U., k. and R. are calling for a general meeting that will be held on: Monday 6th of September at 19:00 At the offices of the Hienrich Boll foundation.
24 Nahalet Binyamin st. (03 5167734/5) On the agenda:
1. communication between the different activist
2. relationships
3. legal matters
4. activity report and summer summary
5. future plans
6. budget and money matters
7. website
8. international relationships
9. letting of steam in a civilized matter
everybody's attendance is needed. You who receive this message please make sure that all who should know knows.
Please bring snacks and cold and booze potluck
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Israel-Palestine, Tel Aviv, No to the settlments No to Bush - a demonstration at the US embassy 08/28/04
On Sunday 29.8 when hundreds of thousands will protest in New York against the bush() administration, we (Israelis Americans and those who are both) will demonstrate against the bush administrations and the damage it is causing to the prospects for peace. Particularly by approving settlement expansion this week. Sunday 29.8 6 PM 71 hayarkon st in front of the American embassy for more details call Rona or kobi
No to settlements ! no to bush !
Bush is bad for Israel ! Bush is bad for peace !
See:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/
http://rncnotwelcome.org/
No to settlements ! no to bush !
Bush is bad for Israel ! Bush is bad for peace !
See:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/
http://rncnotwelcome.org/
Monday, August 23, 2004
Israe-Palestine, amendments by Raz to previous interview between a British ISM activist and him on 'anarchists against the wall' nkepuk
It would be wrong to call 'anarchists against the wall' an organization in the formal sense, and they themselves would probably prefer not to have this label. The label was assumed by and for the Israeli media once their actions came to its attention. It was clear from the interview that they would prefer just to be seen as anarchists, and as anarchists opposition to the wall would automatically follow. Shortly after the interview was conducted two of them initiated a direct action at the wall and smashed through two gates, one of which was electrified (its electrified for warning purposes its not mortal) . The action was given the encouragement and consent of the local Palestinians, and had Palestinian participation, but nevertheless demonstrated the special role the Israeli anarchists play in the unarmed struggle. As Israeli citizens they are in far more danger from the IDF and the legal system than international activists, but then again, as Israeli citizens they are more passionate in their opposition too.
1) what size is the organization and what are its main functions?
Raz - We are at demonstrations and actions once or twice a week, and on these demo's there are generally 10 to 15 of us. The organization is really more of a network for anarchists who want to do direct actions, and we have about 100 active people the contact list. As for our functions, they change with the Palestinians. Up until december last year we concentrated on direct actions against the wall - cutting and force opening gates , but we have slowly changed slightly after two big events: after the end of the Masha peace camp which lead to a redicalization of people and for the fance cutting and force opening gates actions, and the popular uprising in Budrus. In Budrus we moved towards popular uprising happily; we were invited to take part in daily demonstrations and resistance by the community themselves, and it was really cool to see the community rising up together. Since then we have tried to combine this sort of work with our direct action - this march could be considered part of this.
2)How has the state reacted since your creation?
EIn the first two actions we had, in Zubaba and Anin, there was no state intervention. Then in Masha on the 26th of september the army shot an anarchist in both legs. One activist was arrested after a demo and another one had to sign a contract promising not to damage the wall again (interviewers note: the Israeli security forces are fond such contracts, and are a useful propaganda tool for the Israeli public. The have the dual purpose of making the IDF seem calm and reasonable and the prisoner, normally uncharged, seem guilty by association.). A few activists have been interrogated by the Shabak (THE secret service). On demo's the police are always trying to arrest the Israelis now. It won't be too long before someone gets a serious prison sentence. We are under surveillance as well, which we know from experience. The Shabak are really on our back with monitoring and stopping actions before they happen Eif they know where and when we will cross through the wall into Palestine, all they have to do is notify the checkpoint or get the taxi we are in stopped on the way. When the International Court of Justice trial of the wall began in the Hague on the 23rd of February we got stopped on our way to a demo 2 times using different routes. We ended up going back to Tel Aviv and doing the demo outside the defance minister building there, which is basically like a massive military compound in the middle of town. A few people blocked the road and stop their cars coming out. 12 people were arrested for this. Many have been charged with assaulting police for passive resistance. The trial will be in September and I think this is where the legal system will catch up with us.
) How much support - if any - do you have within Israel?
Actually we do have some support from individuals in Israel. We do not have the official support of any groups, but individuals within different Israeli peace groups and also some journalists.(forgot to mantion - after the mas'ha shooting incident ,where gil na'amati was shoot in both legs by an i.d.f snipper, there was a few big demo's soppurting us and against the treatment of the i.d.f to israeli demonstrators in one demo road number 5 leading to the settlement of Ariel was blocked by hundreds of activists from all sorts of israeli peace groups for about 2 hours)
Internationally? There was a benefit gig organized for us in Amsterdam 2 months ago. a few months ago two of us toured Europe giving lectures and were able to collect some donations too.
) Was this tour within the anarchist community in the countries visited?
No, it was not explicitly anarchist. It was more about telling people the realities, about the wall and the occupation.
) How do you see the situation developing?
With continuing land confiscations, and continued extension to the fences, I do not see it getting any better. It looks like the resistance in Israel (especially in the government) to removing any settlements means the fence will go up, and go up where it is now. That means well into the green line(the so called palestinian side - for those who chose to take one...). Er... don't get me wrong I don't want the wall anywhere at all... For the situation in general, it won't come anywhere near peace whilst there are still settlements, and government
) Have you considered doing actions at settlements then?
No. The settler security would probably shoot us, and what would be the point if they didn't? The residents wouldn't listen to what we have to say. These people think what they are doing is the will of god. The army are reasonable in comparison.
What are the groups intentions for the future? Is there a particular direction the group is moving in or would like to move in?
No. We initiate together or at least agree on the same principles even though at the end its always their call 'coz its their life and they are the ones to suffer mostly from the occupation Palestinian initiatives basically. (Interviewers NB – like the ISM in this respect) We participate in their initiatives, but we always try to be involved in the planning and decision making too.
) Do you expect to grow in size?
Not really. We have really just united anarchists interested in direct action in Israel/palestine, I don't think that we have created any new ones!
) This brings me to my next question; for you personally, what came first - opposition to the occupation or anarchism?
Opposition to the occupation.
) Do you see it as natural that anarchists would support the struggle and your participation then? I'm playing devil's advocate, but isn't this a national liberation struggle, with a lot of religious and nationalistic dominance?
I expect anarchists to support the struggle. This is not a national liberation struggle it is a human rights struggle.( well, it is a national liberation struggle, but, first of all its a human rights struggle for freedom and equality and thats what matters to me)
) The right answer! In that case would you like to extend an invitation to anarchists to come out and work with you?
Sure. Its not something we actively do, but we have houses and places for people to stay. Its definitely a possibility.
) Do you have a message for the international anarchist community – they all read Freedom of course!
If they see this struggle as part of their struggle they are welcome here. We would like to have more contact with other organizations internationally. I know itfs a bit shitty, but money always helps too. We have a website I think, but I can't remember the address – there's a link to it off onestruggle.org, an Israeli animal rights and anarchist website. It's probably best to email me at barvazduck@yahoo.com And thatfs for anything, not just if you want to give some money.
) Final question then. Are there any Palestinian anarchists?
Apparently yes! Some people said they met Palestinian anarchists in Balata refugee camp.(nablus) Some people we work with are secretly anarchists though they won't admit it! Perhaps you should ask them?
================================
raz: writes on infosop.org: ] "the above article is basicly the same one with just some minor changes basicly facts that were not realy right. i took the liberty to post it without asking anyone since i was the one interviewed!!! peace raz"
1) what size is the organization and what are its main functions?
