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

[Al Kagan]

FYI below from the Israeli peace movement.  I think  AWARE needs to 
be ready to react to the possibility of the exile or assassination of 
Arafat.  We are obviously in a very dangerous period.  No one can 
know the consequences.

By the way, I think this development is directly related to the US 
war on Iraq.  It has emboldened the Israeli Govt to imitate the US. 
The US Govt (Colin Powell) has opposed the Israeli decision in the 
weakest possible language.

>From: otherisr at actcom.co.il
>Subject: "If the soldiers come, they will find us barring their way"
>Reply-To: Adam & Beate <otherisr at actcom.co.il>
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>Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 04:02:45 +0200
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>GUSH SHALOM  pob 3322, Tel-Aviv 61033 www.gush-shalom.org
>
>Press Release 13/9/2003
>
>=   == =   =  == = =   == =   =  == = =   == =   =  == = =
>"If the soldiers come, they will find us barring their way"
>=   == =   =  == = =   == =   =  == = =   == =   =  == = =
>
>"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
>
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>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!  
>
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>
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-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu