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Via Twitter

Thursday 1-11-2012
For security reason .Jordanian are prevented Iyad Burnat of travel
بسبب امني. الاردنيون يمنعون اياد برناط من السفر

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=546408442040190&set=a.102244519789920.5280.100000131186902

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via Facebook

Dear all,

Iyad passed the Israeli border officials today but was detained and denied entry to Jordan by the Jordanian authorities. He is currently back in Bil'in awaiting resolution of this situation. He is in touch with the Palestinian Authority in hopes that they will intervene with the Jordanians. I need all of you to contact the Jorda
nian Embassy in Washington DC at

Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
3504 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: (202) 966 - 2664
Fax: (202) 966 – 3110
Email: hkjembassydc@jordanembassyus.org

Please say something like this:

"I am writing/calling to request that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan please allow Mr. Iyad Burnat of Bil’in, Palestine to travel to Amman for his flight to the United States. Mr. Iyad is scheduled for a series of speaking engagements in the US from November 2012 to February 2013. The invitation to the U.S. was extended by Jewish Voice for Peace and Interfaith Peace Builders.

Iyad Burnat is coming to the United States to give presentations describing his work for peace and justice, work that he carries out in conjunction with Israeli and international peace activists who are dedicated to non-violence and human rights for all people. Presentations are scheduled in New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisiana, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Washington DC, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. American audiences are eagerly waiting to hear Mr. Iyad’s message of peace and hope for the Middle East.

On Thursday November 1, 2012 Mr. Iyad was allowed by the Israelis to cross the border on his way to Amman, Jordan for his flight to the U.S. However, he was detained by the Jordanian border officials, who refused him entry into Jordan. He is currently back in Bil’in awaiting the resolution of this matter so that he can continue on his journey.

I am appealing to the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to please allow Mr. Iyad to cross the border so that he may fly from the airport in Amman."

If you can add that you are affiliated with an organization (Jewish Voice for Peace, Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, another church group, etc) that would be helpful too. We want to emphasize the benign nature of this visit and that lots of Americans are waiting to hear these presentations. Also that he was released to travel by Israeli authorities.

Please send this to anyone associated with the tour, and also to key people who might have contact with your representatives in Washington, etc.

ALERT TO THOSE PLANNING EVENTS FOR THIS WEEKEND (OK, THAT'S ME ACTUALLY AND THE NSJP CONFERENCE IN ANN ARBOR) AND THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK (THAT'S NEW ENGLAND): WE ANTICIPATE THAT IYAD WILL BE ABLE TO TRAVEL IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS BUT THIS CANCELS EVENTS FOR THIS WEEKEND (ANN ARBOR, MI) AND POSSIBLY FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.

Stay tuned for more information as things develop. If nothing else this provides a good lesson re: the difficulties Palestinian travelers face. This is actually a common occurrence at the Jordanian border (and note that there is no other avenue by which West Bank residence can travel internationally).

Solidarity,
Jill/Susannah

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Nov 6, 2012

Jordan said to allow Iyad Burnat’s passage to U.S. tour about Palestinian peaceful resistance

by Susie Kneedler



As we reported here, the Jordanian government unexpectedly interfered with Americans' ability to hear from heroic peace activist Iyad Burnat, head of Bil'in's Popular Committee, about his village's peaceful work against Israel's illegal separation wall and his brave defense of human rights in Palestine.

Just now, Jill (Susannah) Baker, the coordinator of Burnat's "Palestine American Lecture Tour: Nonviolent Resistance in Palestine," tells us great news:

"I just talked to Iyad, and he has finished his interview with the Jordanian intelligence service and has a flight booked to arrive in Detroit tomorrow night. "

We in Ohio look forward to hearing Burnat discuss "Nonviolent Resistance in Palestine" at 7:00 PM Wednesday, November 28, 2012, in the Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park, Columbus. The flier by sponsors "Central Ohioans for Peace" and the "Progressive Peace Coalition's Committee for Middle East Peace" invites us to:

"Join Iyad Burnat as he shares photos, videos, and stories of Bil'in, Palestine,'s resistance to the building of Israel's separation wall, the subject of an award-winning documentary, 5 Broken Cameras....For more information, contact cmhammond@att.net."

The caption for a picture of Burnat mourning his friend Bassem Abu-Rahmeh tells us, "Iyad became involved in resistance as a teenager. He was arrested by the military for the first time at 17 for throwing stones and imprisoned for two years. In this photo, he sits by the grave of a friend who was killed by a teargas canister during a nonviolent 2009 demonstration."

The demonstration was peaceful, but the IDF was not, firing a high-velocity canister into Bassem Abu-Rahmeh's chest.

Jill Baker wrote last weekend,

“I am deeply grateful for everyone's efforts in this--and also deeply moved by the outpouring of support for Iyad. It is testimony to the love and respect he has earned worldwide."

Iyad Burnat also offered thanks, in a comment to a post by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation about Jordan’s refusing to allow him to travel through Amman to the U.S.:



Dear Friends,

I want to thank all of you for your support, organizing and activism in response to the Jordanian officials blocking my travel to the United States.

I am hoping that together we will resolve this situation in a few days, and that I can then proceed with my American tour. In the meantime, please continue to spread the word and pressure the Jordanian embassies.

Again, I thank you for all your support, and for your hard work for Palestine and for peace and justice.

My love to you all,
Iyad