[GushShalom] Avnery's open letter to Arafat & updates ongoing struggle

[Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)]

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

1] A Letter to President Arafat about the film "The Passion of the Christ"
2] Report on ad in the Palestinian press, Zawiya protest and more
3] Updates ongoing struggle - NB: news re Vanunu + don't forget to  use   
   the links to constant updates

						(())	(()) (())

1] A Letter to President Arafat about the film "The Passion of the Christ"

Uri Avnery
3.4.04

Hebrew at request &  soon at the site
òáøéú òì ôé á÷ùä àå á÷øåá áàúø

			A Letter to President Arafat

     President Yasser Arafat,
     Shalom.
     I write these lines in order to protest against a statement that I 
cannot ignore.
     In the weekly Palestinian paper, The Jerusalem Times, there appeared 
on March 26 a short item reporting that you have viewed the controversial 
film of Mel Gibson, "The Passion of the Christ". Afterwards your advisor 
and close assistant, Nabil Abu-Rudeina, stated that you found the film 
"moving and historical". Abu-Rudeina added that "the Palestinians are 
still daily being exposed to the kind of pain Jesus was exposed to during 
his crucifixion."
     If the statement had not appeared in a Palestinian paper, I would 
have believed that it was invented by Ariel Sharon's propaganda machine. 
It is hard to imagine a sentence more capable of hurting the Palestinian 
cause.
     I hold Abu-Rudeina in very high esteem. I appreciate his loyalty to 
the Palestinian cause and to you personally. He has remained at your side 
throughout the siege of your compound, and - like you - he is now risking 
his life there daily. But this statement should not have been made.
     I have not seen the film, nor do I intend to. I abhor cruelty, also 
in films, and this film is full of cruel scenes, claiming to depict the 
New Testament on screen. Obviously, there is a great difference between 
reading a written text and seeing it all on the screen, with life-like 
displays of atrocious acts and blood flowing like water.
     But this is not the main thing.
     As an Arab and a Muslim, you are not obliged to be aware of the 
terrible impact that the description of the crucifixion has had on the 
life of Jews over almost two thousand years of persecutions, pogroms and 
torture by the Spanish inquisition, large-scale expulsions, mass and 
individual murders, up to the Holocaust in which six million Jews 
perished. All these were, directly or indirectly, caused, or at least 
made possible, by this narrative.
     The New Testament is sacred to its believers. But like our Bible 
(the so-called Old Testament), it is not a history text. Religious truth 
and historical truth are not one and the same. The descriptions of the 
crucifixion in the four gospels were written down many decades after the 
event, and the writers wrote what they wrote under the influence of the 
circumstances of their time.
      Let's take, for instance, the image of the Roman governor, Pontius 
Pilate.  The Romans described him as an unscrupulous, corrupt and cruel 
procurator. In the New Testament, he is pictured as a humane person, 
almost a philosopher, who did not want to execute Jesus but gave in to 
the Jews. In Gibson's film, he is an attractive figure, who is compelled 
by the disgusting Jews - disgusting even physically - to act against his 
conscience.
     Why this description? Simple: when the text was written, the 
Christians were already trying to convert the Roman world to their creed. 
It was convenient for them, therefore, to blame the Jews and exonerate 
the Romans, reversing the realities of the times.. The Jews then, like 
the Palestinians now, were an occupied people, and the Romans were the 
occupiers. Crucifixion was a usual Roman punishment, a kind of "targeted 
elimination" of that time (but after a trial).
     The writers of the gospels were bursting with hatred of the Jews. 
That is not surprising, either. They were Jews themselves, as were Jesus 
and all the people around him. But they belonged to a dissident sect, 
which was considered by the Jewish establishment in Jerusalem as 
heretical. The Christian Jews were cruelly persecuted. As usual in such 
fratricidal struggles, this one, too, aroused burning hatred. This hatred 
found its expression in the description of the crucifixion. 
     The Gospel According to Matthew (Chapter 27) puts it this way: 
"Pilate said to them (the Jewish crowd assembled in front of his office): 
'What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?' They all said to 
him: 'Let him be crucified!' Then the governor said: 'Why, what has he 
done?' But they cried all the more, saying: 'Let him be crucified!' When 
Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was 
rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying: 
'I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it!' And all 
the people answered and said: 'His blood be on us and on our children'." 
     Obviously, this is not a historical description. An entire people, 
or a great multitude, does not talk like one single person. The words 
"His blood be…on our children" are unreasonable and were put there in 
order to justify taking revenge on generations to come. And indeed, many 
generations of rabble-rousers used these words in order to incite against 
the god-killers.
     Adolf Hitler, of course, was no Christian fanatic. Quite the 
contrary, some of his followers tried to bring back pagan Germanic rites. 
But Hitler and the perpetrators of the Holocaust learned the New 
Testament in school, and no one can say how much of the text they 
unconsciously absorbed. And many simple fundamentalists accepted the 
Holocaust or took part in it because of this. 
     I do not intend to lay the collective blame on the entire Christian 
world throughout the centuries. Far from it. Many of the greatest 
humanists throughout history were Christians, some of them very devout. 
Not only the perpetrators of the Holocaust were Christians, so were the 
Righteous Ones, those who saved Jews. Christian monasteries in many 
places took in Jews and saved their lives.
     Jesus preached love, and the new Testament pictures him as an 
immensely attractive person, righteous, merciful and tolerant. How 
terrible that so many atrocities in history were perpetrated by persons 
and institutions claiming to act in his name.
     You, Mr. President, as an Arab and a Muslim, are proud of the fact 
that for more than a thousand years the Muslim world was a model of 
tolerance, toward both Jews and Christians. The Muslim world has never 
known mass expulsions and pogroms, that were a regular feature in 
Christendom, not to mention the terrible Holocaust.
     The blood-bond between Muslims and Jews runs through history. One of 
the darkest chapters in the history of this country, which we both love, 
is the story of the crusades. Even before the reached the Holy Land, the 
crusaders committed genocide against the Jews of Germany. When they 
breached the walls of Jerusalem, they killed the entire population of the 
city, men and women, old people and babes in arms. One of them proudly 
described how they waded in blood up to their knees. It was the blood of 
Muslims and Jews, butchered together, their last prayers intertwined on 
their way to heaven.      
     After the fall of Jerusalem, Haifa still held out against the 
crusaders. Most of its inhabitants were Jews, who fought side by side 
with the Egyptian garrison. The Muslims provided them with arms, and 
according to a Christian chronicler, the Jews fought valiantly. When the 
town fell, the crusaders butchered the remaining Jews and Muslims 
together.
     Four hundred years later, when the Christians finished the re-
conquest of Spain from the Muslims, they expelled the Jews and the 
Muslims together. After the Golden Age, the wonderful cultural symbiosis 
of Muslims and Jews in medieval Muslim Spain, Muslims and Jews suffered a 
common fate. Almost all the expelled Jews settled in Muslim or Muslim-
ruled countries.
     Let us not allow the present bitter conflict between our two 
peoples, with all its cruelty, to overshadow the past, because that is 
the basis for our common future.
     The present sufferings of the Palestinian people - which we, as 
Israelis and Jews, oppose and fight against - have no connection with 
what happened - or not - some 1973 years ago.
     If there is any connection at all, it is the other way round. 
Without modern Christian anti-Semitism, the Zionist movement would not 
have been born at all. As I have mentioned before, the founder of the 
Zionist movement, Theodor Herzl, explicitly stated his belief that the 
founding of a Jewish State was the only way of saving the European Jews. 
Anti-Semitism was and is the force that drives the Jews to Palestine.
     Without anti-Semitism, the Zionist vision would have remained an 
abstract idea. From the pogrom of Kishinev, through the Holocaust to the 
anti-Semitism in Russia that has recently driven more than a million Jews 
to Israel - anti-Semitism was and remains the most dangerous enemy of the 
Palestinian people. There is much truth in the saying that the 
Palestinians are "the victims of the victims". 
     On top of all the moral reasons, this is an additional argument 
against a statement about the crucifixion that can be construed by anti-
Semites as an encouragement for their cause.
     When peace comes, we shall all meet in Jerusalem, Jews, Christians 
and Muslims. I know that you dream of it, as do I. Let us hope that we 
shall both see it with our own eyes.