Raz - We are at demonstrations and actions once or twice a week, and on these demo's there are generally 10 to 15 of us. The organization is really more of a network for anarchists who want to do direct actions, and we have about 100 active people the contact list. As for our functions, they change with the Palestinians. Up until december last year we concentrated on direct actions against the wall - cutting and force opening gates , but we have slowly changed slightly after two big events: after the end of the Masha peace camp which lead to a redicalization of people and for the fance cutting and force opening gates actions, and the popular uprising in Budrus. In Budrus we moved towards popular uprising happily; we were invited to take part in daily demonstrations and resistance by the community themselves, and it was really cool to see the community rising up together. Since then we have tried to combine this sort of work with our direct action - this march could be considered part of this.
2)How has the state reacted since your creation?
EIn the first two actions we had, in Zubaba and Anin, there was no state intervention. Then in Masha on the 26th of september the army shot an anarchist in both legs. One activist was arrested after a demo and another one had to sign a contract promising not to damage the wall again (interviewers note: the Israeli security forces are fond such contracts, and are a useful propaganda tool for the Israeli public. The have the dual purpose of making the IDF seem calm and reasonable and the prisoner, normally uncharged, seem guilty by association.). A few activists have been interrogated by the Shabak (THE secret service). On demo's the police are always trying to arrest the Israelis now. It won't be too long before someone gets a serious prison sentence. We are under surveillance as well, which we know from experience. The Shabak are really on our back with monitoring and stopping actions before they happen Eif they know where and when we will cross through the wall into Palestine, all they have to do is notify the checkpoint or get the taxi we are in stopped on the way. When the International Court of Justice trial of the wall began in the Hague on the 23rd of February we got stopped on our way to a demo 2 times using different routes. We ended up going back to Tel Aviv and doing the demo outside the defance minister building there, which is basically like a massive military compound in the middle of town. A few people blocked the road and stop their cars coming out. 12 people were arrested for this. Many have been charged with assaulting police for passive resistance. The trial will be in September and I think this is where the legal system will catch up with us.
) How much support - if any - do you have within Israel?
Actually we do have some support from individuals in Israel. We do not have the official support of any groups, but individuals within different Israeli peace groups and also some journalists.(forgot to mantion - after the mas'ha shooting incident ,where gil na'amati was shoot in both legs by an i.d.f snipper, there was a few big demo's soppurting us and against the treatment of the i.d.f to israeli demonstrators in one demo road number 5 leading to the settlement of Ariel was blocked by hundreds of activists from all sorts of israeli peace groups for about 2 hours)
Internationally? There was a benefit gig organized for us in Amsterdam 2 months ago. a few months ago two of us toured Europe giving lectures and were able to collect some donations too.
) Was this tour within the anarchist community in the countries visited?
No, it was not explicitly anarchist. It was more about telling people the realities, about the wall and the occupation.
) How do you see the situation developing?
With continuing land confiscations, and continued extension to the fences, I do not see it getting any better. It looks like the resistance in Israel (especially in the government) to removing any settlements means the fence will go up, and go up where it is now. That means well into the green line(the so called palestinian side - for those who chose to take one...). Er... don't get me wrong I don't want the wall anywhere at all... For the situation in general, it won't come anywhere near peace whilst there are still settlements, and government
) Have you considered doing actions at settlements then?
No. The settler security would probably shoot us, and what would be the point if they didn't? The residents wouldn't listen to what we have to say. These people think what they are doing is the will of god. The army are reasonable in comparison.
What are the groups intentions for the future? Is there a particular direction the group is moving in or would like to move in?
No. We initiate together or at least agree on the same principles even though at the end its always their call 'coz its their life and they are the ones to suffer mostly from the occupation Palestinian initiatives basically. (Interviewers NB – like the ISM in this respect) We participate in their initiatives, but we always try to be involved in the planning and decision making too.
) Do you expect to grow in size?
Not really. We have really just united anarchists interested in direct action in Israel/palestine, I don't think that we have created any new ones!
) This brings me to my next question; for you personally, what came first - opposition to the occupation or anarchism?
Opposition to the occupation.
) Do you see it as natural that anarchists would support the struggle and your participation then? I'm playing devil's advocate, but isn't this a national liberation struggle, with a lot of religious and nationalistic dominance?
I expect anarchists to support the struggle. This is not a national liberation struggle it is a human rights struggle.( well, it is a national liberation struggle, but, first of all its a human rights struggle for freedom and equality and thats what matters to me)
) The right answer! In that case would you like to extend an invitation to anarchists to come out and work with you?
Sure. Its not something we actively do, but we have houses and places for people to stay. Its definitely a possibility.
) Do you have a message for the international anarchist community – they all read Freedom of course!
If they see this struggle as part of their struggle they are welcome here. We would like to have more contact with other organizations internationally. I know itfs a bit shitty, but money always helps too. We have a website I think, but I can't remember the address – there's a link to it off onestruggle.org, an Israeli animal rights and anarchist website. It's probably best to email me at barvazduck@yahoo.com And thatfs for anything, not just if you want to give some money.
) Final question then. Are there any Palestinian anarchists?
Apparently yes! Some people said they met Palestinian anarchists in Balata refugee camp.(nablus) Some people we work with are secretly anarchists though they won't admit it! Perhaps you should ask them?
================================
raz: writes on infosop.org: ] "the above article is basicly the same one with just some minor changes basicly facts that were not realy right. i took the liberty to post it without asking anyone since i was the one interviewed!!! peace raz"
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Israel, MEDIA, The following two letters about the appeal to 12th graders first appeared in the anarchist fanzine `War of Words', No 5, November, 1996
Israel, MEDIA, 19/08/04
1) A Letter to 12th Graders, Yosi Sarid; 2) Responce of Santiago Gomez The author of the response to Yosi Sarid's-Knesset member and head of "Meretz party- appeal to 12th graders to enter the IDF [Israeli Defense Force] which appeared in `Yediot Akhronot', the largest circulation newspaper in Israel, was Santiago Gomez. Given the present seemingly insurmountable impasse between the Sharon administration and the Palestinian Authority, we find Gomez's response thought-provoking and challenging in its wisdom applied to an agonizing problem facing young people throughout the world community. It is wholly consistent with the one world and one humanity viewpoint. Do we have a budding, latter-day prophet in the "Holy Land"?)
In "A Letter to 12th Graders," Yosi Sarid:
In the end of the school year that is starting now, you are about to conscript to IDF. I'm allowing myself to turn to you in a request to be ready for a contributive and useful military service in which there is readiness for investment and a full use of your skills.
I know all the reasons that may bring you to a trouble in making decision, and out of it- to a wrong conclusion. I know the reasons, as I said, but I don't accept them. Some say that Peace is already at our door and so there's no need for the same measure of volunteering as in the past, and some say, that the new government is leaving the way-of-peace and may bring a war on us, and there's no will to serve under such a government,. And some say that the evasion of the ultra-orthodox is too much, and no one is their sucker, that will go and volunteer and be in danger of them, while they are celebrating on our money, and deciding there in the government upon our fate.
All these claims, however heavy and justifiable they may be, doesn't justify "small-head" and "close-to-home" or "profile 210" (a complete release from military service due to permanent health problems) Government comes and government goes, and the country (literally "state") always remains, and our country is still threatened, and the country is you. And the country is the life of you and your friends.
A strong army is still, regretfully, forced by reality (maybe now more than ever)., and even anyone who has strong and right criticism over the policy, shouldn't confuse between the policy and the country, which is always we, which is always ours, in good and in bad. This country is our land, our homeland, our home, and it's too important to us that we will leave the military service alone and give it to others. It is not right to do; it is not wise; it is not responsible and it's not even fair.
It's very important that people with values, who obey only their commanders and their personal conscience, will make the tune in IDF, because the tune makes the music, and the music in the army makes the march.
If our army will be weakened, if it will not feel self confident, it will also not inspire security, With an embarrassed IDF, which spreads embarrassment,, it will be more difficult to make peace, because making peace is always accompanied with making compromises and only the strong is able and allowed to compromise.
