How Israel drowns dissent

[DogPoundPup]

Last week, at the height of Operation Cast Lead, a group of Israeli firemen threw their hats into the political ring, albeit in somewhat undiplomatic and uncivilised fashion. During a peaceful anti-war vigil outside a Tel Aviv air force base, several members of the fire brigade turned on one protester, drenching her relentlessly with water from their hoses, before approaching her and ordering her into the station in order to "give us all head".

Their actions were, while wholly illegal, none the less emblematic of a massive shift in Israeli public opinion over the last few years, according to Sharon Dolev, the woman on the receiving end of the assault. A veteran activist, Dolev has suffered a great deal during her 20 years of campaigning in the Israeli peace camp ("death threats, being shot with rubber bullets, hate mail, beatings"), but said that this incident was "the first time that the establishment felt safe in ".

"It used to be a big deal if bus drivers criticised protests and vigils in public," she recalls, "since as employees of the state, they were not allowed to express political opinions in uniform." Now, however, the firemen felt so secure of escaping punishment that they even bombarded her with firecrackers during the attack, telling her "now you know what it's like to live in Sderot".

When video evidence emerged on an Israeli news website of her ordeal, readers' comments were predictably scathing of Dolev and her fellow protestors for daring to speak out in the first place against the IDF's operation. "Of the 380 comments, all but 10 were in support of the fire brigade," said Dolev. "Some readers even called openly for our murder, urging the police to shoot us, or saying 'Why use water – use acid instead'."

more ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/21/gaza-protest

[ananda]

1. Geezus!

Israel has really lost its way. Completely.

[burythehatchet]

2. Shooting people with acid? Why that sounds perfectly inhumane, sort of

like what a madman would do. Thank goodness those kind of madmen don't come around but once in a lifetime.

[Scurrilous]

3. A lefty in Israel

Sharon Dolev

14.01.09

Please allow me to steal a few minutes of your time, and share my feelings.

In the last few days, a small group has been demonstrating in the entrance of an Air Force base in Tel Aviv. The reason we stand there is that this is the place most air force fighters use to fly to their bases around Israel.

We hold signs calling on them to refuse orders to bomb civilians and children. This is one of many demonstrations against the war held by Israelis and taking place on a daily basis.

This very quiet vigil provokes very strong feelings among passers-by, the military, and the fire brigade across the street. The fire brigade, even though they are not allowed to express political opinions while on duty, threw eggs at us and, when we didn`t move, brought forward their fire engines, with cranes and tried to wash us away.

Since I happened to be on the edge of the vigil, they managed to use one hose to isolate me, and the other to get me soaked wet. When they decided I can`t get any wetter, they kept only the hose they used to separate me from the group, and came together, all in uniform, with their commanding officer, to rip my sign, and to tell me again and again, that I need to get inside the station and (my apologies) give them all head (oral sex).

The under-cover police were there. We kept calling the police asking them to send someone, and they did nothing.

We, at the more extreme left in Israel, always knew that we are, for some, fair game. That we, as they put it so nicely, `should be killed even before the Hammas`. Violence was always part of the response to our activities, but violence by the fire brigades, with the police refusing to act, is a new escalation.

We will continue our demonstrations, and we truly believe in what we do. But at the same time, we know that we are not effective. We are not effective because the media refuses to cover us.

The media in Israel refuses to cover us because it would harm the soldiers` morale, and because, at times of war, we put democracy on hold and our `brave` media becomes drafted media.

But what about the media outside Israel? After all, they are all so interested in Israel. Why don`t they ever show us? Is it because it is too hard to show that not all is just black and white? Is it because it might not go well with the quite fair anti-Israel motions?

I know. My feelings, my disappointment, my fear, are nothing in comparison to the fear of the people, the families and the children in Gaza. They are also nothing in comparison to the people living in Sderot and in the south of Israel.

But today, I am afraid.

In my country, I`m a traitor. Fair game. But the minute I leave Israel, I`m an Israeli. Not a lefty. An Israeli, an occupier, and again – fair game.

