dark days full of protest
December 19, 2002

[] Your help needed - to tell the Induction Center Commander: Don't imprison refusers indefinitely - allow them to see the Incompatibility Commission
[] Gush Shalom: Rubinstein trying to achieve Arab elections boycot
[] Friday: Jane Fonda at the peace tent, Neve Shalom/Wahat a-Salaam
[] Saturday Dec. 21 Interfaith Youth March
[] Saturday: Sale of Palestinian Olive Oil in Kafr Kassem -Ta'ayush
[] Sunday, Hebron demonstration - Peace Now
[] Ta'ayush-Jerusalem: a protest on Christmas Eve near the entrance to Bethlehem
[] Friday, Dec. 27: Women in Black Mega Vigil
[] Ami Isseroff: You only understand when it happens to someone you know re the arrest of Ibrahim Issa - of Hope Flowers school

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[] Your help needed - to tell the Induction Center Commander: Don't imprison refusers indefinitely - allow them to see the Incompatibility Commission

Not all Israeli youngsters are willing or able to step over their conscience and become a soldier in the IDF in the present circumstances. Since Israel doesn't recognize the right to refuse they are put in prison without end, again and again tried for the same offence. Only when the army decides can they see the army's "Incompatibility Commission" (the only way out of the vicious circle) but it seems the army prefers now to break the upswell of dissent by pure force.

Right now 15 refusers are in jail; four of them have accumulated about 100 or more days in the far from easy conditions of the military prison, and no end in sight.

Please write 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
Commander of Induction Base, Tel-Hashomer
Military Postal Code 02718, IDF
Israel.

Copies of appeals in can also be sent to:

Head of Incompatibles Unit
Induction Base (Baqum)
Tel-Hashomer
Fax: ++972-3-737-67-05.

You can use the following sample or make your own text:

To: Deborah Chassid
Commander of Induction Base, Tel-Hashomer

Dear Madam

Over the past months, you and your subordinate officers have condemned young conscientious objectors to repeated terms of imprisonment. I urge you to allow them, after 100 days or more, to see at last the Incompatibility Commission, which in the past provided discharge for conscientious objectors. There is no justice to keeping serious youngsters behind bars indefinitely. No amount of imprisonment will convince them to change their deeply held convictions, for which several of them were already recognized as Prisoners of Conscience by Amnesty International.

I don't understand your hesitation. What could be more imcompatible with serving in the army than being opposed to violence in general and occupation rule over another people in particular?

The four longest serving COs:

Yonathan Ben Artzi, 6th sentence, total of 161 days’ imprisonment;
Uri Yaakovi - 6th sentence, total: 133 days’ imprisonment;
Dror Boimel - 5th sentence, total: 119 days’ imprisonment;
Yoni Yehezkiel – 4th sentence, total: 98 days’ imprisonment.

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[] Gush Shalom: Rubinstein trying to achieve Arab elections boycott
[Ha'aretz ad, Dec. 20]

POLITICAL TRANSFER

The request of the Attorney General to remove an Arab party from the next Knesset is part of an ongoing tendency to the transfer of the Arab citizens from Israel's political system.

This is stupidity bordering upon crime: it is denying the civil rights of each fifth Israeli and creates an abyss between the two societies in this state.

There is another purpose hidden in these proceedings: to get the Arab citizens into the trap of boycotting the elections. That will ensure the victory of the nationalistic-religious camp, of which Elyakim Rubinstein is a faithful servant

Gush Shalom
Help us with donations to
P.O.Box 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033
Phone 972-3-5221732
http://www.gush-shalom.org info@gush-shalom.org

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[] Friday: Jane Fonda at the peace tent, Neve Shalom/Wahat a-Salaam
From: "dorit"
Because of security reasons we make lists of participants to the event. If you plan to come, please send to me a list of people that are coming with you

