Kansas Citians Joe Carr and Shannon Heffernan
Document Israeli Settlement Growth in the West Bank

Kansas City, MO – The pullout of Israeli settlers from Gaza represents a historic and hopeful step in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem there are 430,000 Israeli settlers living on land seized from Palestinians -- and these numbers are increasing every day. Two Kansas City residents are currently working with non-governmental groups groups and Israeli peace organizations like Rabbis for Human Rights to document the Israeli settlement expansion and activity in two separate areas of the West Bank.

Shannon Heffernan, a longtime Kansas City resident and recent college graduate is working with the International Women’s Peace Service to report on the buildup of settlements near Haris Village and Bil’in. Joe Carr is a Kansas City resident working with Christian Peacemaker Teams to document attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the Hebron district. Joe also traveled to Gaza in 2003 and witnessed the illegal destruction of Palestinian homes and death of American Rachel Corrie. He traveled to Baghdad, Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams in 2005.

“There are still many problems with the Israeli army entering our village, as well as near by ones, at night. The protest today was difficult, but no serious problems. 31 were injured. I was tear gassed pretty heavily today and having difficulty recovering, but nothing too serious.” – from a July 16, 2005 report by Shannon Heffernan describing a nonviolent protest against Israeli settlements in Haris (a village in the Salfit Governorate of the West Bank).

Many Mideast observers, including U.S. elected officials, recognize a fair and just resolution to the conflict is a critical step to security for Israelis, Palestinians and Americans. However, few Americans realize that Israel has located 400,000 citizens in Palestinian territory, representing strict violations of international law. Even fewer Americans realize Israeli continues to build and expand settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, violating the demands of U.S. Bush administration and international law.

“Last Sunday, a group of Israeli settlers spent the night terrorizing Palestinian villagers in the northern West Bank around Nablus. According to a source at the UN, settlers marched through eight villages chanting, threatening, and destroying Palestinian property.” – from an August 24, 2005 report by Joe Carr

Both Shannon and Joe are available to speak with Kansas City area news organizations about their experience documenting settlement activity.

• Joe Carr is available via phone at 972-54-426-1938 or via email at joecarr@riseup.net
• Shannon Heffernan is available via phone at 011-972-54-685-3225 or via email at circle@riseup.net