2] Report on ad in the Palestinian press, Zawiya protest and more

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:           	"Ta'ayush" <arab_jewish at hotmail.com>
Date sent:      	Sat, 3 Apr 2004 23:45:42 +0200
       
Hebrew at request &  soon at http://www.taayush.org
http://www.taayush.org :òáøéú òì ôé á÷ùä àå á÷øåá á

First, we would like to thank everyone who came yesterday to the activity 
planned in Zawiya. We apologize to all those who found themselves 
spending Friday in Kufr Qassem and not in a joint Palestinian-Israeli 
demonstration in a Palestinian village. And now, for the day's report in 
view of the events in the past two weeks:

As you know, the demonstration at Zawiya was planned for last week, March 
26. On Monday that week, Israel assassinated Ahmad Yassin. An event of 
such magnitude naturally rocked the table. Our hosts of Zawiya and Deir 
Ballut asked to postpone the action for the time being. Since work on the 
fence there had not yet begun, it seemed wrong to demonstrate as though 
nothing had happened.

We then held an emergency meeting and considered what could be done at 
present both "inwards", towards the Israeli public, and "outwards", to 
bear our message to the Palestinian people, especially in view of the 
assassination. 
We decided to carry out two immediate actions: one was to hand out flyers 
in the "Israeli" street, calling for a halt of the vicious-circle of 
bloodshed, and warning against the plans of Sharon and his cohorts to set 
an even greater blaze in the region. The translated fliyer is on Ta'ayush 
website. As our second action, we resolved to publish an advertisement in 
the Palestinian press, along with the people's committees acting against 
the fence in various locations throughout the West Bank. The core of the 
advertisement stated that we consider the Israeli assassination of Sheikh 
Yassin a provocation meant to crush the popular, civil unarmed struggle 
against the fence that has gained momentum in the past few months. The 
aim of this assassination was to drown the Intifada in streams of blood 
and rekindle the Palestinian struggle in one mode only: that of the armed 
organizations. This is why the Palestinian people's committees, and we 
along with them, call to the Palestinian people not to give up its civil 
struggle. The advertisement appeared last Wednesday in two Palestinian 
newspapers: "Al-Quds" and "Al-Ayyam", signed by the people's committees 
from the Salfeet area (Zawiya, Mas'ha etc.), the area west of Ramallah 
(Budrus, Qibiya etc.), the seven national villages, and three committees 
in Jerusalem. Notice has been given of this to Israeli media as well, but 
they have'nt shown any intrest. You can find the ad on our website: 
http://www.taayush.org/200403-ad.html

In the meantime, after canceling last week's demo, the people of Zawiya 
called again and asked us to carry it out yesterday (April 2). In light 
of the above, we felt compelled to do so, although probably many of us 
would rather dedicate the day to spring cleaning... Last Monday, a small 
delegation met with the villagers and decided to hold the demonstration. 
Notice was short, and the holiday soon upon us.

Still we met Friday morning at Kufr Qassem, about one hundred activists, 
and headed out in two buses. Once on highway no. 5, at the "Green Line" 
checkpoint, we saw a heavy police force awaiting us. Two policemen 
boarded each bus, preventing the drivers from opening the exit doors, so 
that no one could get off the bus and start walking. This was an outright 
bus hijacking: they forced the drivers to detour under the bridge, where 
we were surprised to discover a huge contingent of police and army, 
including a colonel (area commander in chief) and a General Security 
Service (Shabak) official - totaling about 50 or 60 people in uniform. 
Nearly approaching our number. We had no chance against them. 

We were shown a "Closed Military Area" order, and permitted to get off 
the buses while trying to negotiate. But we soon realized that a 
different approach would be preferable. We drove back to Kufr Qassem, and 
some people began to shuttle small groups to Zawiya in their private 
cars. We approached the village via a side road through the olive groves. 
The second shuttle of the same cars met the same security forces who had 
already understood our plan and resumed their checkpoint and inspection. 
This was the reason that only 20 activists reached the village. At any 
rate, we were warmly welcomed with loud whistling and cheers. The 
demonstration had already ended, held by about one thousand people and 
apparently peaceful. However we were requested to address the few 
hundreds who were still there. We considered this significant, and were 
glad that at least some of us had made it. This is of course arbitrary 
and not fair towards all the others, but we hope you'll understand. The 
next struggle will be over these three villages - Zawiya, Deir Ballut and 
Rafat, and we find it of utmost importance to support their struggle, 
even prior to the work on the fence itself.

In conclusion - (how we love those nags who always look at the positive 
side of everything...) - let us still emphasize the favorable aspects of 
this day:
The army, police, GSS and co. managed to keep our buses from crossing the 
Green Line. However, we did smuggle 20 activists in to the demonstration. 
Our activists' presence there was important for it showed the 
Palestinians that, in spite of our small number, we are with them in 
their struggle. Anyone who has ever attended some demonstration against 
the fence, or received calls from the ground asking to come join them, 
"even if it's only five people", knows how welcome and encouraging our 
presence can be.
We also made our point to the various Occupation forces: we shall not 
give up our right and our duty to struggle against the injustice, the 
evil and stupidity of the fence and all other Occupation actions.