Love
Dorit Shippin,
Coordinator,
Doumia ~ Sakina,
The Pluralistic Spiritual Center in Memory of Bruno Hussar Neve-Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam
Doar Na Shimshon 99761 Israel

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[] Saturday Dec. 21 Interfaith Youth March
From: "Rabbis for Human Rights"

Peace is Possible. We have been asked to help find Jewish participants for Caritas Jerusalem which, in coordination with five local schools and Communities in Jerusalem, is planning an after noon vigil to Maison D'abraham, on Saturday December 21st a week before Christmas 2002. Two hundred Children between the ages of 10-13; Christians, Muslims, and Jews residents of Jerusalem, and neighbors accompanied by their teachers; will collectively march from the Church of Gethsemane representing sorrow & pain, up through the cemeteries, representing death, to Maison D'abraham, with lit candles, representing life and hope, jointly praying for enduring peace and an end to injustice and violence in the Holy Land. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS IN TERMS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN - EVEN A BIT OLDER, WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.

The march has been pushed back from 16:00 to 17:00 at our request, meaning that shomrei shabbat can either come on foot or come a bit late. For those wishing to arrive on foot, let us know so we can walk together and arrange for return transportation.

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[] Saturday: Sale of Palestinian Olive Oil in Kafr Kassem -Ta'ayush
> From: Or Gerlitz

[There have been several initiatives of activists selling olive oil directly from the Palestinin farmers, the same ones whom we assisted during the olive harvest. Here follows news of a more systematic effort.]

Sale of Palestinian Olive Oil in Kafr Kassem

The widespread mobilization of many left and human rights organizations put the issue of settler interference with the olive harvest on the public agenda both in Israel and abroad. This year, as a result of Palestinian determination and the help of Israeli and International activists, the olive harvest took place throughout the West Bank, and many many dunams of olives which the Palestinians had been unable to harvest during the last three years were harvested this year. The result is large quantities of olives and olive oil.

If the Palestinians were able to sell the oil, this would at least mitigate the economic plight but the system of oppression continues: on the one hand, export permits to Jordan and the Gulf states have been cancelled, while on the other hand, Israel has raised obstacles to the sale of Palestinian oil here, encouraging instead the import of oil from abroad.

As a continuation of our olive harvesting activities, and as an act of solidarity and protest, we have decided to mobilize once again to help Palestinian farmers sell their olive oil in Israel. Come and participate in this act of solidarity by buying Palestinian olive oil. (It will be possible to buy olive oil in 2-liter, 4-liter, or 18-liter containers).

The sale will take place under any whether conditions in MO'ADON HA-HISTADRUT in front of the Kafr Kassem Local Council building on:

Friday, December 20th, 1p.m.- 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 21st, 10 a.m. - 4p.m.

(Car-owners coming from Tel Aviv on Saturday are requested to pick up passengers at the El-Al Terminal of the Arlozorov train station at 11 a.m.)

Those who arrive to the village and need directions, call Muhammad 050-631449, Yaacov 050-733276, Or 055-967231

Ta'ayush - Arab-Jewish partnership

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[] Sunday, Hebron demonstration - Peace Now
From: "Ori Ginat"

Dear Friends,

This coming Sunday (December 22) Peace Now will carry out a demonstration in Hebron, in front of the new settlement there. The messianic madness of the Jewish settlement in Hebron brings us and the Palestinians more deaths and more wounded.

Following the recent events in Hebron, the Prime Minister has decided on an additional madness: to allow a Promanade ('Tayalet') that will connect the settlement of Kiryat Arba with the cave of the Patriarchs. To accommodate this present insanity, among others, orders have been issued for the destruction of 10s of Palestinian homes - homes of Palestinians who are absolutely innocent of wrong doing.

Come with us, help to stop this insanity and do not allow a group of messianic fanatics to run our state.

DEMONSTRATION IN HEBRON!
Sunday, December 22

Transportation will depart Tel Aviv (Northern Train Station) at 07:45 and from Jerusalem's Gan haPaamon at 09:00.

