Peace Activities in Israel
an article by Bruce Taub

About 1,500 people from all Israel, Europe, and North America demonstrated in Tel-Aviv on December 27 in favor of peace in Israel and Palestine under the twin banners 'End the Occupation' and 'No to Racism.'

To counter the "Transfer = Security" stickers that have sprouted all over the country referencing the threat of Palestinian expulsions, there were "Transfer = War Crime" stickers handed out with a background of the yellow Jewish star that had been used by the Nazis during the Holocaust. There was also a public screening of the film 'Jenin, Jenin' [director Mohammed Bakri], an account of the actions of the Israeli army this spring in the West Bank town of Jenin, that had been banned by Israeli censors.

The Coalition that organized the demonstration believes that as long as the governments of Israel "continue to be dominated by generals and a belief in violence as a political strategy there will never be peace," that to "end the conflict we must resolve problems through ... compromise based on an understanding of the plight of the nations in the region," and that "an equal state of Palestinian must exist side by side with the state of Israel based on the 1967 borders."

The conflict in Israel and Palestine has been so fierce, continuous, and painful that many on both sides feel there is no common ground for discussion. It was good therefore to again see Jewish Israel citizen's trying to confront their government. Further information can be found at the Coalition website.

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The Israeli peace movement
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People like Amos Oz are very encouraging as well as strong speakers because of their experiences.  When people who have actually participated and experienced war speak out, their voices are so much more powerful because they have witnessed it first hand.  "Knowledge is power" truly applies to these advocates.

This report was posted on December 30, 2002. The moderator is Robin.

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