The amazing strength of the people of Kibbutz Metzer
November 15, 2002
[] The amazing strength of the people of Kibbutz Metzer
[] Human Chain Stops Bulldozer Destruction
[] The Palestinian olive harvest still threatened and still struggling towards completion
[] The olive thieves - revealing comment by a Ha'aretz senior military commentator
[] Weekend vigils - a few updates
[] Sunday, a Yesh Gvul discussion on the International Criminal Court - advertisement
was censored...
[] Refusers update + what you can do from wherever you are
[] The amazing strength of the people of Kibbutz Metzer
Five people shot to death from short range, among them two children and their mother. The work of one man with a gun, the act claimed by a Palestinian militant group. The Kibbutz infiltrated - a model of good relations with their Palestinian neighbors, as could be verified on TV: never had there been so many (if any) Arabs to join the saddened crowd in a funeral after a terrorist attack. There were those who say - as quoted in the media - that "it was done on purpose, out of a hatred not just blind but poised to weaken the Israelis who try to achieve a fair compromise." But from the publicity and also our own impression it is clear that the ideas of this Kibbutz near the Green Line have gained an audience as it never had before.
Not only journalists from all over the world but also Israelis - public personalities and just normal people embarked on the Kibbutz. Most of them heard for the first time of the efforts by the Metzer people to change the plans for the Separation Wall - also to be erected on their eastside. In vain Metzer tried to convince the authorities to build the wall - if at all - not at the expense of Palestinian farmland. Why not build it on the Green Line, or - if there is needed space around it - then at the expense of the Kibbutz' lands. After all, whom was The Wall supposed to benefit... Such logic, the logic of "trying to keep the neighbors satisfied", is not at all common in today's Israel.
So, the surprised readers of the mass circulation daily Ma'ariv had to swallow on the day after the attack a headline - quoted from a Kibbutz representative - "The Occupation Is The Cause Of Terrorism."
All the peace movements went there as individuals or groupswise. Speaking with a few of the Kibbutz members, one gets the impression of people who are very hurt, and who may never anymore go around in the dark without fear, but nevertheless they are not ready to give up their belief in openness and good relations, the relations which they have built over decades, real neighborly relations with the Arabs among whom they live, inside and over the Green Line, many of whom come and mourn with them day after day.
[] Human Chain Stops Bulldozer Destruction
On 14 Nov 2002, at 10:01, Huwaida Arraf
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT (ISM)
HUMAN CHAIN STOPS BULLDOZER DESTRUCTION
[Jayyous, West Bank] At 7:30 this morning over 150 Palestinian farmers, and international and Israeli human rights activists gathered in the path of Israeli police jeeps, and bulldozers with the goal of blocking the bulldozers from continuing with the destruction of Jayyous' olive groves and agricultural land. Despite curfew that was imposed on the village, men and women, old and young, made their way to the land, linked arms and confronted the oncoming jeeps, private security van and bulldozer. At the same time, four international activists chained themselves to olive trees scheduled to be uprooted to make way for the 'separation wall' that the Israeli government is building.
The will of these civilians to use their bodies to resist the continued destruction of their land won out as the jeeps and bulldozer pulled back, waited about an hour, then withdrew from the area completely. At about 11:00am, the Mayor of Jayyous, Fayez Saleem, accompanied by Canadian citizen Darlene Cox and an Israeli activist planted a sapling on the site, in the place of the hundreds of Jayyous' olive trees that had been uprooted and as a symbol of life and the determination of the people that will not be crushed. The gatherers then broke out in song, first the Palestinian national anthem, then "We Shall Overcome" before they marched through the town in defiance of the Israeli-imposed curfew.
The site of the gathering this morning is a site where a great amount of work has already been done to clear the land for the 'separation wall' and only 50 meters from the homes of Jayyous residents. The wall being erected by the Israeli government is being brought 6-8 kilometers inside the Green Line and is destroying and isolating up to 80%
of Jayyous' agricultural land.
"We want the world to know that this wall is not being erected to provide security for the Israelis; it's just another ploy by the Israeli government to steal more Palestinian land. They are taking our land and water and sowing the seeds of hatred" said village representative,
Sharif Omar.
Digital pictures and video available. Some pictures on the site.
For more information:
Huwaida Arraf
[] The Palestinian olive harvest still threatened and still struggling towards completion
[For the joint action of Ta’ayush, Rabbis for Human Rights and Gush Shalom we make use of the Ta’ayush message which gives the most background. For photos and report of the Gush Shalom harvest action on Nov. 9, http://www.gush-shalom.org/english/index.html]
Olive harvest at Einabus tomorrow, following settlers' attack on olive pickers today.