Now they start a committee, another committee, to check the "decreasing of motivation." You don't need this committee to know the true reasons for the decreasing of motivation and the ways to raise it anew, You know yourselves and your friends better than any committee in the world, even better than the Prime Minister and the Minister of Security together, and who except you can prove that even out of feeling of criticism and frustration, of repulsiveness and bad feeling, there's enough responsibility in you to fulfill a duty. No one will raise your moral nor your motivation- only you will raise and go up, if you want.
I thank you for your attention.
Yours, Yosi Sarid
Santiago Gomez's response (translated from the Hebrew)
Hello Mr. Sarid:
I have read your letter to 12 graders, and I couldn't fail to answer.
I managed to read beyond your clean language, beyond your "father's advise" language, far beyond the enlightened, nice appearance that you show. And I didn't like what I saw. Your message is too simple: mobilize in the army. That's all - two words. But the view behind them - however common here in Israel - is one of the most terrible and hateful views toward human beings, their liberty, and their basic right to live.
Mr. Sarid, you may be seen in your letter as the left winger humanist who already has a monopoly on conscience, and thus the ability to "judge" our morality, our claims. Please, Mr. Sarid, let me know what is your real motivation when you declare that you already know all our doubts and fears, because I don't believe you're interested in our good, and because I have the feeling that you're doing it so you could, actually think and decide instead of us, from an `authoritative' position, to eliminate those doubts and fears before they grow, and to do it out of so-called `empathy" and "understanding," without showing the fact that your concern is actually for the `national interest." Do you know what is the definition of a "Fascist," Mr. Sarid? A Fascist is a man who thinks that the citizen should serve the state and not the opposite; that the state is more important than man is. I would like to hear from you where do you stand according to this definition?
But before you answer, I have a small mission for you that can help you decide: stand and say before all your friends in the Knesset, in front of the television cameras, aloud and convincingly, that every man's life - every man's- is more important than the state. Please say that the life of the rag-wearied beggar, of the incurable patient grounded to his bed, of the poor and foreign worker, of the prisoner in his cell - that the life of every person you see on the street, of any anonymous stranger, are more important than the State of Israel, That the flag is nothing compared to them. That the value of Zionism is a small comma compared to their value., And I want you to say that about me as well, about my life. I want you to say that my life is a million times more important than the State, its institutions, than its papers, than its laws. That we all are "above the law." Can you say that honestly, without hesitation or stuttering. No, I didn't think you could.
Mr. Sarid, you are a Fascist, perhaps not out of ideology. Perhaps just out of stupidity, confusion or a narrow mind - but, you're still a Fascist.
One moment, wait, don't hurry to defend yourself yet, since I know what you're about to say. You're about to claim that in your eyes, the IDF soldiers protect their lives and the lives of other humans and not necessarily the State, as a separate thing. I'm sorry, Mr. Sarid, but this claim sounds to me, in a devalued language, ridiculous.
If, as you say, the State is we, then why instead of telling people "defend yourselves, the humans" you're declaring that it's needed to "defend the State"? And why, instead of telling the young that "their life is in danger," you prefer using a sentence like "Our State is still threatened"? And tell me why, if, as you say, "the State is you," you don't trust her and you don't trust him that their natural, free life instinct will raise them to defend themselves and their lives, and instead of that you're calling them to defend an abstraction, an organization, the social concept called "state"?
And let me remind you, Mr Sarid, that in contradiction with the "advising father" image you created for yourself, you're not only "calling" or "advising" them to do that - you are an active member and a partner in a governmental staff that obligates them, according to law and under the threat of arrest, to defend this "State." Explain to me why you force these young - and along them myself as well - to defend themselves only through "the defense of the State," to defend themselves only indirectly, through you, through your organization, your planning, and your commanding. Who benefits from this going around?" Is it possible that the state - which you and you friends, the ministers and the Knesset members are heading - is the one that feeds and gets strong on it? Is it possible that this is what you're actually interested in and not the protection of human life? Is it possible that the will to power is causing you to take our lives, the real ones, which are the most precious thing we have, and that we could not live them again - and use them for "humaning", a fiction that is call "a state"?
If it isn't so, then why do you force military service by law? Aren't you aware of the simple fact which every child knows, that people whose life is in danger defend themselves out of their free will and without any need to force them? Or maybe you just don't trust the young correct thinking. It's an instinct, Mr. Sarid, `the instinct of survival," and it's present in everyone of us, including 12 graders.
The truth is that you, as a politician, are interested in creating a society where the government will have, always and in any time, obedient citizens who will be ready (in the name of democracy) to execute any policy that will be decided by the government. You may hide it under the cover of idealism, but the true reason for you appealing to the youth and calling them to mobilize and to ignore the current government's policy is not your respect for democracy, not your "fair game" approach, not your political politeness and not your political integrity, This call of yours is coming out of a cold calculation, not out of the knowledge that one day you nay be in the government too and on that day you - the same like the present government- will breed `cannon meat' slaves, with full obedience to their government. The right wing is much too stupid to use the sophistication of your methods, much too self confident,, so it calls for obedience under its government and to rejection and rebellion under left governments. You, Mr Sarid, are smarter than they, less hotheaded, more "civilized" - but no less a Fascist.
The facts are clear: when both the state and both the humans inside it are endangered, you are willing to sacrifice the humans for the existence of the state and not the opposite, and this in spite of the fact that the state is a fiction, a concept, it's nothing perceptible.
A "state" is just a headline, a name for a group of humans organized in a certain way: in form of "a state."
You may think it's the most efficient way, that if you left us, 12 graders and other young, to organize themselves in order to protect their lives and their land, out of law's and army's framework, there would be a great chaos, or that it is totally unrealistic, and so you use nation, state and army to unite and to organize us. It could be. But here, this is another difference between you and me, Mr. Sarid, because those things I see as vital, efficient, and the best and even necessary for all the population - I am in no way willing to force them on the rest of the humans, I don't think it's moral to force on the citizens of Israel by police, courts, "education," fines, laws and prisons, Truth, Justice or efficiency as I see them, Because one who does this, no matter what are his intentions or what is his world view, is a dictator and not a humanist if using your words, "It is not right to do, it is not wise, it is not responsible, and it's not even fair."
Maybe you don't understand at all how it is possible to do the opposite, that is, how it is possible to sacrifice the state to save its citizens. If so, let me explain it to you:
The state, as I told you several times, is not an existent thing that you could see; its borders are not a perceptible thing that you could touch. The state hasn't a `personality" that can `demand' things from you or to be under `threat." There are only officials that pretend to represent it, or citizens that pretend to obey it. And this is actually both its existence, both the reason for its existence and both the plane on which it exists. Actually, what exists in reality is only "the belief in the state."
Humans, on the other side, like you and me, are flesh and blood; they exist. We, not like the state, are a real thing. The inhabitants of the State of Israel and the State of Israel itself exist in different dimensions, in the two most far poles of human perception: reality and imagination.
The way to actually execute the belief that human being and their lives are more important then the state, or in other words, the way to "sacrifice the state for the salvation of its citizens," the only true Anti-Fascism- is estrangement from the belief in the state. Simply that. The "sacrifice" is done on the perceptual plane, on which only there the state exists, and there's no need to destroy or to break anything actually.
Your call for 12th graders to mobilize for the state's sake, your contempt towards "small head," "close to home," and "profile 21" means that it's a duty for the young to be in danger and even to die - in time of need or cause - for the state's sake and even though you're surely not happy with this version of your sayings, it's precise at a hundred percent.
