Occupied peoples have the right to resist

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Jul. 28, 2003
Occupied peoples have the right to resist, By Tom Wallace and Rakhika
Sainath

’We have all committed ourselves to the practice of nonviolence and do not
assist anyone in committing acts of violence’

As volunteers with The International Solidarity Movement and as individuals
devoted to human rights and justice, we must address recent statements
maligning us, our movement and those that have given their lives standing up
for the principles we espouse.

We are unwavering in our commitment to nonviolence.

Due to these beliefs, we oppose the illegal Israeli occupation of the West
Bank and Gaza. As a result we have come under heavy fire in the Occupied
Territories and in the media. Israeli officials and several right-wing
Israeli and American pundits have embarked on a campaign to discredit ISM,
by attempting to equate ISM’s principled and active support for Palestinian
rights with terrorism.

In one such attack, "ISM: Support Unit for Terror," journalist David Bedein
falsely asserted that ISM works "in alliance with those who choose to kill
people in order to advance their goals."

Our goal is to end the military occupation and bring peace and justice to
Israelis and Palestinians. ISM is not linked with political parties or armed
groups. Our partners are Palestinian, Israeli and international peace and
human rights groups and Palestinian communities.

ISM believes in the dignity of every human being. Consequently, we strongly
oppose violence against all civilians. This includes all acts of terrorism,
whether perpetrated by a state, group or individual. We have all thoroughly
committed ourselves to the practice of nonviolence and do not assist anyone
in committing acts of violence.

Although our movement is completely nonviolent, we must recognize that
independent nations and occupied peoples have security concerns and rights
to self-defense and resistance as specified under international law.

Rights are rights and are not up for negotiation. But rights to self-defense
and resistance should not be turned into justification for illegitimate
violence against civilians.

While others condemn and criticize we provide a viable alternative by
demonstrating that nonviolent resistance can succeed.

We are Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu. We are grandparents, students,
professionals, nuns, and ministers. We are also Israelis. Two weeks ago 10
ISM volunteers were arrested during acts of nonviolent civil disobedience.
Two of the arrestees, Avi Zer-Aviv and Aviv Kruglanski are Israeli and as
such were released; the rest remain in jail, or were deported. They were
removing roadblocks and setting up peace camps. They were not assisting
terrorists.

We do assist medical personnel, pregnant mothers, farmers and children
targeted by Israeli Forces on a daily basis. They are human beings being
humiliated, tortured, beaten, arrested, shot, and killed for attempting to
go to school, see a doctor or tend to their land.

OPPONENTS OF ISM claim that the movement’s goal is to impede the army’s job
in stopping terrorism and even act as an accomplice to terrorist activities.
Does anyone honestly believe that thousands of volunteers from Tel Aviv to
New York City, many Jewish, would spend their vacations to come and spread
terrorism?

Many of us have paid a price for our commitment. James Deleplain, 74,
sustained a broken rib and punctured lung after settlers beat him during the
olive harvest. Tom Hurndall, 21, was shot in the head while moving children
out of harm’s way from an Israeli sniper. Brian Avery, 24, had his face
blown off by an Israeli armored personnel carrier. And, of course, Rachel
Corrie, 23, was run over by a bulldozer driven by an Israeli soldier while
attempting to protect the home of a Palestinian physician from illegal
demolition.

No one was held accountable for these violent attacks on civilians.

Instead, we get lies and distortions. Rather than investigating and
correcting Israeli army actions to better protect civilians, the Israeli
government is trying to expel foreign civilians who are monitoring human
rights abuses, implicitly giving a green light for further attacks on human
rights workers.

In its attempt to smother voices of dissent Israel is rapidly moving away
from the democratic values it espouses toward policies reminiscent of
dictatorships in Argentina and the USSR where, in the name of security,
thousands were arrested, exiled and killed for their politics.

The growing international nonviolent movement offers one of the best hopes
for achieving an end to the Israeli military occupation and a just peace for
Palestinians and Israelis. If the Israeli government is successful in its
attempt to eliminate the nonviolent resistance to its illegal policies, what
alternative does that leave for those justifiably opposed to its military
occupation?

Tom Wallace is a resident of Boston. He spent several months as ISM Media
Coordinator.

Radhika Sainath is a resident of Los Angeles and spent several months in the
West Bank.

Tom Wallace
Computer Consultant
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