[WCUSP] Fw: Nonviolent Victories In Palestine & Israel

[Libby or Mort Frank]

The Shalom CenterA spark of light -- Libby

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Rabbi Arthuir Waskow 
To: lmfrank1 at verizon.net 
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 6:17 AM
Subject: Nonviolent Victories In Palestine & Israel



      A Prophetic Voice in Jewish, Multireligious, and American Life
     


            Nonviolent Victories
            In Palestine & Israel


            Dear Friends,
             
            For years, many Westerners have condemned Palestinians for failing to use nonviolent resistance against the Occupation - when in fact some have been using it - and for years, many Westerners have condemned the Israeli Occupation as so brutal that it would not matter if Palestinians did use nonviolence. Both contentions have now been proved in some measure not true.
             
            For two years, the Palestinian village of Bilin has every Friday carried on a nonviolent mass protest against the placement of the Separation Barrier in such a way as to cut off the villagers from most of their fields and livelihood. Some Israelis and some Westerners have joined in these protests.

            According to Wikipedia, 
             
            "The Israel Border Police and Israeli Army claim to disperse the protests using tear gas, stun grenades, and plastic bullets only after the immediate area of the fence is violated or stones are thrown. Bil'in's protest committee claims to follow principles of civil disobedience, and says that the stone throwing is carried out by other members of the village, and sometimes by Israeli agents provocateurs."
             
            Now the Supreme Court of Israel has ruled that the Barrier must be moved; that its present placement imposes an undue and illegal hardship on Bilin, while not being necessary to safeguard Israeli security.
             
            For two articles on the Court decision and Palestinian responses, see --
             
             http://www.shalomctr.org/node/1288 
             
            http://www.shalomctr.org/node/1289 
             
            This is only a partial victory --  the whole Separation Barrier would be far more legitimate as protecting Israel if it were located not deep inside Palestinian territory but on the Green Line that was the boundary demarcation until 1967, and (with small modifications) could be again if  the leaders of both sides would pursue what two-thirds of each people wants: a real two-state peace settlement.  Nevertheless, every victory for nonviolence deserves celebration.
             
            Shalom, salaam, peace - Arthur
             


           



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