--- Ta'ayush, Arab-Jewish Partnership
At the beginning of this week, the Minister of Defense promised that the army would allow the Palestinians to complete their olive harvest. Today the settlers of Kfar Tapuach interrupted the olive harvest in the village of
Jama’in – they menaced the villagers, assaulted them and stole their olives.
At the same time, settlers from Yitz’har – where a Ta’ayush activist had been shot and wounded a month ago – again assaulted a group of Palestinian and Israeli pickers in the olive groves of Einabus, leaving one of them with a head injury (see detailed description below)
The olive groves have become one of the main sources of income in the Palestinian territories, since work in Israel is not permitted. For some, it its the only source of income. The harvest is a seasonal activity, but it's
economic importance extends throughout the year.
It is therefore very important to support the olive harvest until the season's end
Tomorrow, Friday Nov. 15th, activists of Gush Shalom, Rabbis for Human Rights and Ta'ayush will Join the olive harvest at Einabus
We'll meet at the El Al terminal, Rakevet Tsafon, at 8:30 AM.
Ya’acov Manor was at Einabus today:
Hillel Bardin, who was in the second group, reports:
[] The olive thieves - revealing comment by a Ha'aretz senior military commentator
How the olive thieves shamed Israel
By Ze'ev Schiff
Rarely has any issue caused the IDF (and Israel) such deep embarrassment as the West Bank settlers plundering the olive harvest of Palestinian farmers, and then burning and destroying their crops and damaging their trees.
Chief of Staff Major-General Moshe Ya'alon finally took it upon himself to deal with the problem, going out to the areas in question and sending troops to sensitive regions. Today the olive harvest has been resumed and is continuing undisturbed.
The olive harvest plundering has become an impossible diplomatic issue for Israel. There was scarcely one European Foreign Ministry that did not react to the issue and send complaints to Israel - and the story reached the White House. All this is especially embarrassing for the IDF, which is responsible for law and order in the territories.
Armed robbery from Palestinians farmers is something that undermines the war against terrorism, and it was also an embarrassment because the armed settlers doing the thieving
were citing security excuses and religious halakhic justifications. They carried out military activities, behaving like armed vigilantes without the approval
of the police or military. Not only the Palestinian peasants were surprised - so was the army.
Staff Ya'alon told his top brass that olive plundering is moral corruption and a flouting par excellence of the rule of law. He said it damaged Israel's political interests because it undermined the state's legitimate right to defend itself from terrorist activity. Ya'alon went on a
number of tours to places where most of the attacks on the olive pickers had happened. On his visits to Itamar and Tapuach settlements he severely slammed these acts. He
discussed the issue with the commander of the Shomron Brigade and ordered strict supervision to make sure the olive looters were stopped.
The olive robbers had learned to exploit the numerous missions and the shortage of personnel burdening the IDF. The eventual reinforcement with troops cooled the inflamed atmosphere somewhat and enabled the Palestinian farmers to go about their work. Apart from one case of shooting from a distance toward the olive pickers, the work is proceeding normally.
Olive harvesting usually lasts until the end of December, and this year's crop was particularly abundant, proving another motive for the settler looting. In all Prime Minister Sharon's meetings with the American president, George Bush has emphasized the importance of Israel using humanitarian conduct toward the Palestinians - the
president's aides and the State Department keep harping on humanitarian issues.
Sharon and his representatives promised to take care of such issues, but the olive plundering seemed to prove that Israel's promises had no substance.
Israel has also agreed to American demands to transfer funds it owes to the Palestinian Authority. On this Israel has been arguing that some of this money could go to people and groups that continue terrorist acts against Israel.
[] Weekend vigils - a few updates
On Friday, the Women in Black -often together with some men - stand at different places, mostly between 1.00 and 2.00. They only seldom sent out messages to call for extra
participnts, or to update those who publish billboards.
On this Saturday night Peace Now's vigils resume - we got these updates:
Re Tel-Aviv, "Ori Ginat"
Shalom, Shalom!
It's a week after the Labor party left the settlements government, we now we have the SETTLERS' GOVERNMENT. The new defense minister is already checking the 'legality' of the more than 100 new outposts in order to examine his options.
This Saturday, November 16, we will protest opposite Rabin Gate in Tel Aviv (Kyria, Kaplan Street). We will call for the government and its leadership to EVACUATE the outposts - whether they are 'less-illegal' or 'more-illegal' - and likewise for the settlements themselves.
When? Saturday night16/11 at 19:00
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS
Re Jerusalem "Sylvia Piterman"
Hello Friends of Peace Now in Jerusalem,
This Shabbat - 16.11.02 at 20:00 - we will return with renewed strength to protest opposite the PM residence under the slogan:
Join us in our efforts! We need your help in handing out fliers throughout the city and in enlisting all efforts in the cause fo the struggle for peace.
