Responding to More ISM Lies
Last week, Frontpage Magazine ran a report on the ISM’s terror connections, which included pictures – like the below – of ISM members holding guns while posing with terrorists.
Now the ISM have responded.
Recently, photos were posted on the internet showing five foreigners posing with members of the Palestinian security services in Jericho while holding police weapons, along with the claim that four of the foreigners were volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). The article accompanying the photos also claims that the fifth, unnamed foreigner with the obscured face in the photos went undercover in order to try and sabotage those, such as the ISM, who support Palestinian non-violent resistance.At the time the photographs were taken, these individuals had not yet become ISM volunteers. They went to Jericho of their own volition without coordinating or discussing their plans with the International Solidarity Movement. They had not attended ISM’s mandatory intensive non-violence training and were new to the country. The fifth foreigner encouraged them to join him in the photographs and have their pictures taken holding guns. These individuals regrettably followed his advice.
We have discovered the real name of the fifth foreigner to be Paul Cinato from Britain, though he gave his surname as Andrews at the time. The article is filled with the now standard fabrications and distortions – too many to list in full. Possibly the most outrageous claim is that two of the foreigners in the photos are now in Israeli custody, which is totally untrue. This article is part of a long standing campaign to slander ISM and destroy non-violent Palestinian resistance by spreading false information. See previous statements on the ISM site.
None of the individuals photographed ever took part in any violent activity. As non-violence is one of the three basic principles of ISM, they would have been required to leave if they had done so. At ISM’s training in Palestine, as a condition for joining ISM in Palestine, all activists are required to commit to supporting only non-violent resistance. These volunteers did so. At the training, all activists are also instructed never to touch any weapon, or even anything that resembles a weapon.
Dave, a volunteer from Ireland featured in the photos, said: “Paul wanted his photo taken with the guys in the prison, then one of them gave him a gun to hold and they also offered them to us to hold for photos. We were a bit reluctant to take them because of the simple fact that they were guns – not because pictures of future ISMers holding guns could cause trouble. After some encouragement from Paul and the Palestinians we took them and thought no more about it.”
Upon learning of this incident, ISM activists informed these individuals that touching weapons violates ISM’s policies and that they would not be permitted to volunteer unless they agreed never to handle weapons. All except Cinato apologized and deleted their photographs. Cinato did not attend ISM training and subsequently disappeared. Following their training, the others worked diligently and without incident with the ISM and Palestinian communities in support of non-violent direct action. According to Dave: “We are deeply sorry for the trouble this has caused. We are of course completely committed to non-violence and realize that we made a terrible mistake.”
ISM remains committed to supporting and engaging with Palestinian communities in non-violent resistance. ISM intends to re-examine its information resources and training in order to make clear to everyone intending to volunteer in the future that handling weapons in any situation is unacceptable. For more information about the ISM, visit www.palsolidarity.org.
The contentions that the ISMers involved had not yet become ISM volunteers, went to Jericho of their own volition without coordinating or discussing their plans with the ISM, had not attended ISM’s mandatory intensive non-violence training, and were new to the country, are doubtful to say the least. It is highly unlikely that individuals new to the country would know how to catch a bus, let alone coordinate their own visit to Jericho prison. They must have had contacts through the ISM. And the palestinians would hardly grant visits to complete strangers. It is likely their visit was through the ISM, an organization deemed trustworthy by the palestinians.
Furthermore, one of the ISMers in the photos is identified as Alan from Scotland. An ISMer named Alan from Scotland was reported injured at a protest in May of this year. Given that the events of the Frontpage report occurred 2 months ago (July), if it is the same Alan from Scotland, then he was clearly a fully fledged ISMer by July.
That was my long response. My short response is: you can’t trust anything the ISM tell you, since they are instructed to lie when confronted with the truth.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
Read my post again and then tell me that my only argument is that I don’t think so.
Don’t take my bus comment literally and look to the point I am making – that they likely would not be able to organize the visits themselves, as anonymous private civilians. Furthermore, how about addressing my point about Alan from Scotland, as well as the evidence of ISM advocating lying as a tactic.
That and the fact that the people who “were a bit reluctant to take them because of the simple fact that they were guns” are grinning their tucheses off.
It’s funny that your only argument is that you don’t think so. that’s it? that’s the best you can do?
Catching a bus in Israel or the West Bank is quite easy for anyone on their first trip, even if they don’t have a good handle on the local languages. Many people know some English if they don’t already speak it quite well and asking for directions and bus numbers has never been that tough, so that argument doesn’t hold much water.
Bugalugs,
If you had the ability to distil information, you would have noticed that I never made “unsupported assertions that [Alan from Scotland] must be the same guy who was injured in May. I did, however, raise the possibility.
As for the ISM’s lies, they are clearly documented. Are you denying that the ISM training pack included the passages to which I linked?? Are you denying that lying is a tactic of theirs? If so, then I would suggest you are a great candidate for the ISM yourself, assuming you aren’t already part of this terror-appeasing organization.
Annon attacks with a Strawman and gets pwned by the facts!
OK – I’ve read it twice. Your only “argument” is that you don’t think so. At least, nothing more appears in your post. Do you know what an argument is? Ask Mommy to look it up for you.
“Don’t take my bus comment literally” – no, we treat it as the kind of gratuitous insult you appear to think constitutes an “argument”. Why do you imagine they would be unable to organise the visits themselves? Do you think they’re as stupid and lacking in initiative as you?
What is your point about “Alan from Scotland” except that you haven’t realised that Alan is one of the most common Scottish names? You make unsupported assertions that it must be the same guy who was injured in May, though if you could point to some sign of an injury in the photograph, or even knew which person was “Alan”, your rant would at least rise to the level of “mildly interesting”. Sadly, it remains undiluted bullshit.
