Why do the soldiers refuse to talk to the foreign media? I've heard noises about their not wanting to undermine Israel abroad, but that just confuses me. Why, then, do they translate their website manifesto into English? Is there some potential here for an international solidarity campaign? Perhaps at least from "diaspora Jews," like myself?
Seth
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bryan Atinsky" <bryan at indymedia.org.il> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 6:37 AM Subject: Re: Israel jails 600 reservists
> Hello Peoples,
>
> Yesh Gvul ("There is a Limit/Border"), one of the two main conscientious
> objector organizations (Yesh Gvul backs soldiers who refuse 'certain'
> assignments "supporting soldiers who refuse assignments of a repressive or
> aggressive nature," while New Profile is a conscientious objector
> organization in the more explicit sense)...Anyway, Yesh Gvul published
this
> petition (in Hebrew and English) onto the Indymedia Israel site yesterday.
>
> Hebrew version:
>
http://www.indymedia.org.il/imc/israel/webcast/display.php3?article_id=13938
>
> English version:
> http://www.indymedia.org.il/imc/israel/webcast/13939.html
>
> Here is the Petition:
> ----------------------
>
> Due to the publication of the "Officers' Letter" and its condemnation by
the
> IDF General Staff and various politicians, who are trying to portray the
> refusal to serve in the Occupied Territories as an immoral and marginal
act,
> we, of "Yesh Gvul", intend to publish a petition in Haaretz in the next
few
> days.
>
>
> Following are two versions of the petition, one for soldiers and the other
> for supporters of selective refusal. We ask those who support the petition
> to sign and return it to:
>
> peretz at yesh-gvul.org
>
> Despite a semblance of Palestinian autonomy - on just one fifth of the
> occupied territories - the occupation goes on and on. Over thirty years of
> occupation and repression have not halted the Palestinian campaign for
> national independence.
>
> The war conducted by the Israeli government for the lands of Ariel and
> Bethel, in defence of the pogromists of Itamar and Beit Hadassah, for the
> continued occupation of Netzarim and Kiryat Arba, for the continued hold
on
> Rachel's Tomb - all this is not our war.
>
> (for soldiers)
>
> We the undersigned, IDF soldiers, declare that we will have no part in the
> continued repression of the Palestinian people in the occupied
territories,
> and we will take no part in policing assignments or guarding the
settlements
> serving those ends.
>
> (for civilians)
>
> We the undersigned, are civilians who, support those soldiers whom declare
> that they will have no part in the continued repression of the Palestinian
> people in the occupied territories, and who will take no part in policing
> assignments or guarding the settlements serving those ends.
>
> Name:
>
> Rank (for soldiers only):
>
> Address:
>
> Telephone:
>
> E-mail:
>
> Signature:
>