dropping in for a bit...

Refusing War

Haggai Matar, an Israeli refusenik arrested on Friday at a vigil outside of an Israeli air force base from which pilots were leaving to bomb Gaza, says that as a young man he felt he had no choice but to refuse serving in the IDF. He had seen the occupation first hand, the checkpoints, the land seizures, and settlements. Today, Israelis and Palestinians are protesting the assault on Gaza. Matar says the protests are getting little coverage in the media and that if it is covered at all the focus is on Arab Israelis not on the efforts build an effective resistance movement among Jews and Arabs. We spoke to Matar at a demonstration in Tel Aviv.
Also joining us are Ann Wright, a retired US Army Colonel who publicly resigned from the State Department in opposition to the Iraq War and Ora Wise, co-founder of the Israel/Palestine Education Project. Wright says that there are over 35 US servicemen and women who have been court martialed for refusing to serve in Iraq. Wise, who has been an active organizer within the Jewish American community for years, says that we cannot wait for corporate media to educate people. Planning for nationwide protests are happening this week and to find out more about what you can do visit the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, American Jews for a Just Peace, and United For Peace and Justice.

Shades of the leadup to the Iraq War re: the protests in Israel...