Your "moral" is the sacrifice of human beings, of their lives, for a thing that is even not non- living, but non-existent; a thing which, ironically, the only justification for its existence is that it's supposed to save lives! This position strengthens, of course, the belief in the state the same way it's coming out of it: it advances the belief in the state and (rejects) the belief in human beings,
The State of Israel, like the rest of the states in the world, was established thanks to violence; they are its result. Whether it was the aggression of tribes, kings and emperors (Europe) war of independence (USA), or voyages of conquest and enslavement (Third World states) - violence always had a major role in their establishment, The State of Israel is no different. It was established in a violent struggle, in organized violence of terrorist groups ("freedom fighters," perhaps?) against the British,, Palestinians and Arabs, and later on in war too. Except from being the result of violence, states create violence as well, every day - they strengthen and perpetuate it. In this issue Israel is not different as well. The threat you talk about, Mr. Sarid, the same threat hanging now over the State of Israel, the same threat that requires the mobilization of young, the "strong army" - what is it actually? It seems strange to me that you don't mention it, its reasons, its character or the origin of its creation.
The state created this threat, this problem, Mr. Sarid, and so it can't be the solution., The State of Israel, the State of Jordan, the State of Syria, the State of Iran - not one state created this problem but the mere idea of a "state." The direction (that you support with enthusiasm) to divide all human beings in the world instead of uniting them, the belief that the state is "we". Its "ours". And it's "our home", if I quote you.
The only reason that in this moment there are people, who I never met and they never met me, who are conspiring in secret basements, and apartments to plan terrorist acts and methods to murder me, personally, and the rest of the people who live here, is because you forced is to represent something which is actually yours and you force us to be responsible for the `actions' of something that existed before we were born and that we don't have real control over its actions. The problem, the threat is aimed at this thing, at `the state", and all your goal and the goal of your friends in the Israeli politics is the creation of total identification between us and it ("the State is always we"), turning real human beings into a fiction, demography, statistics, in order to create a human defense wall for the power, the domination and the way in which you choose to act. And of course one of the most efficient ways to turn us into "the State of Israel" - is to put our lives too under threat- is to encourage is to mobilize to the IDF with propaganda that goes from the kindergarten to the mass media - and includes such "letters" as yours.
On the the side of the state's border fence there are people who want to murder me because they were too, like myself, brainwashed by people like you, who created parallelism between human life and states - only in their case the brainwash worked, (while) I refuse to believe you and listen to your `advises'.
Your call for the youth to mobilize is, both historically and humanly, disconnected from its real context. And I would like to return it to its original context by a small example:
Think about a man who goes, stupidly, to wash in a river where there are whirlpools and very strong dragging streams, After he entered the water, and already got stuck in whirlpools and streams as well, he tries, of course, to preserve body stability and control so he could keep his head above the water. But this stability will not help him to survive the river's steams, because sooner or later, his body will be weakened and he will drown. Even a small amount of air in his lungs is not the solution because very soon it will end, and actually, his only solution is trying to get to the river's bank in order to exit the water.
The State of Israel, like this man, is in a deadly whirlpool from which we all are trying to be saved. Like that man, Israel, it also could be said, shouldn't have gone into this whirlpool, and that its entrance was the mistake which brought upon us the danger and the threat we face today. This, of course, is a very right thing to say, but this isn't the solution, because the wheel can't be brought back.
The solution that you show in your letter to 12 graders, Mr. Sarid, the mobilization to IDF, is the drowning man's attempt to stabilize his body, The same way this man sometimes manages to avoid one stream or another whirlpool - so does a "strong army" manages sometimes to stop one terrorist or to prevent another act of terror. But it can't be done forever since our "body" will also be weakened, the air in our lungs will run out, and this is actually not a solution at all. Even your "peace process" will not solve the problem because according to you, during it and even after its conclusion we will need a "strong army" perhaps even more than in the past, in order to "inspire security."
The real solution is trying to reach the bank, to get out of the river. The problem is that you, as most people, cancel the will to "get out of the river" as dreamy, as utopian, as non-realistic. And even though we're slowly being weakened, air is running out, and we're about to drown - you won't admit your mistake.
In order for the drowning man to understand that his only way out is the land on the river's bank, he should first understand that he made a mistake, and he shouldn't have gone into the stormy river in the first place. If he won't understand that, he won't have the will to be saved at all. The same way you, Mr. Sarid, should abandon your mistake, your belief in states, armies, nations, and the rest of whirlpools drowning today's humanity and the State of Israel. This is the first step (which I doubt you could do at all.)
In order to be saved and to reach that river's bank, there's no need that all the humans will smile and suddenly become nice. There's no need that all the weapons in the world will turn into flowers, and there's no need even for a strong revolutionary uprising that will overthrow the current order. It is only needed that you, yourself, will understand and admit your mistake, and that you will have the will to be saved. From there, the way to get to the secured shore may be shorter and simpler than you think.
But the preservation of body stability, though not a solution in itself, is still a necessary condition for being saved from drowning, and you must ask yourself why, if I admit that IDF is, in the existing reality, like an attempt to stabilize the body, "forced by reality," I'm not joining it.
The answer is that., in my opinion, IDF is just a failing attempt. It is the worst way of "stabilizing" the social "body." since it is not aware of itself, of its real context and of the fact that is it not a true solution. I, Mr. Sarid, am working in my own way to keep our head above the water, and I think that even though I'm not involved in the actual capture of terrorist acts' comitters or the collecting of intelligence information for the army - I work for the good of society, and the damage I cause to human beings is much smaller than the damage of the IDF's heros.
Your way, your "Letter to 12 graders." is a defeatist attempt that only promotes the drowning and death of us all, and my attempts - like this issue of "War on Words" are positive , real attempts, without forcing lawmaking, propagandistic.manipulation or political interests Only to my regret my words reach must less people than your letter in "Yediot Akhronot."
I thank you for your attention.
Yours hopefully that the motivation to serve to IDF will keep going down.
S. Anti-Ego (Aka Santiago Gomez)
1) A Letter to 12th Graders, Yosi Sarid; 2) Responce of Santiago Gomez The author of the response to Yosi Sarid's-Knesset member and head of "Meretz party- appeal to 12th graders to enter the IDF [Israeli Defense Force] which appeared in `Yediot Akhronot', the largest circulation newspaper in Israel, was Santiago Gomez. Given the present seemingly insurmountable impasse between the Sharon administration and the Palestinian Authority, we find Gomez's response thought-provoking and challenging in its wisdom applied to an agonizing problem facing young people throughout the world community. It is wholly consistent with the one world and one humanity viewpoint. Do we have a budding, latter-day prophet in the "Holy Land"?)
In "A Letter to 12th Graders," Yosi Sarid:
In the end of the school year that is starting now, you are about to conscript to IDF. I'm allowing myself to turn to you in a request to be ready for a contributive and useful military service in which there is readiness for investment and a full use of your skills.
I know all the reasons that may bring you to a trouble in making decision, and out of it- to a wrong conclusion. I know the reasons, as I said, but I don't accept them. Some say that Peace is already at our door and so there's no need for the same measure of volunteering as in the past, and some say, that the new government is leaving the way-of-peace and may bring a war on us, and there's no will to serve under such a government,. And some say that the evasion of the ultra-orthodox is too much, and no one is their sucker, that will go and volunteer and be in danger of them, while they are celebrating on our money, and deciding there in the government upon our fate.
All these claims, however heavy and justifiable they may be, doesn't justify "small-head" and "close-to-home" or "profile 210" (a complete release from military service due to permanent health problems) Government comes and government goes, and the country (literally "state") always remains, and our country is still threatened, and the country is you. And the country is the life of you and your friends.
A strong army is still, regretfully, forced by reality (maybe now more than ever)., and even anyone who has strong and right criticism over the policy, shouldn't confuse between the policy and the country, which is always we, which is always ours, in good and in bad. This country is our land, our homeland, our home, and it's too important to us that we will leave the military service alone and give it to others. It is not right to do; it is not wise; it is not responsible and it's not even fair.
It's very important that people with values, who obey only their commanders and their personal conscience, will make the tune in IDF, because the tune makes the music, and the music in the army makes the march.
