An Antiwar Movement Grows in Israel by Neve Gordon few months after the 1967 war, Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a professor at Hebrew University and a leading Israeli intellectual--who was also an observant Jew--stated that Israel must immediately withdraw from the occupied territories. He argued that the occupation was unjust and would inevitably lead to the oppression and subjugation of the Palestinians, and to the corruption if not destruction of Israeli society. Until his death in the mid-1990s, he continued to criticize the occupation, using piercing, prophetic language to condemn the immorality of Israeli policies. For years, Leibowitz also averred that if 500 reservist soldiers would simultaneously refuse to serve in the territories, the occupation would end. The fifty combat officers and soldiers who announced--in an open letter published on January 25 in the Israeli press--that they would no longer serve in the territories were in many ways following Leibowitz's advice. Already, 125 more soldiers have signed, among them sergeants, lieutenants, captains and even a few colonels (see www.seruv.org.il/defaulteng.asp for the full list). Thousands of Israelis have called a hotline to express support for the group and to donate money to help it publish ads in local papers, while Yesh Gvul ("There Is a Limit"), started by Israelis who refused to serve in Lebanon twenty years ago, is distributing leaflets urging others to join the soldiers' action. A group of women is organizing a petition, claiming that reserve officers are not the only ones carrying the burdens of occupation, while a number of twelfth graders, who will be drafted this coming summer, have also announced that they will not serve in the territories. The fact that the letter has created such a stir both inside the military establishment and in society at large has to do with the profile of those who initiated it: These are not radical leftists but rather people affiliated with Israel's political center and members of the social elite. They have experienced firsthand the effect of the occupation, so their views cannot be dismissed. Shuki Sadeh, a paratrooper reservist who was among the signers, told a newspaper how he had seen an Israeli soldier kill a young Palestinian boy at a distance of 150 meters. "What angered me at the time," Sadeh explained, "was that our soldiers said, 'Well, that's another Arab who has disappeared.'" Ariel Shatil, an artillery master sergeant recently on duty in the Gaza Strip, recalled that while it's claimed that the Palestinians shoot first and Israelis just respond, in reality, "We would start shooting and they would fire back." The Israeli military has been shaken by the letter--not least because the soldiers are discrediting the Israeli depiction of the conflict and exposing the army's excessive use of force--and is now trying to prevent the "damage" from spreading. Rami Kaplan, one signer, has been demoted from his position as deputy commander of a reserve tank battalion, and other signers have been notified that they, too, will be stripped of their command. Yigal Bronner, a Sanskrit scholar who serves in a tank unit and also signed the letter, says, "It is as if both sides [the military and refuseniks] believe Leibowitz's prophecy...the soldiers are committed to amassing 500 conscientious objectors, while the Israeli government and military are afraid that if they do, the occupation will actually end." EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN LETTER We, reserve combat officers and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who were raised upon the principles of Zionism, sacrifice and giving to the people of Israel and to the State of Israel, who have always served in the front lines, and who were the first to carry out any mission, light or heavy, in order to protect the State of Israel and strengthen it; We, combat officers and soldiers, have been on reserve duty all over the occupied territories, and were issued commands and directives that had nothing to do with the security of our country, and that had the sole purpose of perpetuating our control over the Palestinian people. We, whose eyes have seen the bloody toll this occupation exacts from both sides; We, who sensed how the commands issued to us in the territories destroy all the values we had absorbed while growing up in this country; We, who understand now that the price of occupation is the loss of the IDF's human character and the corruption of the entire Israeli society; We, who know that the territories are not Israel, and that all settlements are bound to be evacuated in the end; We hereby declare that we shall not continue to fight this War of the Settlements. We shall not continue to fight beyond the 1967 borders in order to dominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire people. We hereby declare that we shall continue serving in the Israel Defense Forces in any mission that serves Israel's defense. The missions of occupation and oppression do not serve this purpose and we shall take no part in them. EXCERPTS FROM THE LEAFLET SOLDIER: We all want to defend our country. We're all sick and tired of terrorism. We all want peace. But do our actions permit of an end to the cycle of bloodshed? Since 1967, Israel has ruled over 3.5 million Palestinians, running their lives by means of a forcible occupation, with continual violations of human rights. Ask yourself whether your actions in the course of your military service enhance national security? Or do those actions merely fuel the enmity and the acts of violence between us and our Palestinian neighbors? SOLDIER: THE OCCUPATION BREEDS TERRORISM! When you take part in extrajudicial killings ("liquidation," in the army's terms), when you take part in demolishing residential homes, when you open fire at unarmed civilian population or residential homes, when you uproot orchards, when you interdict food supplies or medical treatment, you are taking part in actions defined in international conventions (such as the 4th Geneva Convention) and in Israeli law as war crimes. Soldier, is there a people anywhere in the world that will not resist an occupation regime? If you were in the Palestinians' shoes, would you be willing to bow your head to a foreign ruler? SOLDIER: THE OCCUPATION UNDERMINES OUR COUNTRY The occupation and the violence that it prompts drag the economy down into recession. Investors are in flight, tourists stay away, entire sections of the economy are in collapse. SOLDIER: IT'S IN YOUR HANDS!
Two things of particular note, in my opinion: <B>Ariel Shatil, an artillery master sergeant recently on duty in the Gaza Strip, recalled that while it's claimed that the Palestinians shoot first and Israelis just respond, in reality, "We would start shooting and they would fire back."</B> ... <B>When you take part in extrajudicial killings ("liquidation," in the army's terms), when you take part in demolishing residential homes, when you open fire at unarmed civilian population or residential homes, when you uproot orchards, when you interdict food supplies or medical treatment, you are taking part in actions defined in international conventions (such as the 4th Geneva Convention) and in Israeli law as war crimes. Soldier, is there a people anywhere in the world that will not resist an occupation regime? If you were in the Palestinians' shoes, would you be willing to bow your head to a foreign ruler? </B> I think the next couple of weeks are going to be an interesting time in Israel. Both sides are at fault here, but if Israel is finally willing to settle down, it will be interesting to see if the Palestinians do likewise. Up until this point, people kept saying "Israel is just defending itself", but the first quote above indicates that might not be quite true.
There has been an anti-war movement in Israel for a long time. There are Americans who are against America's foreign policy as well. Just like the Israelis in the story you posted, they are a minority. My question to you is...what is the point of posting this story??
My Point Rocketman Tex in Posting this story is to bring to the attention members of this board that what is heard from the Israeli Press Service is not always the truth. These are soldiers stating that they shot children with no regard for life, that constant barrage of media statements about Israel's attacks being only retaliation might not be true and accurate. I feel this is newsworthy, a government that the U.S. annually gives close to 12.5% on its annual foreign funds which comprises less than 1/1000 of the worlds population, and our funds might be used for atrocities. I think where my tax money is being spent, is very much my business and you should be concerned as well.
Rocketman Tex, Surely its common knowledge that Israel will NOT ALLOW A UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING force there, so the information disseminated about casulties and violence is from the Israel media department. And seeing how the Palestinian news station was destroyed by an Israeli missle helicopter attack, I don't think we're getting their side of the story. Is what i'm saying that far-fetched??
Far-fetched isn't what I was conveying. I agree with the second part of your post. Tough to get the Palestinian side of things when their news station was destroyed, although I'm of the opinion that what that station was broadcasting had as much merit as what Al Jazeera broadcasts. I believe that the lack of a UN Peacekeeping force is irrelevant in this matter. I have no idea what the "Israel Media Department" is. Have you ever tried reading the Jerusalem Post for news in Israel? Any non-government media source is more credible than any government news source, IMHO.
Why not make a deal? Israel pulls out of the occupied territories and respects the boundaries established 1967. Terrorists agree to stop blowing people up. I believe Hamas has already stated they just want the 1967 boundaries established again and they will cease fire. The other terrorist groups must follow suit. In my opinion, there will never again be any gainful peace talks until Israel withdraws from the occupied territories and stops settlements in areas they should not be settling in. You have to give a little to receive. Trying to talk peace while infringing on Palestinian territories is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. A third grader can see that. Why do they make everything so impossible? They can't even talk about talks. As long as Israel continues doing whatever the hell they want to do...the Palestinians will have free reign to do whatever the hell they want to do. I don't understand these people at all. They would rather continue the carnage and all die one by one. I understand if your a Palestinian why you would want to die. I don't understand Israel in this regard. If they value life, then they need to back down some to gain anything. They are not backing down at all...only making things worse for themselves. I also blame US foreign policy in this regard and this is one of the reasons why we have terrorism directed against us now....because we are so one-sided with Israel that we deny they are doing anything wrong. When they do something wrong, we make a one sentence statement saying something that doesn't impact anything. If the US would take a harder stance on what Israel does, then they would probably back down a little instead of doing what they are doing...which is causing more problems for themselves and us. Damn people...
reply to come later, I STRONGLY disagree with surfguy and F.D. Khan about this but I have to go to WORK!!!!
