to allow another group to enter the church and deliver food to the Palestinians imprisoned inside. All 13 were detained by Israeli forces. Nine were deported to their home countries, but Musselman, who was to complete his studies in Arabic at a West Bank university this summer, refused to be deported. Three others remained with him.

[Little Bill]

When we were in NYC, I was talking to a police LT, Nam Vet. After the usual who are you and why are you here type of stuff, we started talking about haw to prevent this type of garbage, violence and riots.

I mentioned that enforcing the law and giving these people some hard time for their acts would stop it quickly. He agreed, and said the liberal courts would never do it. This coming out of the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia: be still my heart>