If our army will be weakened, if it will not feel self confident, it will also not inspire security, With an embarrassed IDF, which spreads embarrassment,, it will be more difficult to make peace, because making peace is always accompanied with making compromises and only the strong is able and allowed to compromise.
Now they start a committee, another committee, to check the "decreasing of motivation." You don't need this committee to know the true reasons for the decreasing of motivation and the ways to raise it anew, You know yourselves and your friends better than any committee in the world, even better than the Prime Minister and the Minister of Security together, and who except you can prove that even out of feeling of criticism and frustration, of repulsiveness and bad feeling, there's enough responsibility in you to fulfill a duty. No one will raise your moral nor your motivation- only you will raise and go up, if you want.
I thank you for your attention.
Yours, Yosi Sarid
Santiago Gomez's response (translated from the Hebrew)
Hello Mr. Sarid:
I have read your letter to 12 graders, and I couldn't fail to answer.
I managed to read beyond your clean language, beyond your "father's advise" language, far beyond the enlightened, nice appearance that you show. And I didn't like what I saw. Your message is too simple: mobilize in the army. That's all - two words. But the view behind them - however common here in Israel - is one of the most terrible and hateful views toward human beings, their liberty, and their basic right to live.
Mr. Sarid, you may be seen in your letter as the left winger humanist who already has a monopoly on conscience, and thus the ability to "judge" our morality, our claims. Please, Mr. Sarid, let me know what is your real motivation when you declare that you already know all our doubts and fears, because I don't believe you're interested in our good, and because I have the feeling that you're doing it so you could, actually think and decide instead of us, from an `authoritative' position, to eliminate those doubts and fears before they grow, and to do it out of so-called `empathy" and "understanding," without showing the fact that your concern is actually for the `national interest." Do you know what is the definition of a "Fascist," Mr. Sarid? A Fascist is a man who thinks that the citizen should serve the state and not the opposite; that the state is more important than man is. I would like to hear from you where do you stand according to this definition?
But before you answer, I have a small mission for you that can help you decide: stand and say before all your friends in the Knesset, in front of the television cameras, aloud and convincingly, that every man's life - every man's- is more important than the state. Please say that the life of the rag-wearied beggar, of the incurable patient grounded to his bed, of the poor and foreign worker, of the prisoner in his cell - that the life of every person you see on the street, of any anonymous stranger, are more important than the State of Israel, That the flag is nothing compared to them. That the value of Zionism is a small comma compared to their value., And I want you to say that about me as well, about my life. I want you to say that my life is a million times more important than the State, its institutions, than its papers, than its laws. That we all are "above the law." Can you say that honestly, without hesitation or stuttering. No, I didn't think you could.
Mr. Sarid, you are a Fascist, perhaps not out of ideology. Perhaps just out of stupidity, confusion or a narrow mind - but, you're still a Fascist.
One moment, wait, don't hurry to defend yourself yet, since I know what you're about to say. You're about to claim that in your eyes, the IDF soldiers protect their lives and the lives of other humans and not necessarily the State, as a separate thing. I'm sorry, Mr. Sarid, but this claim sounds to me, in a devalued language, ridiculous.
If, as you say, the State is we, then why instead of telling people "defend yourselves, the humans" you're declaring that it's needed to "defend the State"? And why, instead of telling the young that "their life is in danger," you prefer using a sentence like "Our State is still threatened"? And tell me why, if, as you say, "the State is you," you don't trust her and you don't trust him that their natural, free life instinct will raise them to defend themselves and their lives, and instead of that you're calling them to defend an abstraction, an organization, the social concept called "state"?
And let me remind you, Mr Sarid, that in contradiction with the "advising father" image you created for yourself, you're not only "calling" or "advising" them to do that - you are an active member and a partner in a governmental staff that obligates them, according to law and under the threat of arrest, to defend this "State." Explain to me why you force these young - and along them myself as well - to defend themselves only through "the defense of the State," to defend themselves only indirectly, through you, through your organization, your planning, and your commanding. Who benefits from this going around?" Is it possible that the state - which you and you friends, the ministers and the Knesset members are heading - is the one that feeds and gets strong on it? Is it possible that this is what you're actually interested in and not the protection of human life? Is it possible that the will to power is causing you to take our lives, the real ones, which are the most precious thing we have, and that we could not live them again - and use them for "humaning", a fiction that is call "a state"?
If it isn't so, then why do you force military service by law? Aren't you aware of the simple fact which every child knows, that people whose life is in danger defend themselves out of their free will and without any need to force them? Or maybe you just don't trust the young correct thinking. It's an instinct, Mr. Sarid, `the instinct of survival," and it's present in everyone of us, including 12 graders.
The truth is that you, as a politician, are interested in creating a society where the government will have, always and in any time, obedient citizens who will be ready (in the name of democracy) to execute any policy that will be decided by the government. You may hide it under the cover of idealism, but the true reason for you appealing to the youth and calling them to mobilize and to ignore the current government's policy is not your respect for democracy, not your "fair game" approach, not your political politeness and not your political integrity, This call of yours is coming out of a cold calculation, not out of the knowledge that one day you nay be in the government too and on that day you - the same like the present government- will breed `cannon meat' slaves, with full obedience to their government. The right wing is much too stupid to use the sophistication of your methods, much too self confident,, so it calls for obedience under its government and to rejection and rebellion under left governments. You, Mr Sarid, are smarter than they, less hotheaded, more "civilized" - but no less a Fascist.
The facts are clear: when both the state and both the humans inside it are endangered, you are willing to sacrifice the humans for the existence of the state and not the opposite, and this in spite of the fact that the state is a fiction, a concept, it's nothing perceptible.
A "state" is just a headline, a name for a group of humans organized in a certain way: in form of "a state."
You may think it's the most efficient way, that if you left us, 12 graders and other young, to organize themselves in order to protect their lives and their land, out of law's and army's framework, there would be a great chaos, or that it is totally unrealistic, and so you use nation, state and army to unite and to organize us. It could be. But here, this is another difference between you and me, Mr. Sarid, because those things I see as vital, efficient, and the best and even necessary for all the population - I am in no way willing to force them on the rest of the humans, I don't think it's moral to force on the citizens of Israel by police, courts, "education," fines, laws and prisons, Truth, Justice or efficiency as I see them, Because one who does this, no matter what are his intentions or what is his world view, is a dictator and not a humanist if using your words, "It is not right to do, it is not wise, it is not responsible, and it's not even fair."
Maybe you don't understand at all how it is possible to do the opposite, that is, how it is possible to sacrifice the state to save its citizens. If so, let me explain it to you:
The state, as I told you several times, is not an existent thing that you could see; its borders are not a perceptible thing that you could touch. The state hasn't a `personality" that can `demand' things from you or to be under `threat." There are only officials that pretend to represent it, or citizens that pretend to obey it. And this is actually both its existence, both the reason for its existence and both the plane on which it exists. Actually, what exists in reality is only "the belief in the state."
Humans, on the other side, like you and me, are flesh and blood; they exist. We, not like the state, are a real thing. The inhabitants of the State of Israel and the State of Israel itself exist in different dimensions, in the two most far poles of human perception: reality and imagination.
The way to actually execute the belief that human being and their lives are more important then the state, or in other words, the way to "sacrifice the state for the salvation of its citizens," the only true Anti-Fascism- is estrangement from the belief in the state. Simply that. The "sacrifice" is done on the perceptual plane, on which only there the state exists, and there's no need to destroy or to break anything actually.
Your call for 12th graders to mobilize for the state's sake, your contempt towards "small head," "close to home," and "profile 21" means that it's a duty for the young to be in danger and even to die - in time of need or cause - for the state's sake and even though you're surely not happy with this version of your sayings, it's precise at a hundred percent.
