"If the soldiers come, they will find us barring their way"

[otherisr at actcom.co.il]

GUSH SHALOM  pob 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033 www.gush-shalom.org

Press Release 13/9/2003

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"If the soldiers come, they will find us barring their way"
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"I am willing to put myself at risk and serve as a human shield, in order 
to foil Prime Minster Sharon's intention to murder the leader of the 
palestinian People. So are many of my my fellows in the israeli peace 
movement" declared the veteran peace activist Uri Avenry of Gush 
Shalom (the Israeli Peace Bloc) upon his arrival at the Presidential 
Compound in Ramallah. "Sharon does not intend to "deport" Yasser 
Arafat. That word is a mere euphemism for murdering Arafat in cold 
blood. The murder of Arafat, by soldiers under the authority of the 
government of Israel, would be a terrible disaster for our country. It may 
precipitate an outbreak of hatered and bloodshed dwarfing everything 
we have seen in the past three years. Such a murder would also put an 
end to any chance of peace and reconciliation between the two 
peoples for many years, possibly for generations. To a person l;ike me, 
who deeply cares about Israel's future, there is nothing more important 
to do at this moment than do everything - and I do mean everything - in 
my power to prevent such a calamity. PM Sharon , Defence Minster 
Mofaz and their generals should know that if they send their soldiers in 
here, there will be Israeli peace activists here to bar their way" said 
Avnery, who mentoned that already last year, a group of Gush Shalom 
activists had spent the night at this compund, tduring a previous round 
of threats by Sharon against Arafat.

AQvnery shraply condemend the so-called "experts" who on the Israeli 
media assert that "Arafat removal will pave the way for the emegence 
of moderate forces". "Either these genetelmen are bare-faced liers, or 
they have not the slightest knowlege on the subject they comment 
about, no realisation of the obvious fact that the murder of Arafat would 
wipe out for a considerable time any sign of moderation in the 
Palestinian society." 

Avnery arrived at the Presidential Compound this afternon, among a 
group of some thirty peace activists which also included Knesset 
Members Issam Mahoul and Ahamad Tibi, senior Meretz activist Latif 
Dori and the historian Teddy Katz. Together with them arrived a large 
group of Palrestinain public figures, partners of the Israelis in the Joint 
Israeli-Palestinian Action Group for Peace. When ath activist arrived, 
the compound was full of thousands of Palestinian demostrators, 
carrying photos of Arafat and flags of the various factions and 
organizations inthe Palestinian society, now united in strong opposition 
to Sharon's threat against Arafat. The presdential bodyguards made 
room for the peace delegation among the crowd. In the corriodtr inside 
the Israelis met with Arafat, who welcomed them warmly and invited 
Avnery and the two KM's to appear with his on the window. Thei 
appearanvce was greted by prolonged applause and cheers. Avnery 
handed to Arafat the Gush Shalom symbol, consisting of the linked 
flags of Israel and Palestine - which the Palestinian president 
immediately pinned on to his lapel. 

Arafat invited the peace activists to dinner, which was joined also by te 
new palestinian PM Abu Ala. During the dinner arafat spoke of the 
Olso agreements, signed ten years ago to the day, and said "Iwas 
then, and I remain now, committed to the hope of a secure future, a 
future when the children of both our peoples couold grow up without 
fear". Abu Ala called for an immediate cease-fire, putting a complete 
end to both suicide bombings by Palestinians and "liquidations" by the 
Israeli armed forces. 

Avnery advised the Palestinian PM to include in the presentation of his 
new cabinet, once it is formed, a direct appeal to the peaople of Israel. 
"Very many in Israel already understand the simple truth: 
assasinations and liuidations directly precipitate suicide bombings; 
whoever sends a helicopter guiunship to assasinate a Palestinian 
leader is threby also causing the death of the Israeli civilians in the 
subsequent suicide bombing. Sharon and many of his ministers and 
gneral do not want a cease-fire, but rather a total war. But among the 
citiznes of Israekl, who have had enough and more than enough of 
living in fear, such a direct appeal for a cease-fire could find an echo".

Further info: Uri Avnery +972-50-306440

HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN 
SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  

Those able and willing to be part of a volunteer group, which might be  
called up at short notice to come to the Ramallah Presidential 
Compound to face toghether with the Palestinians a possilbe invasion 
by the army, please write to gushalom at actcom.net.il and/or leave a 
message with your name and phone number on the answering 
machine at the Tel-Aviv Gush Shalom office, 03-5221732. Thank you!   

HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN 
SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  HUMAN SHIELD -  

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