Zionist Terror 35

 "Excessive force was used against us, a Greek MP was beaten by interrogators"
 
Swedish Ship to Gaza

Activists in Israel

Press Release Oct. 22, 2012

The Israeli activists detained on board the "Estelle" were released
Elik Elhanan: excessive force was used against us, without any reason

Electric shocks by taser out of vengeful hatred
A Greek MP was beaten by Shabak Security Service interrogators

"I am now on my way home, but I keep thinking of my shipmates, my fellow
activists from abroad who are still imprisoned under harsh conditions and
undergo  interrogation by the Shabak Security Service, among them Parliament
Members from several countries," said Elik Elhanan, one of the Israeli
activists who had sailed aboard the Gaza-bound Swedish ship "Estelle". Today,
the court ordered his release and that of two other detained Israelis,
Yonatan Shapira and Reut Mor. "At first they tried to charge us with all
kinds of very serious felonies, such as 'aiding the enemy'. The court
rejected this out of hand. Today they tried a article on the law books called
"Attempted infiltration into a part of the Land of Israel which is not part
of the State of Israel" (sic). But the court threw out this charge, too". The
detained activists were represented by Attorney Gaby Lasky and her team, who
have considerable experience with Human Rights cases.

The released detainees were cheerfully greeted by peace activists who arrived
at the courtroom, among them Elik Elhanan's  parents - Rami Elhanan and Nurit
Peled-Elhanan, who is the daughter of the late Major General Matti Peled.
Smadar Elhanan, Elik's sister, was killed in a suicide bombing at the center
of Jerusalem – a harsh experience which made surviving family members all the
more determined to strive for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, so
as to prevent further casualties on either side.

"I have gone though difficult days, but I certainly do not regret sailing on
that boat. I knew what I was getting into" said Elik Elhanan. "During the
voyage I made a special contact with Evangelis, a Member of the Greek
Parliament who sailed with us. When the Naval Commandos came aboard and while
we were blocking their way to the bridge, Evangelis told me we have generated
in him a love for the people of Israel and a hope for a better future in the
Middle East. Shortly afterwards they separated us. Yesterday evening, when
they put Dror Feiler in our cell, he told us that Evangelis had been beaten
by the Shabak interrogators. The Shabak lied shamelessly to the Consuls and
representatives of foreign countries, telling them that their citizens and
MPs were being treated well." Dror Feiler, who was born in Israel and whose
mother Pnina lives in Kibbutz Yad Hana, gave up his Israeli citizenship
after moving to Stockholm, and was therefore separated most of the time from
the Israeli detainees.

"They used a completely disproportional amount of force against us" continues
Elhanan. "When the Navy arrived to take us over, Yonatan Shapira counted no
less than fifteen vessels surrounding us on all sides. Large and small ships
and boats, a ship carrying a helicopter, as well as the Zodiacs of the Naval
Commandos. Fifteen armed naval vessels against one small civilian boat
carrying games for the children of Gaza. We must have disturbed very much the
Navy and those who give orders to the Navy.


When they came aboard and we blocked their way, the soldiers knew exactly who
I was. They shouted in Hebrew: 'Elhanan, you will pay for your Leftism!' and
used the taser to give me electric shocks. Even after they completed their
takeover of the boat, they continued to use the taser and administer more
shocks. But if they think they could deter me and those who sailed with me,
they are mistaken. The siege of Gaza is an ongoing crime and it must be
ended. We will continue the struggle".

Contact:
Elik Elhanan +972-2-5700112 or via Nurit Peled-Elhanan +972-547-578703
Adv. Gaby Lasky +972-54-4418988