If you can help, please call Shiri : 02-5660648 or 054-687539 or send an e-mail to shiri@peacenow.org.il
Our daily protest vigils in front of the PM residence continue
[] Sunday, a Yesh Gvul discussion on the International Criminal Court - advertisement was censored...
On 13 Nov 2002, at 11:57, peretz kidron
Ha'aretz (11.11.2002) reports that Israel's Justice Ministry is to name a special team to "assess the risk of Israeli military personnel and politicians being arrested and brought to trial abroad on war crime charges". This follows a meeting of senior officials, convened personally by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - a clear indication of the
"concern" of the Israeli establishment over "the growing trend in international law to grant cross-border judicial powers for crimes such as the killing of civilians and
torture". Sharon has named National Security Council chief Ephraim Halevy - another heavyweight - to coordinate measures to deal with these "legal risks".
The report recalls that in May 2001, "a group of survivors and relatives of victims from the Sabra and Chatila massacres filed suit against Sharon in a Belgian court on a
charge of war crimes," whereupon "Sharon canceled a planned visit to Belgium ..."
As part of the campaign against the human rights abuses and war crimes being perpetrated in the occupied Palestinian territories, Yesh Gvul will hold a public debate on
THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Participants:
Adv. Yossi Arnon
Admission free - the audience will be invited to join in the debate
Beit Shmuel, 6, Shama St., Jerusalem
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17
[The army weekly "Bamaheneh" refused to publish a paid advertisement about the debate. The rejection - on grounds of "censorship"! - came shortly after Alan Baker, legal advisor to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, who initially consented to take part in the debate, abruptly cancelled.
Is it us who are paranoid, or them ?....!]
Peretz Kidron * Ram Rahat-Goodman
[] Refusers update + what you can do from wherever you are
On 13 Nov 2002, at 22:50, David Raban
[Updated on the basis of other information by TOI.]
As far as I know there are currently 12v objectors in military prisons: But first some good news:
Released :
-Salman Salaame, a Druze conscientious objector, was tried this week to two and a half months in prison, which he had already spent in jail awaiting his trial , so he was
released. however, he was told to report again, and his requests to see a consciense committee or a psychologist were refused, so he will probably be jailed again.
Newly imprisoned:
-V.N. OT objector, sentenced to 28 days in prison no. 6. his term will end on December 12th.
-Yoni Ben-Artzi was sentenced on Sunday to an additional term of 28 days. So the total number of days in prison for him (including the current one) is 126 days. This is longer than usual. This term is the fifth one in a row.
Here is a brief summery of Yoni's case:
However , his appeal to the court was not without some benefits: as a result it is now allowed to bring a lawyer to the committee and it's procedures are regulated by law
(until then it was not so). it is worthwhile to mention that until the present day none of the draft resistors who applied were exempt.
Letters of support for Yoni can be sent to mbartzi@yahoo.com.
-Uri Ya'akobi, draft resistor, also re-sentenced on Sunday to 28 days in prison no.4. Also for him this is the fifth consecutive term. So far, he spent 77 days in jail. In the
beginning he got a lot of post - in reaction to his open letter "I am no occupier, full stop" - but the stream has dried up a bit...
Other objectors currently in jail:
-Avi Ende, pacifist, 26 years old. Weas sentenced to 28 days, he is due to be released this Friday.
-Haggai Mattar, draft resistor, sentenced to 28 days
-Dror Boymel, draft resistor . He is at the moment in prison no.4. Dror is vegan, i.e. he does not consume food that comes from animals (such as meat, cheese, eggs...) because of his belief in non-violence and his objection to mistreatment of animals. In Prison no 4. , where he is currently held, his family cannot bring him any other food. During his first 28 days he has lost over 5 kg. In weight, and he weights less than 50 kg (110 lb.). He is 175cm tall (5.7 feet) and his family is worried about his health, but... Dror himself reports that he is okay.
-Yoni Yehezkel, draft resistor, in prison no.4
-Ig'al Onik, OT objector, in prison no.6.
-Idna Eizner, OT objector, in prison no.6.
-Dr. Ig'al bronner, a professor pf Asian studies in Tel Aviv univesitly and a OT objector, in prison no.6.
What can we do?
First of all, please circulate this information widely.
Other recommendations for action:
1. Sending Letters of Support for Prisoners
[Prisoner's name]
Messages of support could also be sent to all imprisoned objectors by e-mail, at mailto:dash@seruv.org.il
In addition to the letters of support, you can also send packages to prisoners (to counter the Israeli custom of sending gift packages to soldiers). You can use the POB above for that purpose. Note that there is no way to insert foodstuffs into the prison. Books, on the other hand, are the prisoner's best friends.
