Israeli Conscientious Refusers to the Palestinian People:
Stop Terror Actions

Today, June 15th, the Palestinian media published a letter signed by about 100 conscientious objectors, including women and reservists. The letter calls on the Palestinians to oppose terror and join hands with the Israeli peace movement against the occupation.

The letter was initiated by 5 refuseniks currently in prison for their refusal to enlist in an army of occupation- Hagai Matar, Matan Kaminer, Adam Maor, Shimri Tzameret and Noam Bahat.

These 5 young men face a court marshal in Jaffa military court next week for their refusal. They demand to do civilian service instead of a military one.

Dozens of refusers have signed the letter, most of whom have spent time in prison for their refusal. In this letter the objectors state:

“In every conflict it is difficult to understand the other side, but just as we must remember that the majority of Palestinians are not terrorists, you have to remember that most of the Israelis are not soldiers of occupation. In the suicide bombing attacks innocent victims find their death - children, women, men, Jews, Arabs and immigrants, supporters of the occupation and its resisters. These actions are immoral.

“These cruel suicidal attacks terrify the Israelis so much, that the work of legitimizing the occupation by Sharon and his colleagues becomes easy.

“We do not live under occupation. We do not know what it’s like to spend months and years under curfew, without jobs, education, dignity and independence. We can only try to imagine the level of rage and desperation caused by the occupation and guess how difficult it must be to see beyond the uniform of the soldier in the bulldozer, at the roadblock, or in the helicopter, and try to find a human being.

“We refuse to be a part of the occupation forces, among other reasons, for you to be able to see Israelis as people like yourselves who fight, struggle and sometimes overcome.

“We the refusers assume responsibility for our society’s actions by our act of refusal and we are willing to pay the price for it.

“A Palestinian struggle that will not include attacks on civilians will be the most effective one. Demonstrations, strikes and joint actions with the Israeli peace movement will be much more effective then any suicide bomber

“.The victory of the fight against occupation will be the victory of justice and peace- the victory of the Palestinians and the Israelis”.

The letter was fully published today in “Al Shark El Awsat”, “El Hyat El Jedida”, “El Quds” and “El Hayam”.

For more details: Amit Mashiah: 054-578822