And nowhere in your post (nor in the link) is there any “evidence of ISM advocating lying as a tactic”. Though I love the naivety with which you assume that just because you say there is, we won’t bother looking back and discovering that there isn’t.
So – if you actually post anything of the slightest relevance, feel free to refer to it. But don’t bother describing non-existent “evidence” and “arguments” that you couldn’t be bothered to put in the post.
Not terrorist-appeasing. Terrorist.
From the ISM site:
Israeli authorities control all border entries to Palestine, and visitors arriving at all these border stations have been denied entry by the Israeli authorities in the past. However, visitors, including ISMers have also been allowed to pass though all these border entries.
Incorrect – Egypt controls the Egypt/Gaza border. Oh that’s right, there’s a wall there to keep the Pallies out of Egypt. An apartied wall … I wonder why that is?
Faced with this dilemma, some activists choose not to talk about their activist goals and instead explain other reasons for their visit, such as visiting the Holy Land, visiting an Israeli friend, tourism, etc. These activists generally articulate a clear plan for their visit, including places they will stay within Israel and the names, addresses and phone numbers of people they will be visiting (not mentioning visits to Palestinians).
i.e. – lie.
I may be naive though Rob – please explain what they mean by this to me please. Or should I ask my mommie?
Oh please, don’t insult everyone’s intelligence. We have many indications of ISM involvement with terrorists, and, in addition, I have inside knowledge from a family member.
As for the non-Jewish/non-Israeli canard, that is simply ridiculous. I find evil in evil, rather than calling it something else. And the sources of evil may vary, but it sure as hell includes the UN.
Finally, ask my readers in Muslim and Arab countries whether or not I promote understanding between people.
Is it possible, in your view, that anyone can offer non-violent support to Palestinians? Would you draw the same conclusion about 3 American tourists in Israel taking a picture holding an Israeli soldier’s gun? (this used to be a standard tourist keepsake from a trip to Israel). You go to great lengths to find evil in anything non-Jewish or non-Israeli. You ridicule Spanish and French peacekeepers, the UN, and basically any point of view that is not ardently zionist. That may be good preaching to the converted but, Aussie Dave, what is it doing to promote understanding between people? Yes, you’re right, I’m a self-hating Jew. Shana Tova.
Alan,
Please point to the accusations I supposedly made. As a journalism student, I am sure they teach you how to read. I merely raised the possibility that the Alan from Scotland in the picture may have been a fully fledged ISMer by July, contrary to ISM claims. You are welcome to rebut this, but please do not accuse me of making accusations. Also, please STOP WITH THE CAPS LOCK!!
ALAN WHO WAS INJURED IN MAY THAT YEAR WAS IN FACT MYSELF. I WAS BACK IN SCOTLAND IN AUGUST. I WAS THERE TAKING PICTURES AND VIDEO AS I AM A JOURNALISM STUDENT. PLEASE DON’T MAKE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT ME UNTIL YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THEM. IF YOU WANT TO ASK ANYTHING EMAIL ME DIRECTLY AT [email protected]
The individuals in teh photos with guns were not only
veteran ISM activists, but actual leaders and trainers. The woman on the right in the first photo is Camille who now lives in Kentucky with her husband.
She was sighted in Israel only weeks ago at ISM headquarters. Note also, both women are dressed as Orthodox Jewish settler women, obviously something an experienced ISM volunteer would do to avoid detection by the Israeli security services.
The one who started claiming these were newbies was Andrew Ford Lyons, the webmaster for the ISM and a liar. These photos prove without a doubt the truth behind the ISM. By the way, they didnt go to the Jericho prison by bus, but by taxi.
[...] ISM denies any of its members are directly involved in terror, or in aiding terror (actually, they claim all their activists are “instructed never to touch any weapon, or even anything that [...]
ISM activists in their manula are instructed that when they encounter armed terrorists to just say hello and walk by because the terrorists liaison wiht ISM leadership and are notified in advance of thier presence. The women in the photos are disguised as Orthodox Jewish settler women when they are not even Jewish. Camille, far right, lives in Kentucky. Now they want to go to sea and break the naval blockade of Gaza to help the Hamas bring in weapons by sea.
manual…
[...] you were just innocently posing with guns, weren’t you Alan from Scotland, and the rest of you [...]
Another issue. Huwaida Arraf, a co-founder of the ISM admitted in a letter to the Washington Post the organization works in close cooperation with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the PFLP. YOu can find this by googling Washing ton Post + Letter from Huwaida Arraf. He silly claims of these organizations being nonviolent hold no water…
Hilarious. soon you’ll all be promoting these three to top PLO status. Still waiting for Lee to say something honest and actually investigated. Hasn’t happened. Likely won’t.
The ISM website states that the ISM is “Palestinian -led” and udner the supervision at all times. Adam Shapiro aat Ohio State reaffirmed this and said they have plainclothes Palestinian handlers at all their demos in teh West Bank. ITs easy for you to say nothiing is investigated when it has been, that is why we have all the details of the ISM. By the way, the women in those photos are disguised as Jewish settler women–an unusual wardrobe for newbies visiting the West Bank. Huwaida Arraf has written the Washington Post admitting the ISM works with Islamic Jihad, the PFLP and Hamas, so you can deny no matter as much you want to, it does not change the truth of the photos of my investigative work. In fact, Id bet I know more about the ISM than even you who is probably a member.
[...] the discrepancies should also raise alarm bells regarding Bridget Chappell’s agenda, if her membership in the ISM didn’t [...]
[...] and acting recklessly. If she was killed by anyone it was, of course, the terrorist supporting, gun totting ISM who sent her to her [...]