IMPORTANT: you MUST confirm your seat on the bus: For Tel Aviv: Ori 03-5663291 or 054-405157. ori@peacenow.org.il
For Jerusalem: Shiri: 02-5660648 or 054687539 shiri@peacenow.org.il

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[] Ta'ayush-Jerusalem: a protest on Christmas Eve near the entrance to Bethlehem
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "Taayush Jerusalem"

Put an End to the Curfew, Stop the Bloodshed and Bloodletting on Both Sides!

Join us for a protest on Christmas Eve near the entrance to Bethlehem.
Tuesday, the 24th of December At 12:00 noon.

In the hours before Christmas Day, when the eyes of the world are focused on Bethlehem, we will call - alongside our Palestinian partners - for an end to the occupation and the violence.

Bethlehem has been under continual curfew for almost an entire month. During much of this time, people have been unable to go to work, children have not gone to school, produce has not reached the markets, and trade and medical facilities have all but come to a standstill. People who visited the city recently were shocked at the destruction and the resulting rubbish, which was piling up on the city streets.

Assassinations and house demolitions have become routine.

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[] Friday, Dec. 27: Women in Black Mega Vigil
Date sent: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 17:12:38 +0300
From: info@coalitionofwomen4peace.org

Coalition of Women for a Just Peace
Corner of Ben Zion Blvd. and King George St., Tel-Aviv
Friday, 27 December 2002, 12:00 noon - 2 p.m.

Since December 1987, the Palestinian people have been struggling for an independent state, free of settlements. They will fight for this right to their last drop of blood...or ours.

Occupation has exacted a heavy toll in racism: threats of transfer, a separation fence, creation of Palestinian ghettos, and trampling of the human and civil rights of Palestinians both inside and outside Israel.

All these undermine the legitimacy of the state of Israel and sustain a never-ending cycle of bloodshed that must be stopped!

Occupation - Racism - Transfer - Death!

We - women who struggle daily against discrimination and violence against women - reject all forms of racism and oppression against the Palestinians in the occupied territories and those who are citizens of Israel. We are:

* For living in mutual respect and peace between our nations.
* Against racism and violence in our lives.
* For evacuating the settlements and returning to peace negotiations with the Palestinian leadership.
* Against occupation and the bloodshed on both sides.

Ending the occupation will give both sides a new lease on life.

Women and Men - dressed in black - are invited to A mass Women in Black vigil:

Corner of Ben Zion Blvd. and King George St., Tel-Aviv Friday, 27 December 2002, 12:00 noon - 2 p.m.

To include street theater and other events

Departure points for buses carrying banners:
Acre: 09:15 from the Sherut station to Haifa (opposite Egged) - Olivia (051-964-617).
Haifa: 10:15 from Kikar Solel Boneh (near Migdal HaNevi'im) - Edna (054-691-995).
Nazareth: 09:45 from Beit Yedidut (on Paul VI Street) - Nisrin (064-557-767).
Jerusalem: 10:15 from Gan HaPa'amon (Liberty Bell Park) - Gila (067-515-797).

For more information: Yoni (050) 439-316; Dita (052) 439-009; Gila (067) 515-797.

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[] Ami Isseroff: You only understand when it happens to someone you know re: the arrest of Ibrahim Issa - of Hope Flowers school
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: MEW/PEACE

You only understand when it happens to someone you know
Ami Isseroff
Dec. 18, 2002

Yesterday (December 17) my friend was arrested. He is being held without charges. It took an entire day to find out where he is being held. "Not possible" you say, "We live in a democracy." It is possible, and it happened. My friend is a Palestinian. He is not likely to be a terrorist. He helps run the Hope Flowers school that has become an international byword for peace and coexistence. Nonetheless, his house was nearly destroyed. Tonight he sleeps somewhere in a jail in Gush Etzion. His worried family in Bethlehem will not sleep.

