URGENT ALERT: Minnesota activists jailed in Israel

Please forward * Take action today

We have just learned that Israeli security forces have
refused entry to three U.S. activists attempting to visit the Palestinian
Territories. One of them, Karen Sullivan, is being sent home on a flight
tonight, and two others, Sarah Martin and Katrina Plotz have refused to leave,
and are being taken into custody. They are being treated as criminals, while
their only goal was to learn about the reality of life for the Palestinian
people. All three should be allowed to enter the country, as millions of tourists
do every year.

Given the special relationship that the U.S. has with
Israel, it is no surprise that U.S. citizens would want to travel there, and
see how our tax dollars are spent. In spite of its special relationship with
the U.S., the Israeli government showed no regard for the rights of American
visitors, whose only crime was to express solidarity with the people of
occupied Palestine.

Palestinians experience repression every day. There is no
way to travel to Palestinian cities, or from one Palestinian city to another,
without passing through Israeli military checkpoints. Palestinian refugees who
live outside the territories, have a legal right to return home, but face the
same obstacles that stopped Karen, Katrina and Sarah at the Tel Aviv airport today.

Katrina and Sarah have refused to cooperate in the face of
this injustice, and have been sent to an Israeli jail. They have been told they
will not be allowed to enter the country, and instead will be handcuffed and
forced onto a departing plane.

We urge everyone to call, write and fax the officials below
to demand the immediate release for Katrina Plotz and Sarah Martin, and to urge
Israeli authorities to allow both women into the country to witness the reality
of life inside the Palestinian Territories, where they have been invited and
are welcome.

Contact the following right away:

U.S. State Department
202-647-4000
http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=VkRoKgzj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0xMTYsMTE2JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**

Minister
of Interior Mr. Eli Yishai
Israeli Ministry of the Interior
Tel. 011-972-2-670-1411 / 011-972-2-629-4722
Fax: 011- 972-2-670-1628

SAR@moin.gov.il and pniot@moin.gov.il

MN Senator Al
Franken

(202) 224-5641

E-mail: info@franken.senate.gov

MN Senator Amy Klobuchar

(202) 224-3244

Web Form: klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

fax: 202-228-2186

Main
Line: 612-727-5220
Main Fax: 612-727-5223