“This street is for Jews only” said the soldiers guarding the roadblock at the entrance of the Shuhada Street in Hebron on the West Bank, and refused to let Palestinians and international peace activists pass. “I was there when it happened. The soldier who talked to us did not say these things at his own initiative. He talked to his commanding officer on the radio and these were his instructions: to tell us that the street is for Jews only and that we are forbidden to enter. Shame!” says Jerry Levin, an international peace activist (CPT group) who is staying several months already in Hebron.

Gush Shalom (The Israeli Peace Bloc) sent a strong protest to PM Olmert and Defence Minster Peretz. “The Prime Minster makes nice-sounding speeches to make a good impression abroad – but on the ground the ugly reality continues of occupation, cruel oppression, rampaging racism and an army in the service of the settlers. Under the Hebron Agreement, signed by then PM Netanyahu in 1997, the state of Israel is specifically obliged to give every person – Israeli, Palestinian or visitor – free passage through the Shuhada Street, which is the main artery of Hebron’s Old City. But the violent settlers have established themselves along this street, and in order to please them the agreement is trodden underfoot.

For more details: Adam Keller (Gush Shalom Spokesperson) adam@gush-shalom.org

Jerry Levin (CPT activist in Hebron, eye-witness to the soldiers’ conduct) +972-(0)54-6679510