And my last point is that there can be a million demonstrations around the world against Israel. That won`t make Israel listen. But a million demonstrations for Peace and full coverage of what we do here in Israel will keep us safer, and might make a difference.

Please, if you know reporters, if you have connections, ask media people to start showing Israeli opposition to the war. It is time our voice is heard.

If you demonstrate, please do it in a way that will make a difference. Not just anti-Israel, but with signs calling for a cease fire and the acceptance of UN resolution 1860 by both sides.
Thank you for listening.

Peace,
Sharon

Please circulate this mail if appropriate.

Sharon Dolev
Mobile: [phone]
Home: 04-6360625
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]

http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=31332

[LeftishBrit]

5. THANKS!!!

'In my country, I`m a traitor. Fair game. But the minute I leave Israel, I`m an Israeli. Not a lefty. An Israeli, an occupier, and again – fair game.

And my last point is that there can be a million demonstrations around the world against Israel. That won`t make Israel listen. But a million demonstrations for Peace and full coverage of what we do here in Israel will keep us safer, and might make a difference.

Please, if you know reporters, if you have connections, ask media people to start showing Israeli opposition to the war. It is time our voice is heard.

If you demonstrate, please do it in a way that will make a difference. Not just anti-Israel, but with signs calling for a cease fire and the acceptance of UN resolution 1860 by both sides.
Thank you for listening.'



Please listen to her!

I hope that EVERYONE who is genuinely for peace will listen. Everyone who is critical of Israel's current direction; who is shocked by the violence against Palestinians; who is horrified by what's been happening in Gaza. But who at the same time wants Israel to change rather than to disappear;who wants to strengthen the Israeli peace camp, rather than treat all Israelis as some kind of demons. Who wants effective measures toward real change and lasting peace, and no more justifications for hatred on either side.

It takes real courage to fight for peace.

Here's to these Israeli leftists, and to all peace-campaigners everywhere.

[Scurrilous]

10. You're welcome.

:thumbsup:

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Please read that great article that Scurrilous just linked.

It says what I want to say, but much better than I can.

We will never get peace through hate - on either side.

[Vegasaurus]

11. Oh, for G-d's sake

Let them nuke themselves?

We keep reaching new lows, here in the I/P dungeon.

[DogPoundPup]

12. new low starts with Israel's Gaza invasion

this type of slaughter of shooting oppressed, imprisoned people isn't acceptable now and never will be.

[Idealism]

7. When 90% of Israeli's want this violence in Gaza, it is terribly hard not to demonize them

The 10% against it obviously are undeserving of our criticism, but when the country overwhelmingly is for this violence, then they must be held accountable. Just like when they are going to elect that neo-con nut jub warmonger Bibi in February, they should be held accountable.

[kickysnana]

9. Didn't their God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for this? n/t

[azurnoir]

8. Thank yoou for this

we here need to see after being told that there was virtually no Peace movement in Israel and that it was untrue that those on the "left" were persecuted and squelched with government approval if only of the tacit sort

I find quotes like this frightening however

nowadays , we heard 'I know I'm talking like a Nazi, but at least the Nazis knew how to deal with their enemies'."

my god what the hell

[Karenina]

13. What the hell, indeed.

Identification with the oppressor or something. I first heard it with my own ears 40 years ago. It's only gotten worse. :cry:

[peacetalksforall]

14. 90%? That is really depressing. Why can't Israelis hold up a mirror and really see themselves?

Hitler tactics and Cheney and right wing excuses for the tactics.

The entire world is offended and they don't budge.

Decades of playing eye for eye games then moving and holding and moving again on expansionism.
Now -
Saying they were pulling out and not doing it.
Saying they are letting aid through and not doing it.

It pains me to think that the hard right wing core in this country is down to about 30%. And, if this is true, the solid right wing core is 90%?

Israel against Gaza - the ultimate in military technology, F-16s, nuclear weapons.
The fireman against a woman - the power of water hoses, insults, and predatory sexual aggression.

If true, it's galling.