Your "moral" is the sacrifice of human beings, of their lives, for a thing that is even not non- living, but non-existent; a thing which, ironically, the only justification for its existence is that it's supposed to save lives! This position strengthens, of course, the belief in the state the same way it's coming out of it: it advances the belief in the state and (rejects) the belief in human beings,
The State of Israel, like the rest of the states in the world, was established thanks to violence; they are its result. Whether it was the aggression of tribes, kings and emperors (Europe) war of independence (USA), or voyages of conquest and enslavement (Third World states) - violence always had a major role in their establishment, The State of Israel is no different. It was established in a violent struggle, in organized violence of terrorist groups ("freedom fighters," perhaps?) against the British,, Palestinians and Arabs, and later on in war too. Except from being the result of violence, states create violence as well, every day - they strengthen and perpetuate it. In this issue Israel is not different as well. The threat you talk about, Mr. Sarid, the same threat hanging now over the State of Israel, the same threat that requires the mobilization of young, the "strong army" - what is it actually? It seems strange to me that you don't mention it, its reasons, its character or the origin of its creation.
The state created this threat, this problem, Mr. Sarid, and so it can't be the solution., The State of Israel, the State of Jordan, the State of Syria, the State of Iran - not one state created this problem but the mere idea of a "state." The direction (that you support with enthusiasm) to divide all human beings in the world instead of uniting them, the belief that the state is "we". Its "ours". And it's "our home", if I quote you.
The only reason that in this moment there are people, who I never met and they never met me, who are conspiring in secret basements, and apartments to plan terrorist acts and methods to murder me, personally, and the rest of the people who live here, is because you forced is to represent something which is actually yours and you force us to be responsible for the `actions' of something that existed before we were born and that we don't have real control over its actions. The problem, the threat is aimed at this thing, at `the state", and all your goal and the goal of your friends in the Israeli politics is the creation of total identification between us and it ("the State is always we"), turning real human beings into a fiction, demography, statistics, in order to create a human defense wall for the power, the domination and the way in which you choose to act. And of course one of the most efficient ways to turn us into "the State of Israel" - is to put our lives too under threat- is to encourage is to mobilize to the IDF with propaganda that goes from the kindergarten to the mass media - and includes such "letters" as yours.
On the the side of the state's border fence there are people who want to murder me because they were too, like myself, brainwashed by people like you, who created parallelism between human life and states - only in their case the brainwash worked, (while) I refuse to believe you and listen to your `advises'.
Your call for the youth to mobilize is, both historically and humanly, disconnected from its real context. And I would like to return it to its original context by a small example:
Think about a man who goes, stupidly, to wash in a river where there are whirlpools and very strong dragging streams, After he entered the water, and already got stuck in whirlpools and streams as well, he tries, of course, to preserve body stability and control so he could keep his head above the water. But this stability will not help him to survive the river's steams, because sooner or later, his body will be weakened and he will drown. Even a small amount of air in his lungs is not the solution because very soon it will end, and actually, his only solution is trying to get to the river's bank in order to exit the water.
The State of Israel, like this man, is in a deadly whirlpool from which we all are trying to be saved. Like that man, Israel, it also could be said, shouldn't have gone into this whirlpool, and that its entrance was the mistake which brought upon us the danger and the threat we face today. This, of course, is a very right thing to say, but this isn't the solution, because the wheel can't be brought back.
The solution that you show in your letter to 12 graders, Mr. Sarid, the mobilization to IDF, is the drowning man's attempt to stabilize his body, The same way this man sometimes manages to avoid one stream or another whirlpool - so does a "strong army" manages sometimes to stop one terrorist or to prevent another act of terror. But it can't be done forever since our "body" will also be weakened, the air in our lungs will run out, and this is actually not a solution at all. Even your "peace process" will not solve the problem because according to you, during it and even after its conclusion we will need a "strong army" perhaps even more than in the past, in order to "inspire security."
The real solution is trying to reach the bank, to get out of the river. The problem is that you, as most people, cancel the will to "get out of the river" as dreamy, as utopian, as non-realistic. And even though we're slowly being weakened, air is running out, and we're about to drown - you won't admit your mistake.
In order for the drowning man to understand that his only way out is the land on the river's bank, he should first understand that he made a mistake, and he shouldn't have gone into the stormy river in the first place. If he won't understand that, he won't have the will to be saved at all. The same way you, Mr. Sarid, should abandon your mistake, your belief in states, armies, nations, and the rest of whirlpools drowning today's humanity and the State of Israel. This is the first step (which I doubt you could do at all.)
In order to be saved and to reach that river's bank, there's no need that all the humans will smile and suddenly become nice. There's no need that all the weapons in the world will turn into flowers, and there's no need even for a strong revolutionary uprising that will overthrow the current order. It is only needed that you, yourself, will understand and admit your mistake, and that you will have the will to be saved. From there, the way to get to the secured shore may be shorter and simpler than you think.
But the preservation of body stability, though not a solution in itself, is still a necessary condition for being saved from drowning, and you must ask yourself why, if I admit that IDF is, in the existing reality, like an attempt to stabilize the body, "forced by reality," I'm not joining it.
The answer is that., in my opinion, IDF is just a failing attempt. It is the worst way of "stabilizing" the social "body." since it is not aware of itself, of its real context and of the fact that is it not a true solution. I, Mr. Sarid, am working in my own way to keep our head above the water, and I think that even though I'm not involved in the actual capture of terrorist acts' comitters or the collecting of intelligence information for the army - I work for the good of society, and the damage I cause to human beings is much smaller than the damage of the IDF's heros.
Your way, your "Letter to 12 graders." is a defeatist attempt that only promotes the drowning and death of us all, and my attempts - like this issue of "War on Words" are positive , real attempts, without forcing lawmaking, propagandistic.manipulation or political interests Only to my regret my words reach must less people than your letter in "Yediot Akhronot."
I thank you for your attention.
Yours hopefully that the motivation to serve to IDF will keep going down.
S. Anti-Ego (Aka Santiago Gomez)
Friday, August 13, 2004
Israel-Palestine, Tel Aviv, assessment of the initiative of the Anarchists Against The Wall - documentary video and panel 13/08/04
The joint Palestinian-Israeli struggle against the wall ignited a wide mass nonviolent struggle of the Palestinian villagers most effected, combined with Israeli radicals around the core of the Anarchists Against The Wall and international activists. The struggle contributed - both directly and indirectly through international involvement, to a supreme "justice" courthouse stay on the route of the Wall which harm the Palestinian villagers. While there is a lull in the construction of most of the route, the struggle continue.
While lot of activists are involved with the long march along the rote of the Wall, about 100 activists gathered in the municipal cinematic of Tel Aviv to view the documented video of the struggle - starting from the first joint struggle at Mas'ha march 2003 till these days.
The first joint demonstration of the people of Mas'ha with the Israeli anarchists and international ended with the establishment of a camp on the route. On request of the local villagers the symbolic joint act continued for months and was a catalyst in the igniting of mass activity of the Palestinian nonviolent direct action struggle against the construction of the Wall.
There were many small victories which though only delaying the construction contributed to the building of high moral and involvement of more and more people. After half a year of struggle, the first damage inflicted by the initiative to the less robust part of the fence at Zabuba, ignited red alarm at the Israeli authorities who responded in the next symbolic physical damage to a gate of the Wall with shooting to hit with live ammunition on the Israeli activists.
This act which resulted with serious harm to a leg of one of the Israeli activists caused a havoc in the media and public opinion - which pushed the authorities to clumsy lies that all the Israelis have seen exposed in the main TV channels.
In the panel after the long documentaries people summed the contribution of the initiative of The Anarchists Against The Wall to the delegitimizing of the Wall as tool for annexation of Palestinian territory and quiet transfer of the villages. The contribution of the initiative to the upsurge of mass non violent direct action of the Palestinians and internationalism was mentioned too.