2. Letters to Authorities
It is recommended to send letters of protest on behalf of the objectors to:
Mr. Shaul Mofaz,
Copies can be sent to the commanders of the prisons at:
Commander of Military Prison No. 4,
In the cases of draft resisters and conscripts it would be especially useful to send your appeals to the Commander of the Induction Base in Tel-Hashomer. It is this officer that
ultimately decides whether an objector is to be exempted from military service or sent to another round in prison:
Deborah Chassid
You can also protest to the local Israeli embassy, you can find the addresses on the web:
Thank you,
-----
TOI-Billboard replaces the Gush Shalom Billboard
In order to receive Gush Shalom's own announcements subscribe to the Gush Shalom
list by sending request to info@gush-shalom.org
Subscribe to TOI-Billboard by sending one blank mail to
TOI_Billboard-subscribe@topica.com
The Other Israel peace movement magazine
pob 2542, Holon 58125, Israel; ph/fx: +972-3-5565804;
for free sample hardcopy mailto: otherisr@actcom.co.il
http://members.tripod.com/~other_Israel/
Municipality of Jayyous
Thursday, November 14, 2002
Huwaida: +972-67-473-308
Jayyous Municipality: +972-9-290-0033
ISM office: +972-2-277-4602
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org
"If the people lead, the leaders will follow"
Contacts: Einat 053-554815 / Beate 056-709604
"A group of 10 people arrived at 9:30 at Einabus and split into two groups. My group headed towards a field close to the settlement. When we arrived I heard shots being fired – both in our direction and at the other group below us. As soon as I heard the shots I called the police and the army.
I was told they would send forces to the area. The settlers accompanied by Yitz’hars security man, came close, started to threaten us and demanded that we leave the premises. They were shooting in the air and threw stones at us.
One of the pickers, Or Gerlitz was wounded in his head
and was cleared to the hospital an hour later. The settlers also stole someone’s handbag and my phone book. The police arrived after 10 minutes. We were going to remain in the fields and continue picking olives, but the army wouldn’t let us stay, and they threatened the Palestinians with arrest unless they left their lands. They promised, however, to allow us to pick olives in the northern area tomorrow."
"When we neared the trees, we heard the settlers yelling at us. Later we heard gun shots and we saw them coming down, about a dozen, all the while shouting, cursing and threatening. We decided that the Palestinians should return to the village, and we stayed to continue the picking. About an hour later the army arrived."
Ha'aretz 11.11.2002
Where? Rabin Gate, corner of Kaplan & Arnea, HaKirya, Tel Aviv
More Info? Ori: 03-5663291 or 054-405157 or ori@peacenow.org.il
Elections are drawing near and we, as peace activists must work harder than ever in order to do our best to bring about a change.
NO MORE DIPLOMATIC REFUSAL!!!!
Adv. Michael Sfard
Dr. Yehuda Meltzer
Subject: [New Profile] update on imprisoned objectors 13.11.02
Ig'al Bronner was transferred this week to military prison no. 6 , after he was first jailed in a detention camp where he received severe treatment. Today's update will include information about released objectors, objectors that have
been newly imprisoned, and also information about objectors that have been re-imprisoned. As usual , in the end of the update you will find information where to send letters of protest, and let us not forget the objectors themselves who will be very happy to get letters of support.
-Niv Goldkin & Yuval Endorn, both reservists, were released this week. There is no danger for further imprisonment in the next few months.
-Ofer Sela, Occupied Territories (OT) objector, 34 years old, married and a father to 3 children was sentenced to 18 days in prison no. 6. his term will end on 26.11.
Yoni, a student of physics & mathematics in the Hebrew university, is a pacifist, and refuses to serve in the army for reasons of non-violence. He has applied to the "conscience committee" , in order to be exempt from the
service, but his request was denied. He then applied to the supreme court of justice, which sent him , for the third time to the committee. Again, his objections were denied, and he applied again to the court. This time the judges decided they do not want to interfere with the army's decision.
Please send the prisoners your messages of support to the addresses above or to:
POB 16238
Tel-Aviv
Israel.
Minister of Defence,
Ministry of Defence,
37 Kaplan St.,
Tel-Aviv 61909,
Israel.
E-mail:sar@mod.gov.il or pniot@mod.gov.il
Fax: ++972-3-696-27-57 / ++972-3-691-69-40 / ++972-3-691-79-15
Military Prison No. 4,
Military postal number 02507,
IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-957-52-76
Commander of Induction Base, Tel-Hashomer
Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
Israel.
Fax: ++972-3-737-60-52
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfh/Eng/Ntz/Ntz_Israel.asp?seek=1&let=85
David Raban,
New Profile.