Israelis are not aware that beyond the green line, in the occupied territories, there is no rule of law. Our media do not tell us. Nobody is willing to believe it. You only understand when it happens to someone you know...

You are asleep in your house. It is 4 AM. You are awakened by voices of soldiers and marched off to jail. There are no charges, there is no appeal. Your arrest is not announced. At 8 AM bulldozers come to destroy your home. There was no hearing and no trial. You are kept in a detention cell. You do not have your medicines. You do not have warm clothing. Your relatives do not know where you are and cannot find you. There is no one to call, nobody who will give out information. Your loved ones wander from official to official asking "Where is he?" "What are the charges?." but there are no answers at all for many hours, only "call later," "it is not my department."

Where did it happen? Was it a scene out of a novel by Franz Kafka? A Gothic tale of medieval horror? A tragedy of the third Reich? A day in the life of Ivan Denisovitch? A barbaric societal atavistic aberration in a benighted Islamic Republic? No, it is nobody's imagination, and it did not happen in the USSR, or in Germany or in an Islamic Republic.

It happened in Israel, less than 50 kilometers fromm where I live. It happened to my friend, a man of peace, Ibrahim Issa of Hope Flowers school in El Khader. It did not happen long ago. It happened just now, December 17. It is not a unique occurrence. It happens every day, to many people who are less lucky than Ibrahim Issa, who may have no friends in Israel and the USA to vouch for them, to alert the US Embassy to stop the bulldozers from destroying their homes. Ibrahim Issa and his family run the Hope Flowers school, which has a sterling reputation for upholding values of democracy and coexistence even in the very worst conditions (see http://www.mideastweb.org/hopeflowers). The school was cited as an example of the hope for peace by Hillary Clinton, in the long ago day when the peace process was still alive, and there was still hope for Palestinians and Israelis.

By all indications, Issa made an innocent mistake. He rented a room to one Bilal, who said he was a night watchman from Yatta. Billal gave the keys to his room to Tanzim terrorists. When the IDF caught the terrorists, they decided to mete out punishment and ask questions later. Most people are scarcely aware of this nightmare reality. Israelis are insulated from it by media that do not report it, by the will to ignore reality beyond the green line, and by the invisibility of Palestinians to the Israeli mindset. The near-destruction of the Issaa home rated one or two lines in reports in the media. That is an exception. There might have been no report at all, but for the fact that intervention by the American Embassy prevented destruction of the house at the last moment. Issa's arrest and detention were not reported at all. How many other Ibrahim Issas have been detained without trial? How many families have lost their homes for no reason? How many people have lost life or limb? Not by the hands of vile terrorists or by accident, but by the operation of our Israeli army, of which we are so justly proud. We are doing these things - we and our sons and our daughters.

This is the reality of occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. No due process, no judicial oversight until after the fact, if ever. It is the reality experienced by millions of Palestinians each day. "Justice" administered by young officers who are judge, jury and executioner. Ibrahim's "justice" was meted out by a soldier in the border guards, let's call him Uzi. Uzi may have no idea what Hope Flowers school is about. He may not know that Hope Flowers is a favorite project of Hillary Clinton, and that his actions are embarrassing Israel as well as punishing an innocent family.. For all we know, he may have no idea who Hillary Clinton is. Every day, Uzi and his friends are generating more innocent Palestinian victims, more Palestinians for whom "peace: is a dirty word. Every day, they are turning out more and more, enemies of Israel in new and better models: a man whose house was destroyed; a woman whose four year old son was shot for no reason; a child who was shot and paralyzed while standing on his porch. These days, enemies may be Israel's most "productive" industry. Certainly, this industry has monumentally important consequences for the future. Enemies are our most important product.

Ami Isseroff
Rehovot, Israel

Copyright Ami Isseroff and MidEastWeb for Coexistence, 2002. Send this e-mail to friends and tell them you saw it at MidEastWeb. Thanks!

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