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Israel Denies Palestinians Right to EducationTuesday 04 Jun 2002
author: Palestine Media Center - PMC
summary
"After stopping me at the roadblock, the Israeli soldiers attacked me and brutally beat me, using their gun buts, which were aimed solely at my head", Birzeit Student
June 2, 2002
Dr. Carmela Armanious-Omary, the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs at Birzeit University, expressed her deepest concern and outrage at the illegal Israeli policy of closure of the Ramallah-Birzeit road, which prohibits 5,000 students and 600 staff members from reaching Birzeit University.
In a press conference held at the Palestine Media Center (PMC) in Ramallah today, 2 June, Dr. Omary briefed the press about the daily suffering that students and staff continuously face, while crossing the "Surda" roadblock, leading to the University.
She emphasized that the occupation soldiers have violated all forms of human rights at this roadblock by arbitrarily shooting tear gas, sound bombs, rubber-coated steel bullets, and live ammunition at students and citizens of neighboring villages.
Furthermore, Dr. Omari stressed that these Israeli assaults and humiliations have been systematic, and prove that the Israeli occupation seeks only to totally disrupt the educational process. "By placing this roadblock at Surda, the Israeli occupation authorities aim to totally disrupt the academic process and close Birzeit University, knowing that the university has not formally announced the termination of the ongoing academic semester."
"Israeli occupation authorities alleged that placing this roadblock was for security reasons." Dr. Omari stated. "However, if we look at Surda, we would see that in fact it links Palestinian villages and areas that do not lead to the 'Green Line'", she added, responding to these allegations. Moreover, Dr. Omari reiterated that the closure of this road does not serve any "security" purposes but rather aims to deny access to education and humanitarian relief, humiliate the Palestinian People, and impede their ability to lead a normal life.
Mu'taz Khdeir, a 3rd Year student at Birzeit University, described how the Israeli occupation soldiers at the Surda roadblock physically assaulted him. "After stopping me at the roadblock, the Israeli soldiers attacked me and brutally beat me, using their gun buts, which were aimed solely at my head". Mutaz then added that the occupation soldiers prevented everyone, including medical staff, from reaching him. It was only until an Arab-American, Dr. Ahmad Baker, intervened that he was allowed to be taken to hospital.
Mu'taz stated that, according to the doctors that treated him, he had suffered internal bleeding because of a series of blows to his right temple. He further explained that he was placed in an intensive care unit for a week, after which he was given intensive medication.
Finally, Dr. Carmela emphasized the university's appeal to the international community to end the continuous repressive Israeli policy of closure, to work on ending Israel's violations of human rights, and to support the Palestinians' inalienable right to education.