[Peace-discuss] "If the soldiers come, they will find us barring their way"

[Lisa Chason]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <otherisr at actcom.co.il>
To: "Introductory list" <otherisr at actcom.co.il>
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2003 9:02 PM
Subject: "If the soldiers come, they will find us barring their way"


> 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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