Palestinian Children Sue USA Caterpillar Corporation

5 March 2005

International Press Center, PA

http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=3035

GAZA, Palestine, March 5,2005 (IPC+Agencies)--The Palestinian children have decided to go in pursuit the USA caterpillar corporation, which provides the Israeli occupation army with the D-9 bulldozers and other equipment used to carry out widespread and systemic house demolition of the Palestinians.

The "Palestinian Young Parliament" formed by a group of children from Rafah city, south of Gaza Strip submitted a memorandum against the corporation by a group of American lawyers in Newyourk DC, accusing the caterpillar of being responsible for killing the Palestinian children and displacement of the Palestinian families as they were made homeless due to the Israeli occupation demolition of their houses.

The coordinator of the parliament Abed Al Rauf Barbakh said that a group of the international solidarity and the family of the peace activist Rachael Correi who was crashed to death by an Israeli occupation caterpillar while trying to prevent a house demolition in Rafah two years ago along together with the families who lost their dearly children by the Israeli occupation fire and the owners of the demolished houses in Rafah put their trust in a group of the lawyers , who in turn submitted a legal note against the caterpillar corporation and held it responsible for the suffering of the thousands of the Palestinian families.

Brababk added that a number of the international solidarity members demonstrated before the caterpillar corporation's headquarter, stormed it and drove its workers outside.

He pointed out that the Palestinian children are willing, with such activities to expose the Israeli practices around the world.

Since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising (Intifada) in September 2000, through January 2005, 3993 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces, while 44403 others have been injured, according to a report published by the Palestinian National Information Center (PNIC) of the Gaza-based State Information Service.

The report mentioned that the number of killed children aged less than 18 years reached 737. Also, 260 females, 344 security members and 817 students were also killed during the years of the Intifada.

The report made clear also that the total number of demolished houses throughout the abovementioned period has reached 69843 including 7438 completely destroyed.