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Combatants for Peace, an organization of Israeli peace activists, works for resisting the Israeli state’s violent treatment of Palestinians, says Irfan Engineer
There are very few Jews who oppose violations of human rights of Palestinians and defend Israeli occupation – may be just marginal numbers. Two of them were with us as part of solidarity group during our visit to Palestine. Even though the number of Jews who support Palestinian cause may be just marginal, their role, nevertheless, is very important and crucial. When I asked group member Rabbi Jeremy Milgram about his citizenship, he was embarrassed. He told me that he was citizen of both, the US as well as Israel and felt embarrassed about the two countries. He gave us accounts of his encounters with his Arabic teacher, a Palestinian refugee that helped him being a peace activist.
During our peace pilgrimage, we met two activists of Combatants For Peace in Jerusalem. One of them was father of a 13-year old daughter who was killed at the check point by an Israeli soldier while returning from her school. He was not informed of any reason till date as to why she was killed or what was her offence. That was very difficult for any parent to bear. While narrating the incident he broke down. But composed himself and said I did not have any urge to seek violent revenge. Reason – his association with Combatants For Peace. His anger was directed not at the soldier on the check point who pulled the trigger, but against the whole apartheid apparatus and the war machine that Israel has. He was aware that nothing would change by seeking a violent revenge from any soldier for killing his daughter without any rhyme or reason, perhaps out of malice. The cycle of violence would go on. As his revenge would be bring bloodier reprisals from the Israelis. He thought the better way to take his revenge was to join hands with other peace-loving citizens, including Jews, and harness their collective energies to transform the unjust and apartheid system to a system which respected human rights and which was based on equality and justice for all. Combatants For Peace was all for establishing a peaceful society which was based on justice and equality, and for peaceful co-habitation of Jews, Palestinians and followers of all religions.
The former Israeli soldier and Jewish member of Combatants For Peace said he was as much pained as the father of the girl when he heard of death of the young girl. He felt all the more strong urge to hate the apartheid Israeli system and to transform the whole system. He was the first one to comfort the aggrieved father of the girl and felt as if he had lost his own daughter. The burden of death of the teenage girl on the Jewish member was greater – the whole system was operated to privilege him and other Jews and in their name. They picket the checkpoint peacefully and shame the soldiers. It is tougher for the soldiers to fire on crowds having Jews amongst them lest there be Jewish casualties. Palestinian casualties don’t count at all, even if they were entirely non-violent. The Jewish soldier too broke down while describing how he used to play with the little girl.
The Combatants for Peace organization was growing. They met regularly, held meetings to decide future course of action. The role of peace loving Jews who are in solidarity with the Palestinians is very crucial for the Palestinian liberation movement, even though their numbers may be small. The urge to be violent and imitate one’s oppressors, to mould oneself in the image of the oppressor often works to the advantage of the oppressor. It is often easier to handle a violent native. Though a natural tendency, violence is suicidal even as a strategy. Israeli state commands infinitely superior force. It is nearly impossible to win against such an enemy with small fire arms – even with suicide missions. Violence of the oppressed may be barely able to defend them during resistance and prevent their liquidation, as was the case during recent war between Israel and Hizbollah. Even a few Jews in solidarity with the Palestinians provide a strong reason to resist the urge to resort to violence.
The struggle of people of Bil’in Village near Ramallah, against the Wall on their land is a case in point. Hundreds of them assembled for peaceful protest and resisted the wall and faced the bullets of Israeli soldiers from February 2005 till date. They were joined by International and Israeli Peace activists. Israeli High court was persuaded to declare the wall being built on the Palestinian land in the name of security to be illegal. Though a small victory, the people of Bil’in village continue their struggle against the wall, settlements, demolitions, apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.
The victory inspired the residents of a number of villages in the Ramallah area as they organized a protest joined by a number of International and peace activists at Highway 443, on Friday after the noon prayer. For seven years in a row, Israel prohibits Palestinians from using this 200-mile road which is built on the land of Palestinian villages, and allows only Jewish settlers to use it.
The role of international community in dismantling apartheid in South Africa was very crucial. In stead of blaming Hamas for resorting to violent resistance, we all should ask, what have I done to inspire the Palestinian people to continue with their non-violent resistance and why has the international community looked the other way encouraging Israeli apartheid?
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