[GushShalom] Hunger Strike against A-Ram Wall / 4 generals & 1 pacifist

Wed Jul 7 00:54:52 IDT 2004

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

******************************
*Due to technical problems you may have gotten several earlier messages 
at once, and some even twice - for which we apologize.
*During the absence of part of the information team (until July 18) you 
may not always get the complete link information as we use to give 
(Hebrew/English) for articles which we pass on.
******************************

International release, July 6, 2004

action news
[] Hunger strike at A-Ram - the destructive construction continues
[] How many generals does it take to judge one pacifist? 
   Friday - Ben  Artzi appeal 
[] Wednesday demonstration at Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem  

analysis
[] Foreseeing the future - Uzi Benziman on Wall and Supreme Court  

					~~~

[] Hunger strike at A-Ram - the destructive construction continues

In spite of the Supreme Court ruling of last week the army is continuing 
with the "preparatory work" for the Wall in A-Ram, which includes 
destruction of the main Jerusalem-Ramallah Highway in total disregard of 
the fact that it is a major artery for a whole region. Therefore, the 
struggle continues. 

On Saturday July 3, Palestinian, Israeli and International women peace 
activists marched together from themunicipality of Al-Ram, and stood for 
an hour in a silent vigil in front of (and some upon) the huge cement 
blocks, ready to be erected for the Wall.

The women's vigil was followed by a hunger strike, initiated by the 
locals' Popular Committee Against the Separation Barrier in A-Ram. They 
have raised a hunger strike tent near the A-Ram checkpoint - which was 
the scene of extreme police violence on June 26. Well-known Palestinian 
leaders of the Jerusalem area are joined by Knesset Member Azmi Bishara 
and veteran Israeli activist Michael ("Mikado") Warshawski. Everybody who 
can is asked to join in. 

For details: Sirhan Salaymeh, A-Ram Mayor 067-893194
                       Warshawski 064-733453 or Sirhan from A-Ram at: 
                       KM Bishara 054-290729
					~~~

[] How many generals does it take to judge one pacifist? 
   Friday - Ben  Artzi appeal 

From:        Ram Rahat, Yesh Gvul <rahat at bezeqint.net>

On Friday July 9, 2004 the High Military Court of Appeals will hear 
Yonatan Ben-Artzi's appeal contesting his sentence of two months in jail 
for refusing to be drafted.
There will be a special panel of five judges,of whomfour areMajor 
Generals: Ishai Bar (President of the Court); Ilan Shiff (former Judge-
Advocate General); Gideon Sheffer (former commander of the IDF Manpower 
Division) and Yitzchak Eitan (former commander of the Central Command). 
Is the army so scared of one pacifist that it needs this line-up?
The Court session will be held atthe IDF Headquarters (9, Ein Dor St., 
Hakirya, Tel Aviv), beginning at 9 a.m. It's open to the public and it's 
very important that all supporters of the Refusal Movement be present. 
							~~~

[] Wednesday demonstration at Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem 

From:           	"rabbis for human rights" <info at rhr.israel.net>

The Forum of Organizations Against Unemployment 

On Wednesday, July  7, at 3:30 pm, we will gather at the Mahane Yehuda 
MarketplaceSHUCK in Jerusalem to protest vis-a-vis the "Caesarea 
Conference" - a conference which brings together politicians, central 
figures in the economy and academics. 
What are we demanding? 
Basic human rights: employment, a roof over everybody's head, education, 
healthcare and welfare. 
At 5:00 pm we will march towards the Prime Minister's residence and hold 
a protest rally in front of it. 

For details: Sigal 067-333018, Miki 067-202378, Chaya 065-345930
Transportation:
 North: Haifa - Solel Bone Plaza at 1:00pm/ Nazareth - Commercial Center
1:00 pm
South: Dimona - Commercial Center 1:00pm/ Beer-Sheva - Egged Bus Station
1:45pm/ Plugot Junction 2:30pm
Tel Aviv - Arlozorov Railway Station 2:00pm

[] Foreseeing the future - Uzi Benziman on Wall and Supreme Court 

Forseeing the Future

By Uzi Benziman, Ha'aretz, July 4 

Ariel Sharon should be reminded of his statements: Three days ago, he 
warned the heads of the defense establishment not to criticize the High 
Court of Justice ruling and he promised to abide by it. As is appropriate 
for a prime minister in a properly functioning country, Sharon urged his 
subordinates to reach the necessary conclusions from the court's decision 
on the security fence, and to complete its planning and construction 
along the permissible route. He even told them to take into consideration 
the needs of the Palestinian villagers.

Sharon was so generous in his approach that he told the senior officials 
in his office, "I don't know how many among them [Palestinians] are 
farmers, but it is a very hard thing to take lands from these people, who 
invested their lives in these fields." Cut this bit out and save it!