Last but not least, everyone who was there saw the magnitude of the force 
anticipating our arrival. Obviously the highest echelons of the 
Occupation forces are concerned in view of the popular Palestinian 
demonstrations against the fence, and even stressed at the sight of our 
presence in those demonstrations. These actions apparently keep them 
awake at night... One of the senior officers on the spot told us 
explicitly that the order to stop us came from a very high political 
source. The Occupation forces are quite ready to face armed struggle, but 
recent months have shown that a civil, popular uprising is a bit much for 
them. Bombed-out buses look good on camera, but soldiers who beat 
civilians and shoot into a crowd - are not really such a hit.

Festive greetings of liberty for all peoples of this country,
For those enslaved and exploited,
For those suffering under the yoke of Occupation,
For all the oppressed, men and women alike,
And for the oppressors too - let them be free of the need or the will to 
oppress anyone,
And for all the fortunate others - may we expand the spaces of choice and 
freedom in our lives.

Ronen, Yasmine
Zawiya tea

3] Updates ongoing struggle - NB: news re Vanunu + don't forget to  use   
   the links to constant updates

    Against the Wall (contact addresses)
    Refusniks (prisoner addresses & links to latest updates)
    Vanunu  to be released April 21
           [ links to the latest re the Donate Now "Instead of Flowers" 
		   campaign / worldwide vigils etc. especially important for 
		   those who don't have the Paypal option ]

-- Against the Wall
ðåëçåú éåîéåîéú áëôøéí îàéîéí ò"é äçåîä ìúàí òí 
àééáé 064-604172 isichel at netvision.net.il
àøé÷ 050-607034  info at rhr.israel.net

Day to day presence at villages threatened by route of wall.
Contact:  Ivy Sichel 064-604172 isichel at netvision.net.il who set's up a 
list for people who can come at short notice, or: Arik Asherman 050-
607034  info at rhr.israel.net 


--Refusniks

Constantly-updated list of all presently jailed refusniks:

English - http://www.yesh-gvul.org/english/prison/
Hebrew / òáøéú - http://www.yesh-gvul.org/prison/


For the latest news about the five:   

http://www.refuz.org.il/News.html

	NB:
	Letters of support to 
	Noam Bahat / Haggai Mattar / Matan Kaminer
	AGAF BET
	Ma’asiyaho Prison
	P.O.B 13
	Ramla
	Israel

	Adam Maor / Shimri Tzameret:
	Hermon Prison
	P.O.B 4011 
	KFAR M’RAR
	Israel

-- Vanunu to be released April 21

Instead of sending flowers 
Wordlwide campaign WELCOME VANUNU by donating a few dollars (N.B.: online 
but ALSO otherwise) as a welcome gesture:
<http://www.vanunu.org/>

List of international vigils on day of Vanunu release (April 21): 
http://www.nonviolence.org/vanunu/
http://www.vanunu.freeserve.co.uk/ 

Online petition for the unconditional release of Vanunu 
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/freemordechaivanunu/

--
http://www.gush-shalom.org/ (òáøéú/Hebrew)
http://www.gush-shalom.org/english/index.html (English)
http://www.gush-shalom.org/arabic/index.html (selected articles in Arabic)

with
\\photos of recent actions 
\\the weekly Gush Shalom ad 
\\the columns of Uri Avnery 
\\Gush Shalom's history & action chronicle  
\\position papers & analysis (in "documents")
\\and a lot more

N.B.: 
On the Gush Shalom website links for 
Articles and documents in German, French and Spanish

In order to receive Gush Shalom's Hebrew-language 
press releases mail to:
gush-shalom-heb-request at mailman.gush-shalom.org 
+ NB: write the word "subscribe" in the subject line.

If you want to support Gush Shalom's activities you can 
send a cheque or cash, wrapped well in an extra piece 
of paper to: 

Gush Shalom
pob 3322
Tel-Aviv 61033
Israel

or ask us for charities in your country which receive 
donations on behalf of Gush Shalom

Please, add your email address where to send our 
confirmation of receipt. More official receipts at 
request only.