Witnesses to war crimes
Israeli peace activist Gila Svirsky of the Coalition of Women for Peace in Jerusalem shares her fears of what the cruelty against the Palestinians is doing to Israeli society
We were about 200 who gathered in Tel Aviv for the event, organised jointly by the Israel Committee Against House Demolitions and the Coalition of Women for Peace. Most of us were Israelis, as the closure still keeps out most Palestinians from the territories. There were a handful of activists from ISM and Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT), though these internationals now rarely cross into Israel, as the authorities would prevent them from returning to their work in the territories.
Although the evening highlighted the special qualities of Rachel -- an incredible young woman who will continue to inspire us all -- many speakers talked about the brutalisation of the Israeli army and Israeli society in general, which no longer cares about the death and destruction wreaked daily in our name. As a result, the army is no longer held accountable for the shooting of any non-settlers or soldiers in the territories.
Since Rachel was killed, two more ISM members were seriously injured -- Brian Avery had his face blown away and Tom Hurndall lies brain-dead. Shockingly, the army conducted no investigation into any of these shootings, even though demands were made on every public, private, and diplomatic level.
Just a few days and several kilometres away from where Rachel was killed, Nuha Al-Mukadame, 33, also lost her life. A Palestinian woman who was crushed when the Israeli army destroyed her home in the middle of the night. Nuha was killed, her husband and 10 children injured, but the army curtly defended its action -- they were targeting the house next door -- and never looked back.
Thus it goes for the 2,006 Palestinians killed by Israelis in this Intifada (btselem.org) -- some deliberate assassinations, some "armed terrorists", and some just in the house next door.
Israeli soldiers do what they like in the territories, with no fear of prosecution. The recent efforts to keep out witnesses -- journalists, human rights workers, humanitarian organisations, and peace activists -- are not surprising, considering the desire to hide the evidence. And I tremble to think what happens when these soldiers return home, well versed in techniques of bullying and humiliating. This is not good for anybody.
(Coalitionofwomen4peace.org)
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 12 - 18 June 2003 (Issue No. 642)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/642/re10.htm