Dear all:

We need to make as much noise as possible to attract the attention of the media and US Congress to the tragedy taking place now in Birzeit.

Write to the media and ask them to cover the siege. So far, they have by and large ignored it. Media addresses are available at:

* http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/contact/media.html

* You can find all papers in the Unites States by going to:

http://www.dmoz.org/News/Newspapers/Regional/United_States/

Write to Congress - find the contact info of your Rep. at:

http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/contact/congress/lookup.html

Please do this as soon as possible. The IDF listens reacts to international pressure.

Ahmed Bouzid

Palestine Media Watch

http://www.pmwatch.org ---------------------------------------------------

PRESS RELEASE: MARCH 7TH, 2001

Birzeit

In an apparent escalating aggression against the predominantly civil Palestinian population, heavily armed Israeli military forces raided this morning at 1:00 AM, local Palestinian time, the town of Surda, the main entrance to the city of Birzeit, bullldozing the main road linking Ramallah with more than 50 villages and towns including the city of Birzeit. As a result, telephone lines and water pipes were totally destroyed. Further, due to previous closures imposed on adjacent passageways, this road was being extensively used by travelers from the northern towns of Nablus and Jenin to Ramallah. As such, over 70,000 individuals living in these communities have been totally isolated, and denied access to basic life necessities including food and health services.

The town of Birzeit has become well known as the host of the leading Palestinian institute for higher education, Birzeit University. With the recent developments, more than 6000 students, faculty, and staff are prevented effectively from reaching the University Campus. In addition, communication facilities have been totally cut off for the University as well as the surrounding towns entailing that there is no means of maintaining contact with the outside world, further isolating the University's community.

According to the eyewitness reports of residents in the area, the damage has been extensive and would require substantial time and resources to be repaired. As such, the length of time before the residents of ten villages and towns will have access to methods of communications, water utilities, food supplies, and health services is unknown.

Birzeit University

P.O Box 14

www.birzeit.edu