New Orleans, LA – Palestine solidarity activists are urging national participation in a call-in day for a Palestinian-American boy from New Orleans who is being held in an Israeli jail. Eight Israeli soldiers arrested 14-year-old Mohammed Khalek at gunpoint in occupied Palestine early in the morning on April 5, accusing him of rock throwing. During the arrest his braces were broken by the soldiers; afterwards he was shackled for 12 hours. Human Rights Watch, Addameer and other human rights groups have condemned Israel's treatment of Khalek.

According to Defense for Children International, there are 236 Palestinian children in Israeli detention. Many children have been arrested during the recent protests in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.

“The U.S. has deliberately ignored the abuses of Palestinians by Israel, as our politicians continue to send over $3 billion a year to support the illegal occupation. We are demanding our representatives take a stand now by supporting their own constituent, Mohammed Khalek. We will not allow our representatives to be silent as they send our tax dollars to imprison children who have been stripped of their land and their rights,” said Jacob Flom, member of Palestine Solidarity Committee, New Orleans.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee is building support for Khalek, with a call in day on Monday April 15. (https://www.facebook.com/events/179667455520918/). They are asking people around the country to join this action and call the representatives listed below to demand they speak up for child prisoners locked up by Israel with U.S. money.

Demands: -- Release Mohammed Khalek! -- End U.S. support for Israeli human right abuses, no more U.S. aid! —Allow child prisoners legal consul of their choice and family presence.

Contact info: -- U.S. State Department: 202-647-4000 -- U.S. Congressman Cedric Richmond (represents New Orleans) Phone: (202) 225-6636 or (504) 288-3777 -- US Senator Mary Landrieu (represents New Orleans) Phone: (225) 389-0395 or (202) 224-5824

#NewOrleansLA #Palestine #PoliticalPrisoners #IsraeliOccupation #PalestineSolidarityCommitteeOfNewOrleans #MohammedKhalek #MiddleEast

“Today silence was louder than words,” said Thaer Rimawi, a Palestinian community member present at the demonstration. “There is no point in asking them a question because all the answers to any question we can ask them will be lies,” he added.

The soldiers’ remarks focused on medical aid and ‘protection’ the IDF gives Palestinians, ignoring systematic injustices it carries out in the course of its occupation of the West Bank and in the ongoing siege on Gaza. The protest was inspired by similar responses to IDF soldiers appearing on campuses in Michigan and Arizona.

The event, sponsored by the UNO student group Allies of Israel, is part of a speaking tour sponsored by the pro-Israel group StandWithUs. StandWithUs has been active in recent years supporting the positions of the Israeli government on college campuses around the US. In 2011, an investigation by the Electronic Intifada revealed that the group was also behind a lawsuit in Olympia, Washington directed at reversing a decision by the Olympia Food Coop to boycott Israeli products from its shelves. The case was later dismissed under a statute barring Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, commonly known as SLAPP suits.

“They're desperate, they've been exposed by the world and people are becoming more aware,” Rimawi said. “Things like this, like we did today are going to inform people of what the reality is.”

This was the second appearance of Palestine solidarity activists responding to pro-Israel events on the UNO campus in as many months. Last month, demonstrators walked out of a pro-Israel rally being addressed by the anti-Arab and anti-Muslim firebrand Daniel Pipes. Both counter-demonstrations were put together in part by Palestine Solidarity Committee of New Orleans, a pro-BDS group that is seeking to build local support for the liberation of Palestine.

See video of the walkout here:

#NewOrleansLA #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #StandWithUs #AlliesOfIsrael #PalestineSolidarityCommitteeOfNewOrleans #MiddleEast