Israeli rebels with a cause

Israeli rebels with a cause
CBC News Viewpoint | March 22, 2004


On the weekend of March 13, the Chicago Tribune was putting the final touches on an exclusive story. A young American soldier, Sergeant Camilo Mejia, had made a decision to refuse to serve with the U.S. army in Iraq on grounds that the undeclared war and occupation there is illegal and immoral.

Across town that same weekend, there was an unusual gathering at the city's DePaul University. Seven Israeli soldiers were meeting with members of Chicago's Jewish community. The seven have all refused to serve with the Israeli army in the occupied Palestinian Territories. Their refusal, like that of the American GI, is based on the grounds that Israel's military occupation is illegal and immoral.

The seven Israelis have found backing from Jews in Chicago and they were in the United States to find ways of reaching out to the wider community.


Among them was Chen Alon from Tel Aviv. He's a battle-hardened officer who rose to the rank of major in Israel's tank corps. He talked about his experience on the battlefield and said that he reached his decision during what he calls his "moment of.......

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_reed/20040322.html

Inspiring and thought-provoking.

Thankyou for posting.