Dear Friends,

With the onset of the moratorium on building in Judea and Samaria, the Legal Forum has requested donations towards the purchase of cameras. Unfortunately, our predictions were proven to be true as news reports have reported that since the freeze went into effect police brutality has escalated to highs that we have not experienced in the past. These cameras we have requested, regrettably, are needed in order to document security forces activities and violence that will ensue in enforcing the freeze. The only weapons we have to defend ourselves with are cameras!

Almost four years after the pogrom at Amona, human rights activists are still identifying the perpetrators from photographs we took. Slowly the police are being brought to court, where these photographs serve as evidence. To this day, we work together with other human rights organizations to supply photographic evidence of police brutal.

Peace Now regularly photographs IDF activities and provides cameras to Palestinians in the area. A battalion commander (Magad) was dismissed on the basis of a video clip taken by an Arab girl from 100 meters (!) away. Peace Now, as we all know, is funded by the EU, and has unlimited funds. We do not.

To do the work properly, we need many, many more cameras, and we must teach people to use them! In addition, cameras damaged or confiscated in confrontations with the authorities must be replaced.

Friends have suggested sending camcorders from abroad. We prefer to buy them here in Israel for the sake of uniformity. This way, if our photographers have been trained to use one specific model, they won't have to waste time with an unfamiliar model. Parts can be transferred from one camera to the other. Finally, service availability in Israel is a vital factor.

We are fighting to protect human rights of Israeli citizens with the only democratic means available to us.

Your support is crucial. We will keep you informed of further developments.

Estimate
Canon FS200 Camcorder

Camcorder NIS 2050. US $ 541.00
Canon Lighting equipment 1490. $ 393.00
Accessories bag 180 $ 47.00
Photographer's vest 190. $ 50.00
Reserve battery 650. $ 172.00
Microphone 680. $ 180.00

Total per camera $ 1383.00
Prices include VAT.
Delivery within 10 working days.

Visit our website: http://www.haforum.org.il

For credit card donations: http://www.haforum.org.il/newsite/donations.asp