Ilan
While lot of activists are involved with the long march along the rote of the Wall, about 100 activists gathered in the municipal cinematic of Tel Aviv to view the documented video of the struggle - starting from the first joint struggle at Mas'ha march 2003 till these days.
The first joint demonstration of the people of Mas'ha with the Israeli anarchists and international ended with the establishment of a camp on the route. On request of the local villagers the symbolic joint act continued for months and was a catalyst in the igniting of mass activity of the Palestinian nonviolent direct action struggle against the construction of the Wall.
There were many small victories which though only delaying the construction contributed to the building of high moral and involvement of more and more people. After half a year of struggle, the first damage inflicted by the initiative to the less robust part of the fence at Zabuba, ignited red alarm at the Israeli authorities who responded in the next symbolic physical damage to a gate of the Wall with shooting to hit with live ammunition on the Israeli activists.
This act which resulted with serious harm to a leg of one of the Israeli activists caused a havoc in the media and public opinion - which pushed the authorities to clumsy lies that all the Israelis have seen exposed in the main TV channels.
In the panel after the long documentaries people summed the contribution of the initiative of The Anarchists Against The Wall to the delegitimizing of the Wall as tool for annexation of Palestinian territory and quiet transfer of the villages. The contribution of the initiative to the upsurge of mass non violent direct action of the Palestinians and internationalism was mentioned too.
Ilan
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Palestine-Israel, Taxamo in palestine - accidental interview of an anarchist 12/08/04
This interview was conducted between a British ISM activist and Raz, an activist in the Israeli organisation 'anarchists against the wall' during a break in the ISM initiated march along the proposed route of the Apartheid wall in Palestine. The questions are both those on the interviewer and the Freedom editorial staff. It would be wrong to call 'anarchists against the wall' an organization in the formal sense, and they themselves would probably prefer not to have this label. The label was assumed by and for the Israeli media once their actions came to its attention. It was clear from the interview that they would prefer just to be seen as anarchists, and as anarchists opposition to the wall would automatically follow. Shortly after the interview was conducted two of them initiated a direct action at the wall and smashed through two gates, one of which was electrified. The action was given the encouragement and consent of the local Palestinians, and had Palestinian participation, but nevertheless demonstrated the special role the Israeli anarchists play in the unarmed struggle. As Israeli citizens they are in far more danger from the IDF and the legal system than international activists, but then again, as Israeli citizens they are more passionate in their opposition too.
1) what size is the organization and what are its main functions?
Raz - We are at demonstrations and actions once or twice a week, and on these demo's there are generally 10 to 15 of us. The organization is really more of a network for anarchists who want to do direct actions, and we have about 100 active people the contact list. As for our functions, they change with the Palestinians. Up until February last year we concentrated on direct actions against the wall - cutting or dismantling it, but we have slowly changed slightly after two big events: after the end of the Masha peace camp, and the popular uprising in Budrus. In Budrus we moved towards popular uprising happily; we were invited to take part in daily demonstrations and resistance by the community themselves, and it was really cool to see the community rising up together. Since then we have tried to combine this sort of work with our direct action - this march could be considered part of this.
2)How has the state reacted since your creation?
?In the first two actions we had, in Zubaba, there was no state intervention. Then in Masha on the 26th of september the army shot an anarchist in both legs. One activist was arrested after a demo and had to sign a contract promising not to damage the wall again (interviewers note:
the Israeli security forces are fond such contracts, and are a useful propaganda tool for the Israeli public. The have the dual purpose of making the IDF seem calm and reasonable and the prisoner, normally uncharged, seem guilty by association.). A few activists have been interrogated by the Shabak (branch of secret service). On demo's the police are always trying to arrest the Israelis now. It won't be too long before someone gets a serious prison sentence. We are under surveillance as well, which we know from experience. The Shabak are really on our back with monitoring and stopping actions before they happen ?if they know where and when we will cross through the wall into Palestine, all they have to do is notify the checkpoint or get the taxi we are in stopped on the way. When the International Court of Justice trial of the wall began in the Hague on the 23rd of February we got stopped on our way to a demo 3 times using different routes. We ended up going back to Tel Aviv and doing the demo outside the War Ministry building there, which is basically like a massive military compound in the middle of town. A few people blocked the road and stop their cars coming out. 12 people were arrested for this. Many have been charged with assaulting police for passive resistance. The trial will be in September and I think this is where the legal system will catch up with us.
) How much support - if any - do you have within Israel?
Actually we do have some support from individuals in Israel. We do not have the official support of any groups, but individuals within different Israeli peace groups and also some journalists.
Internationally? There was a benefit gig organized for us in Amsterdam 2 months ago. Last year two of us toured Europe giving lectures and were able to collect some donations too.
) Was this tour within the anarchist community in the countries visited?
No, it was not explicitly anarchist. It was more about telling people the realities, about the wall and the occupation. The lectures were at universities, so they were for students and anyone who attended.
) How do you see the situation developing?
With continuing land confiscations, and continued extension to the fences, I do not see it getting any better. It looks like the resistance in Israel to removing any settlements means the fence will go up, and go up where it is now. That means well into the green line. Er... don't get me wrong I don't want the wall anywhere at all... For the situation in general, it won't come anywhere near peace whilst there are still settlements.
) Have you considered doing actions at settlements then?
No. The settler security would probably shoot us, and what would be the point if they didn't? The residents wouldn't listen to what we have to say. These people think what they are doing is the will of god. The army are reasonable in comparison.
What are the groups intentions for the future? Is there a particular direction the group is moving in or would like to move in?
No. We follow Palestinian initiatives basically. (Interviewers NB; like the ISM in this respect) We participate in their initiatives, but we always try to be involved in the planning and decision making too.
) Do you expect to grow in size?
Not really. We have really just united anarchists interested in direct action in Israel, I don't think that we have created any new ones!
) This brings me to my next question; for you personally, what came first - opposition to the occupation or anarchism?
Opposition to the occupation.
) Do you see it as natural that anarchists would support the struggle and your participation then? I'm playing devil's advocate, but isn't this a national liberation struggle, with a lot of religious and nationalistic dominance?
I expect anarchists to support the struggle. This is not a national liberation struggle it is a human rights struggle.
) The right answer! In that case would you like to extend an invitation to anarchists to come out and work with you?
Sure. Its not something we actively do, but we have houses and places for people to stay. Its definitely a possibility.
) Do you have a message for the international anarchist community; they all read Freedom of course!
If they see this struggle as part of their struggle they are welcome here. We would like to have more contact with other organizations internationally.
I know it’s a bit shitty, but money always helps too. We have a website I think, but I can't remember the address; there's a link to it off onestruggle.org, an Israeli animal rights and anarchist website. It's probably best to email me at barvazduck@yahoo.com And that’s for anything, not just if you want to give some money.
) Final question then. Are there any Palestinian anarchists?
Apparently yes! Some people said they met Palestinian anarchists in Balata refugee camp. Some people we work with are secretly anarchists though they won't admit it! Perhaps you should ask them?
right that's the end of the interview; it was an abrupt end as I was being gesticulated at to attend another meeting. I will openly admit to paraphrasing this poor man to a disgusting level, even though he spoke perfect English. I really couldn't write down everything he said fast enough, I just wrote notes, and I've filled the gaps from memory. The information (should be) correct, but it is often my interpretation, which is why it might sound like an internal dialogue. Also its completely false chronology of questions, but this is only because he said things that lead on to other points at different times. [Jimma – edit this as you see fit obviously cut this end bit starting with 'right'. Its up to you of course but I reckon you should definitely get in touch with them and make some links, possibly invite them to Britain. Also they would really like to see this on paper, so mail them a copy when (if?) its printed.
1) what size is the organization and what are its main functions?