As opposed to the impression created in the media, and among the right-
wing ministers and MKs, the High Court of Justice decision last Wednesday 
grants the government a great deal of leeway for constructing the fence 
along a route that it sees fit. The justices accepted the position of the 
state as being self-evident, that the fence was initiated purely as a 
result of security needs, and that its route was not influenced by 
political considerations. In addition, the High Court gave utmost weight 
to the professional considerations of the state's security experts over 
those of senior retired officers, and over those of the justices 
themselves.

The reason for the High Court's involvement in the fence issue was 
diluted to a single element in the decision-making process: excessive 
arrogance among the planners and the officers, which led them to 
blatantly ignore the rights of the Palestinian residents. One may 
conclude that the minute the defense establishment restrains a bit the 
indifference of those in its ranks dealing with the setting up of the 
fence, the minute it proves that it shows some consideration to the 
complaints of the victimized Palestinian population, the High Court will 
lift the gates and allow it to complete the fence on the basis of its 
fundamental guiding principles.

In order to prevent a mere cosmetic correction to the fence's route, it 
is important to emphasize an afterthought statement by the High Court of 
Justice, and attach to it the prime minister's declaration regarding the 
government's commitment to accept the decision of the judicial authority. 
Justices Aharon Barak, Eliahu Mazza and Mishael Cheshin included the 
following statement in their decision: "The fence should not be built for 
political reasons. It cannot come about by motives for annexation. Its 
purpose cannot be the setting of a political border." The justices then 
ruled that in the cases brought before them there was no political motive 
behind the construction of the fence.

This will not necessarily be the case when petitions are filed against 
the building of the fence in the area of Ariel. The security 
justification for the route of the fence in this part is less convincing 
than the section between Mevasseret Zion and Beit Surik. The political 
motivation in building the obstacle deep to the east of Kfar Sava is much 
more obvious than the strip of land along Route 443, against which 
petitions were filed and on which the High Court ruled last week. If and 
when the court deliberates the circuit of the fence that is meant to 
annex the settlements in central Samaria, it will be bound by its 
statement that the fence is not a legitimate means for establishing a 
political border. Then, there will be great significance in the prime 
minister's commitment to abide by the High Court's ruling.

Before the government becomes mired in contradictions to its commitment 
to the High Court's decision, or before it forces the court into a corner 
from which it will be difficult to pull back from its statement that a 
fence should not be built for the purpose of annexation, it is advisable 
that it reconsider its decision to push the fence deep into Palestinian 
territory in the Ariel area.

At the Defense Ministry, they argue that 50,000 Israelis live in the area 
in question, and only one Palestinian family, but this is their way of 
absolving the act. However, even here they admit that the fence, along 
its planned circuit, will include large agricultural plots owned by 
Palestinians.

The government will have a hard task in persuading the public that the 
motive behind the building of the fence in this area is solely security 
based, and the prime minister will find it difficult to shake off his 
expression of understanding to the suffering of the peasants who must be 
cut off from their lands. It is worthwhile to foresee the future and 
return the route of the fence close to the Green Line.

# Truth against Truth - opposite views on the history of the conflict
  in 101 steps 

Hebrew / òáøéú
http://www.gush-shalom.org/Docs/Truth_Heb.pdf

English
http://www.gush-shalom.org/Docs/Truth_Eng.pdf

# Palestinians draw the map for understanding the Disengagement Plan
  http://www.nad-plo.org/images/maps/pdf/gaza.pdf

# Boycott List of Settlement Products (newly updated)

Hebrew / òáøéú
http://gush-shalom.org/Boycott/boycheb.htm

English
http://gush-shalom.org/Boycott/boyceng.htm

# Eye-witness reports from the Occupied Territories:

http://www.machsomwatch.org 
  (Israeli women monitoring the checkpoints)
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pressreleases/pressreleases.php
  (internationals throughout OT)

   - films, expositions, refusnik links 
   \/

# The "Breaking the Silence" soldiers' exhibition 

   photo gallery at:
   http://www.shovrimshtika.org/hebrew/modules.php?name=coppermine

   stories (Hebrew only)
   http://www.shovrimshtika.org/hebrew/modules.php?name=News

   article in English: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/440348.html

# Refusniks 

Constantly-updated refusniks lists:

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

English - http://www.newprofile.org/default.asp?language=en
Hebrew / òáøéú - http://www.newprofile.org/

Help us free our children from the military prison! (parents of The
Five)
          For ENGLISH details please click
http://www.refuz.org.il/help.html 
          For HEBREW please click
http://www.refuz.org.il/hebrew/help.html
          Homepage with lots of information: 
http://www.refuz.org.il/

-- Gush Shalom website, how to donate / subscrie to emails etc.:

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.

Archive of email reports:
<https://mailman.gush-shalom.org/pipermail/gush-
shalom/2004/thread.html#st
art>

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.

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail 
_______________________________________________
If you got this forwarded and you want to subscribe, send mail to 

gush-shalom-intl-request at mailman.gush-shalom.org 

and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

--

To unsubscribe, send mail to 

gush-shalom-intl-request at mailman.gush-shalom.org 

and write "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

For assistance: info at gush-shalom.org