[E-rundbrief] Info 1086 - Israeli refusers support BDS

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1086 - Noam Gur and Alon Gurman (Israel): Two 
Israeli refusers on why they support BDS. A campaign of boycotts, 
divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with 
international law and Palestinian rights.

Bad Ischl, 20.3.2012

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Two Israeli refusers on why they support BDS

by Noam Gur and Alon Gurman

March 19, 2012 5

The BDS Movement *)

http://mondoweiss.net/2012/03/two-israeli-refusers-on-why-they-support-bds.html

Our difficulty with understanding the complex reality of Palestine and 
Israel was founded on the difficulty of recognizing that crimes were 
committed in our name, on a daily bases, by virtue of being Israeli 
citizens. We were born as Israeli citizens, and by virtue of this, the 
decision was made for us that we were to bear the burden of financing 
the occupation. Over time we have come to the understanding that as 
long as these crimes continue, they will be done in our name and at 
our expense.

For this reason, we have come to the conclusion that we must direct 
our efforts to bringing them to an end, rather than sinking in futile 
feelings of guilt and shame.
As citizens of Israel (and as Jews) we have been asked to participate 
in the occupation - beyond our financial support - by joining the 
Israeli army. When we understood that by joining the Israeli army we 
would be supporting the criminal occupation and supporting the denial 
of basic, personal and collective rights from the Palestinian nation, 
we have decided to take a public stand and refuse to serve the 
occupation and Israeli apartheid.

It is reasonable to assume that we will be jailed for some months due 
to this decision, before we are eventually released from the 
obligation to do military duty. This is the price that we have chosen 
to pay in order to bring about the end of the status quo, wherein we 
personally cooperate with crimes carried out by the State of Israel. 
Our refusal will not end the occupation and apartheid will probably 
continue to thrive, but we may manage to shake up the system a bit and 
bring our criticism into public discourse.

But it is not only Israelis who take part - actively or passively - in 
the occupation and the war crimes carried out by Israel. Powerful 
organizations with powerful interests feed the occupation, by sending 
it money and by giving political backing to Israel’s actions; these 
are corporations, arms traders, extremist political organizations and 
zealots from America, Europe, and other places. We are sad to report 
that the U.S. administrations also continue to fund Israel’s war 
crimes. But we can act together, around the world, in condemning the 
financing and legitimization of Israel’s government, and eventually 
bring about the end of international support of its policy. We, as a 
community, can bring about the end of the normalization of occupation.

Each of us must, of course, choose the way they see fit to fight the 
crimes of Israel - but at the moment, it seems that the Palestinian 
polity wishes to follow BDS - boycott, divestment, and sanctions - 
directed at Israeli corporations and institutions. BDS is the fruition 
of a call from Palestinians, published in 2005, which has since become 
the central tool in the nonviolent struggle against Israeli violation 
of human rights.

As we’ve said above, this movement seeks to achieve three things by 
means of its nonviolent struggle: promotion of the right of return for 
the Palestinian refugees, terminating the occupation of the Occupied 
Palestinian Territories, and ending the discrimination against 
Palestinians living in Israel.

Shaking off an occupation is a delicate, complex, and multifaceted 
process, but we all should and can take part in this shaking off. The 
way that we, Noam and Alon, have chosen to shake off the occupation is 
by declaring our refusal to serve in the military publicly, alongside 
activism and support of the Palestinian BDS call.

Citizens around the world who have the capacity to boycott Israel 
should give some thought to the Palestinian call and try to join it - 
each of us within our own community, to the best of our ability - and 
not let a passive condemnation of the Israeli apartheid policy 
suffice. We should, rather, choose an active way to stop the crimes of 
Israel.

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About Noam Gur and Alon Gurman
Noam Gur, 18, Qiryat Motzkin, refuses to serve in the occupation army 
and will probably be imprisoned on April, 16 2012. Alon Gurman,19, Tel 
Aviv, refuses to serve in the occupation army and will probably be 
imprisoned on April, 16 as well.

Posted in Activism, Arab Spring, BDS, Israel/Palestine, Israeli 
Government, Middle East, Nakba, Occupation, On the ground reports, US 
Politics

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The BDS Movement

Palestinian BDS National Committee

www.bdsmovement.net

In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for a campaign of 
boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it 
complies with international law and Palestinian rights. A truly global 
movement against Israeli Apartheid is rapidly emerging in response to 
this call.


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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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