Raz - We are at demonstrations and actions once or twice a week, and on these demo's there are generally 10 to 15 of us. The organization is really more of a network for anarchists who want to do direct actions, and we have about 100 active people the contact list. As for our functions, they change with the Palestinians. Up until February last year we concentrated on direct actions against the wall - cutting or dismantling it, but we have slowly changed slightly after two big events: after the end of the Masha peace camp, and the popular uprising in Budrus. In Budrus we moved towards popular uprising happily; we were invited to take part in daily demonstrations and resistance by the community themselves, and it was really cool to see the community rising up together. Since then we have tried to combine this sort of work with our direct action - this march could be considered part of this.
2)How has the state reacted since your creation?
?In the first two actions we had, in Zubaba, there was no state intervention. Then in Masha on the 26th of september the army shot an anarchist in both legs. One activist was arrested after a demo and had to sign a contract promising not to damage the wall again (interviewers note:
the Israeli security forces are fond such contracts, and are a useful propaganda tool for the Israeli public. The have the dual purpose of making the IDF seem calm and reasonable and the prisoner, normally uncharged, seem guilty by association.). A few activists have been interrogated by the Shabak (branch of secret service). On demo's the police are always trying to arrest the Israelis now. It won't be too long before someone gets a serious prison sentence. We are under surveillance as well, which we know from experience. The Shabak are really on our back with monitoring and stopping actions before they happen ?if they know where and when we will cross through the wall into Palestine, all they have to do is notify the checkpoint or get the taxi we are in stopped on the way. When the International Court of Justice trial of the wall began in the Hague on the 23rd of February we got stopped on our way to a demo 3 times using different routes. We ended up going back to Tel Aviv and doing the demo outside the War Ministry building there, which is basically like a massive military compound in the middle of town. A few people blocked the road and stop their cars coming out. 12 people were arrested for this. Many have been charged with assaulting police for passive resistance. The trial will be in September and I think this is where the legal system will catch up with us.
) How much support - if any - do you have within Israel?
Actually we do have some support from individuals in Israel. We do not have the official support of any groups, but individuals within different Israeli peace groups and also some journalists.
Internationally? There was a benefit gig organized for us in Amsterdam 2 months ago. Last year two of us toured Europe giving lectures and were able to collect some donations too.
) Was this tour within the anarchist community in the countries visited?
No, it was not explicitly anarchist. It was more about telling people the realities, about the wall and the occupation. The lectures were at universities, so they were for students and anyone who attended.
) How do you see the situation developing?
With continuing land confiscations, and continued extension to the fences, I do not see it getting any better. It looks like the resistance in Israel to removing any settlements means the fence will go up, and go up where it is now. That means well into the green line. Er... don't get me wrong I don't want the wall anywhere at all... For the situation in general, it won't come anywhere near peace whilst there are still settlements.
) Have you considered doing actions at settlements then?
No. The settler security would probably shoot us, and what would be the point if they didn't? The residents wouldn't listen to what we have to say. These people think what they are doing is the will of god. The army are reasonable in comparison.
What are the groups intentions for the future? Is there a particular direction the group is moving in or would like to move in?
No. We follow Palestinian initiatives basically. (Interviewers NB; like the ISM in this respect) We participate in their initiatives, but we always try to be involved in the planning and decision making too.
) Do you expect to grow in size?
Not really. We have really just united anarchists interested in direct action in Israel, I don't think that we have created any new ones!
) This brings me to my next question; for you personally, what came first - opposition to the occupation or anarchism?
Opposition to the occupation.
) Do you see it as natural that anarchists would support the struggle and your participation then? I'm playing devil's advocate, but isn't this a national liberation struggle, with a lot of religious and nationalistic dominance?
I expect anarchists to support the struggle. This is not a national liberation struggle it is a human rights struggle.
) The right answer! In that case would you like to extend an invitation to anarchists to come out and work with you?
Sure. Its not something we actively do, but we have houses and places for people to stay. Its definitely a possibility.
) Do you have a message for the international anarchist community; they all read Freedom of course!
If they see this struggle as part of their struggle they are welcome here. We would like to have more contact with other organizations internationally.
I know it’s a bit shitty, but money always helps too. We have a website I think, but I can't remember the address; there's a link to it off onestruggle.org, an Israeli animal rights and anarchist website. It's probably best to email me at barvazduck@yahoo.com And that’s for anything, not just if you want to give some money.
) Final question then. Are there any Palestinian anarchists?
Apparently yes! Some people said they met Palestinian anarchists in Balata refugee camp. Some people we work with are secretly anarchists though they won't admit it! Perhaps you should ask them?
right that's the end of the interview; it was an abrupt end as I was being gesticulated at to attend another meeting. I will openly admit to paraphrasing this poor man to a disgusting level, even though he spoke perfect English. I really couldn't write down everything he said fast enough, I just wrote notes, and I've filled the gaps from memory. The information (should be) correct, but it is often my interpretation, which is why it might sound like an internal dialogue. Also its completely false chronology of questions, but this is only because he said things that lead on to other points at different times. [Jimma – edit this as you see fit obviously cut this end bit starting with 'right'. Its up to you of course but I reckon you should definitely get in touch with them and make some links, possibly invite them to Britain. Also they would really like to see this on paper, so mail them a copy when (if?) its printed.
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
Israel-Palestine, Media, ISM Activists, Palestinians and Anarchists Against the Wall break through fence near Tul Karm 03/08/04
Palestinian residents of the West Bank village of Kafr Zeita and anti-separation fence activists on Monday burst through a gate in the barrier separating the village from its agricultural lands. Activists from the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement and the Israeli group Anarchists Against the Fence said this was the first time demonstrators have managed to break through the barrier. Activists and residents of the village, located north of Tul Karm, began breaking through the gate when there were no Israel Defense Forces soldiers present. When the first patrol jeep arrived on the scene, the gate had already been opened.
"Nothing will dissuade us from breaking this fence," Yonatan Pollack, of Anarchists Against the Fence, said.
The organization's activity in Kafr Zeita was part of its protest march from Jenin to Jerusalem along the route of the separation fence. The march is slated to end in another two weeks.
In 2003, Anarchists activist Gil Na'amati was wounded by IDF gunfire during an attempt by the group to break through the fence.
Link: http://www.stopthewall.org/
Source: http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/459243.html
Israel, Tel Aviv, Hiroshima Day, roaming vigil from War ministry compound, through Japans embassy, to US embassy 06/08/04 Today, marking 59 years since the atom bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima - about 25 anarchist, antiauthoritarians of the left and others of the Israeli Committee for a Middle East Free from Atomic, Biological and Chemical Weapons held a roaming vigil - march. We started with an half hour vigil at the Ministry of War (Defense) in the Kiryah in Tel Aviv with placards and leaflets. Ten we proceed in a sneak like march with placards an leaflets to the Japanese Embassy. After about half an hour there we continued the march across town to the US Embassy, where we enjoyed another vigil between the sea shore and the and embassy.
Ilan
"Nothing will dissuade us from breaking this fence," Yonatan Pollack, of Anarchists Against the Fence, said.
The organization's activity in Kafr Zeita was part of its protest march from Jenin to Jerusalem along the route of the separation fence. The march is slated to end in another two weeks.
In 2003, Anarchists activist Gil Na'amati was wounded by IDF gunfire during an attempt by the group to break through the fence.
Link: http://www.stopthewall.org/
Source: http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/459243.html
Israel, Tel Aviv, Hiroshima Day, roaming vigil from War ministry compound, through Japans embassy, to US embassy 06/08/04 Today, marking 59 years since the atom bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima - about 25 anarchist, antiauthoritarians of the left and others of the Israeli Committee for a Middle East Free from Atomic, Biological and Chemical Weapons held a roaming vigil - march. We started with an half hour vigil at the Ministry of War (Defense) in the Kiryah in Tel Aviv with placards and leaflets. Ten we proceed in a sneak like march with placards an leaflets to the Japanese Embassy. After about half an hour there we continued the march across town to the US Embassy, where we enjoyed another vigil between the sea shore and the and embassy.
Ilan
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