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The Forum in Support of Conscientious Refusers
A Rousing Demonstration of Solidarity with Conscientious Objectors at Beit Ha’Am in Tel Aviv On Monday, February 18,600 people overflowed the gallery of Beit Ha’Am, filling Ha-Rabi M’Bakhrakh Street, in a night of solidarity sponsored by the Forum in Support of Conscientious Objectors. Under the slogan, “No cooperation with the occupation!” a long line of musicians took part, including Hemmi Rodner, Yaheli Sobol, Shlomi Shavan, Guy Assif and Sharon Ben Ezer. Within the gallery where the performances took place,52 Israeli artists exhibited relevant works. Speaking in the name of the Forum were its Coordinator, Dani Ben Simhon, as well as Forum members Hillel Goral and Dror Baumel, twelfth-graders from Mizpeh Yovalim. Eli Guzanski spoke for Yesh Gvul and Lotan Raz for Profil Hadash. The demonstrators also heard a statement of support from fourteen organizations working in the field of social and political development in Palestine. Two members of the Forum are currently serving sentences in Military Pris on # 6: Ya’ir Hilu and Yigal Rosenberg, both 18. They were among the signers of the “Letter of the Twelfth-graders,” sent to the Prime Minister and Defen se Minister on August 19,2001. Hilu and Rosenberg are the first of this gro up to go to prison. The army has rejected their request to appear before its Conscience Committee. Hilu is now completing his second consecutive 28-da y term. Rosenberg is completing a first round of 21 days. Nadav Silber,26, a reservist, has refused to serve in the Territories an d is serving a sentence of 28 days. He made contact with the Forum after hi s arrest. The Forum calls for the liberation of all conscientious Objectors. These people are unwilling to take part in an occupation that would involve the m in crimes against humanity, such as those the IDF has been committing against the Palestinian people. For more information, contact Nir Nader at 050 – 736867. |