Why I Burned My Israeli Military Papers

[Comadreja]

http://www.arabnews.com:
Why I Burned My Israeli Military Papers
Josh Ruebner, Arab News

WASHINGTON, 1 June 2004 - On May 20 I set fire to my Israeli military
deferral papers across the street from the Israeli Embassy in
Washington, DC. This act of civil disobedience took place during a protest
organized by a Jewish American peace organization against the atrocities that
Israel is committing in the occupied Gaza Strip.

In the first half of May, Israel made homeless close to 2,200
Palestinians through the purposeful destruction of their homes. Since May 18 in
Rafah, Israel has killed more than 40 Palestinians, some of whom were
children engaged in nonviolent protest when they were killed. Amnesty
International has described these acts of wanton death and destruction as
"war crimes."

Although I am a Jewish American, born and raised in the United States,
I am also a citizen of Israel by virtue of my father's birth in that
country. Israel's laws automatically confer citizenship on the children
of citizens regardless of their place of birth. Like all other Jewish
citizens of Israel, I am required to serve in the Israeli Army.

I decided to burn my military deferral papers, the closest equivalent I
have to a draft card, to protest the policies of the government of
Israel and to declare my intention never to serve in an army of occupation
and oppression. By doing so, I stand in solidarity with more than 1,300
Israelis who have stated openly, at the risk of jail time, that they
refuse to serve Israel's occupation of Palestinians in the West Bank,
Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem and commit war crimes and flagrant breaches
of international law.

(snip)

The return of the Jewish people to its ancient land - no matter how
noble or how disingenuous were the intentions or motives of the Zionist
movement - must be measured by its effect. If we have "returned to Zion"
in order to subjugate, humiliate, and dispossess its indigenous
inhabitants then we have turned our backs on our religious obligations and
should cooperate with this evil enterprise no longer.

- Josh Ruebner is the co-founder of Jews for Peace in Palestine and
Israel (JPPI) and a former analyst in Middle East Affairs at Congressional
Research Service (CRS).

"I am a black South African, and if I were to change the names, a description of what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank could describe events in South Africa." Archbishop Desmond Tuto, observes during Christmas visit to Jerusalem, December 25, 1989. From Israeli daily Ha'aretz, cited in Palestine Perspectives, January/February 1990.

[mmm]

1. This wise man calls the return to Zion an evil enterprise

I agree with him.

[Gimel]

2. Dupe

the same article is posted by the same poster here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=70195&mesg_id=70195

[Lithos]

3. Duplicate post and I/P related picture (Western Wall)

Locking per I/P guidelines

Please continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=70195&mesg_id=70195


Lithos
FA/NS Moderator
Democratic Underground