STANISLAUS CONNECTIONS

Working For Peace, Justice, and A Sustainable Environment

March, 2002

A Modesto Peace/Life Center Publication

Peace

Israelis and Palestinians demonstrate together for peace
By GILA SVIRSKY
Jerusalem
February 10, 2002

We knew there would be a big turnout for the peace demonstration just from the deluge of pro-peace ads in [the Israeli newspaper] Ha’aretz the day before - page after page of statements and petitions, all critical of the occupation. Some excerpts:

• “There is a choice!” An expanded new list of 200 combat officers and soldiers who refuse to serve in the army of occupation.

• “There’s a limit!” Support for the new soldiers, and the names of others who have consistently refused to serve, placed by Yesh Gvul.

• “We support the soldiers who refuse to serve the occupation” - a petition placed by civilian supporters.

• “Peres, you are a collaborator in war-crimes!” placed by Gush Shalom.

• “Do not say ‘we did not see, we did not know’ - the price of keeping the territories” - placed by the Israel Committee Against House Demolitions.

• “A Recipe for National Suicide” - placed by a private citizen.

And a huge, blood-red ad, “The Occupation is Killing Us All”, signed by the 28 organizations that came together to hold last night’s impressive rally in Tel-Aviv (see below).

This was the largest pro-peace rally since this Intifada began in September 2000, with an estimated 10,000 participants - Jews and Arabs from all over Israel filling the large Tel-Aviv Museum plaza. The mood is clearly swinging in Israel, and the homemade signs of people who had not attended a demonstration for years reflected the new thinking - “Stop Sharon before he kills us all,” “More conscientious objectors!”, “Occupation itself is a war crime,” and all permutations of “Share Jerusalem,” “Dismantle Settlements,” and “Bring our soldiers home”.

By the time veteran peace activist Yehudit Harel opened the ceremony, the crowd was a mass of people amazed and buoyed by each other’s presence, with a great deal of hugging by people glad to be sharing the moment. And then Yehudit’s opening words in fluent Hebrew and Arabic set the tone for the entire evening - we Israeli Jews and Arabs together will no longer abide the crimes that the Israeli government is carrying out. “There is only one flag held aloft here today,” said Yehudit, “and it is the black flag of pain, mourning, death, bereavement, and the immorality of war crimes that are being committed in our name.” At her words, hundreds of black flags were raised high by the crowd, symbolizing the statement made years ago by an Israeli court that if a military order has “a black flag of immorality” hanging over it, the order must be refused.

This was a rally in which the young men who refused to serve in the army of occupation were the heroes of the evening, receiving ovation after ovation at every mention.

“I once disagreed with refusal to serve in the army,” said Uri Avnery to the crowd, “but today I salute those who will not serve. Refusal is the beginning of the end of the occupation.” Some of these brave young men have been stripped of their command, demoted, and face court martial, but continue to answer to their conscience. “How can we serve in an army that kills children?” asked Yishai Rosen-Zvi, an Orthodox tank corps sergeant in the reserves, “How can we serve an army that demolishes homes, does not allow the sick to get medical attention, seeks to humiliate an entire population, and reduces them to hunger and poverty?”

Between speakers and sometimes during them, the crowd broke into chanting of familiar slogans: “Fuad, Fuad, Minister of Defense, How many kids did you kill today?” “Occupation, No! Peace, Yes!,” “Money for the poor, not for settlers!”

It was a rally in which the stage was shared by Arabs and Jews, women and men, Mizrahim and Ashkenazim, young and old, religious and secular. Distinguished elderly author Sammy Michael pointed out the futility of the ongoing occupation: “Death is not a threat to people who willingly give their lives for a cause.” And Shulamit Aloni, former government minister and perennial conscience of Israel, called out her message of hope, “All of you here today are the harbingers of a mass movement that already has begun. You will be the teachers of democracy to this government. You will set an example of morality. We shall clean out the crimes of this country and fill it with peace!”

There were many moments that brought tears to my eyes. I will tell you two: Famed singer Ahinoam Nini (known as “Noa”, I believe, to her American fans) took the risk of alienating her Israeli right-wing fans, and sang to the crowd a Hebrew, Arabic, and English version of “Imagine” by the Beatles: “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one; I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.”

And the other was the transformation of a beloved Zionist song “Ein li eretz aheret.” Reciting this song in two languages, Hebrew and Arabic, suddenly infused it with new meaning: “I have no other country to go to. And even if the land is burning under my feet, this is my home.” For the Arabs in the crowd, the song suddenly became theirs, too, and for the Jews, it meant a land we both love deeply.

I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.

Sponsoring organizations: Association of Arab University Students, Baladna, BANKI, Bat Shalom,, Coalition of Women for a Just Peace: www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org, Druse Initiative Committee, Du Siach, Gush Shalom, HaCampus Lo Shotek, Tel-Aviv University, Hadash Youth, Israeli Committtee Against House Demolitions, Kol Aher BaGalil, Kvisa Sh’hora: Lesbians and Gay Men Against the Occupation, Left Forum, Haifa University, MachsomWatch, Meretz Youth, Monitoring Committee of the Arab Population in Israel, NELED, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam, New Profile, Noga, TANDI, Ta’ayush: Arab-Jewish Partnership, Tajamu Youth , WILPF, Women and Mothers for Peace (formerly Four Mothers), Women in Black, and Yesh Gvul.