Good post surfguy. We should all applaud the actions of these brave Israelis of conscience. Their actions could bring peace to the Israelis and the 3.5 million Palestinians. This is the first reason in a long time to be optimistic for a change in the Palestinian- Israeli stalemate. The opposition to the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and other major mobilizations started with similarly small numbers.
I'm sure the Native Americans would love for the United States to go back to the 1776 boundries. Should we be relocated to the original 13 colonies. Mexico probably wouldn't mind getting back Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California either, maybe those states should revert to Mexican control. If that doesn't seem like a good idea, maybe they should send some terrorists over to kill innocent people, that would probably make us more compliant right?
<B>I'm sure the Native Americans would love for the United States to go back to the 1776 boundries. Should we be relocated to the original 13 colonies. Mexico probably wouldn't mind getting back Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California either, maybe those states should revert to Mexican control. If that doesn't seem like a good idea, maybe they should send some terrorists over to kill innocent people, that would probably make us more compliant right?</B> If the people in Texas, New Mexico, etc were treated like sub-humans, then yeah, we probably should be given back to Mexico. If the US just came in and randomly bashed people's homes in Texas so people from Oklahoma could move in, then yeah, Texas probably should be given back to Mexico. Of course, none of these are true, so your analogy falls apart. Nice try, though.
originally posted by Franchise2001 reply to come later, I STRONGLY disagree with surfguy and F.D. Khan about this but I have to go to WORK!!! Strange !! What are you going to say ?? it's clear now for everybody on this board that your israeli soldiers have had earned Phd Degree in killing Kids and the other acts of " terorrism " . originally posted by Major If the people in Texas, New Mexico, etc were treated like sub-humans, then yeah, we probably should be given back to Mexico. If the US just came in and randomly bashed people's homes in Texas so people from Oklahoma could move in, then yeah, Texas probably should be given back to Mexico. Of course, none of these are true, so your analogy falls apart. Nice try, though. Thanks for admitting the truth Major . but where are The U.S goverments from all this crimes ? they always claim that they defend human rights ? how can they aid a group of terorrists ?
When did Q8 Rocket get back in? And he goes right back to what he got banned for in the first place (Evil Zionist Jews are murdering innocent children! Filthy terrorist Zionists! Kill the Jews! Kill them All !!! Arrrrgghhh!)... Now taking bets for the date of Q8 Rocket's second banning... Does this mean that getting banned is only a temporary thing?
lol ! Treeman you better have some answers on these questions , otherwise go and search for some articles from your garbage ! one more thing baby , i think we need to hear your comments om what those soldiers said .. ok ?? nevertheless , i don't think i got banned before
Q8 Rocket: My garbage? I actually search the whole net, read dailies (papers), read analysis papers... You post only from sources that spew anti-US/Israel crap. You have yet to post a single nuetral article. Soldiers? You mean the Israeli reservists and the panel of ex- IDF officers? I have posted quite a bit on that in *that other thread*, which you obviously didn't read. But just to reiterate: they are by far a minority in Israel right now. The vast majority of Israelis do not support an unconditional withdrawal. Show me an actual poll that says otherwise, and I will shut up. Until you do that I will consider you wrong - rightly, since I actually follow Israeli polls... You cannot twist this into a "massive peace movement that Israel wants" until then. If you didn't get banned, then why did you disappear for so long? I'm inclined to think that you are incapable of controling yourself, since your barrage tonight has all but screamed "Kill the Jews!". *Admins*, was he actually banned? If so, how did he get back in?
We certainly did not treat the Native Americans any better than the Palestinians have been treated by Israel. The United States wiped out 95% of their population. We took basically all of their land (the reservations are small enough as to be considered irrelevent.) Sure we treat Native Americans better now, but it took us a couple hundred years. In many places in the southwest, especially in California, the Mexican people are treated very poorly. For instance, farmer labor contractors cannot face criminal charges for cheating farm workers, most of the Latino, out of pay and benefits provided by the farmer on their behalf. Latinos are pulled over dispropotionately in comparison to whites (racial profiling). I would definately say that they are treated as second class citizens, just as are the Palestinians living in Isreal. Perhaps the things that you mentioned are not as far off as you thought. So I guess you would like America to collapse back to the original thirteen colonies. Are you ready to hand some of our states back to Mexico now?Would you be more willing if some young Mexican men came into a Houston nightclub and started killing people, or maybe if they blew up a bus in San Francisco. I am not saying that the Palestinians are not mistreated. I wish that the Israelis would treat them better. But I do not think that they should be forced to hand over one acre of land to Palestine any more than we should be deported back to Europe.