"I want to talk peace"

Palestinians are ready to end the conflict, but only when Israelis treat them as equals
By YASSER ARAFAT

Sunday February 3, 2002, From The Guardian

To read the full text of Mr. Arafat's remarks in The Guardian, click here

Both saviour and victim: Black Hawk Down creates a new and dangerous myth of American nationhood
by George Monbiot

Tuesday January 29, 2002, From The Guardian

To read the full text of Mr. Monbiot's review in The Guardian, click here

Local Peace Builders Delegation to Israel and Palestine

Scott Kennedy of the Resource Center for Nonviolence (Santa Cruz) and Rabbi Michael Robinson of Sebastapol will co-lead an Interfaith Peace Builders Delegation to Israel and Palestine from April 12 - 26, 2002, cosponsored by the national Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Visit Israel and Palestine: See it With Your Own Eyes

Fall, 2000, saw the beginning of a new cycle of violence in the Middle East with the breakdown of the Oslo Peace Accords, the beginning of the Al-Aksa Intifada, and Israel’s increasingly violent repression of Palestinian protests. As part of a call for international observers, Israeli and Palestinian peace organizations asked FOR to send interfaith delegations to the region. FOR believes that in addition to observing, it is our responsibility to return to the United States to educate the U.S. public and seek to influence U.S. foreign policy.

We seek to unite people from all faiths around common values of peace and justice. We visit Israel and Palestine in solidarity for peace and justice through nonviolent action. We provide opportunities to U.S. citizens to demonstrate a unity of purpose and compassion across religious boundaries during a time when acts of revenge and war dominate our messages to the world.

What Should You Expect?

• • Delegations of 15 people with experienced leadership and accompanying representatives from sponsoring local organizations

• • Participation in a two-day orientation at the FOR national headquarters in Nyack, NY

• • A physically and mentally challenging program in Israel and Palestine

• • Travel throughout Israel and The West Bank and Gaza Strip of Palestine for two weeks

• • Examine the effects of United States foreign policy on the continuing conflict

• • Meet with Israeli peace and justice and human rights activists, political leaders and settlers

• • Meet with Palestinian peace and justice and human rights activists and political leaders

• • Engage in actions of solidarity with those struggling nonviolently for a sustainable peace

• • Visit in Palestinian and Israeli homes

• • Hear Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders’ perspectives on the conflict

Who Do We Want?

• Delegates committed to educating the public on their experience upon returning from the program

• People of all ethnic and religious backgrounds committed to nonviolence and active listening

• Jews and Muslims, and Arabic and Hebrew speakers are especially encouraged

• Mature, physically healthy, emotionally stable, flexible and respectful participants 19 years of age or older

The cost includes:

• Air fare from New York,

• Lodging in NY and at hotels and local homes on the trip

• Local transportation around Israel and occupied Palestine

• Numerous meetings with leaders and activists on both sides

• Breakfast and dinner

A $500 deposit is due with each application (includes $25 nonrefundable processing fee). The full fee is due two weeks before departure.

For an application form, contact: FOR Interfaith Peace-Builders c/o Nonviolence International, 4545 42nd St., NW, #209, Washington, DC 20016; (202) 244-0951 , Fax: (202) 244-6396; or the Resource Center for Nonviolence, email: middleeast@forusa.org or Scott Kennedy, kenncruz@pacbell.net

LEGISLATIVE ALERT: New Military Draft Bill introduced

H.R. 3598 a new bill to create the “Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001” was introduced into the U.S. Senate on December 20, 2001. Its intent is to reinstate the draft for 18 to 22 year old men. Women would be accepted as volunteers.

It says: “It is the obligation of every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 22 to receive basic military training and education as a member of the armed forces unless the citizen or person is exempted under the provisions of this Act.”

Conscientious objectors are only as exempt from “combatant training” but not military training. All drafted males, conscientious objectors or not, would be required to undergo “military training and education.” After that “the person may be transferred to a national service program.” The difference between military training and “combatant training” is not specified.

It appears from a brief summary that this would not provide for alternative service in the same sense that this was provided for World War II draftees.

Within the peace movement there have always been conscientious objectors to military service. This bill defines that eligibility as based on religious conviction, as did the World War II draft law. The bill appears not to provide alternatives to “military training.”

Within the memory of many of us at the Peace Life Center, such alternatives were partially provided by other than the state or federal government. The publications, “Roots and Fruits” copies of which are available at the Peace Center, tell about alternative service provided in lieu of military service during wartime.

Questions to ask your Congressperson: Why do we need the draft? We are not at war with any country. (Be clear that the war on terrorism is not a declared war) Would this bill increase opportunities for education? (the bill does provide for education after completion of military training, popularly known as the G I bill. It also mentions “extended training for high school dropouts”. Is military training what high school dropouts need?)

Although the bill has been referred to the Armed Services Committee, you never know when a bill may be reported out for a vote, so be vigilant. (summary provided by Myrtle Osner and James Costello, complete text at the Center and online at: http://thomas.loc.gov/