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Yehuda Shaul: `Something rotten' is going on in Gaza and the West Bank Dec. 17, 2006. 01:00 AM by Haroon Siddiqui Haroon Siddiqui is the Star's editorial page editor emeritus [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The issue is not the right of Israel to exist but rather, does it have the right to occupy Palestinian lands and control civilians as it has for 40 years?" A young Israeli was in Canada last week raising ethical questions about the conduct of Israeli soldiers in the Occupied Territories. Yehuda Shaul was born in Jerusalem to an American mother and Canadian father (from Toronto). Shaul went to school in a West Bank settlement and served in the army from 2001 to 2004. He did a 14-month stint in Hebron, guarding about 650 settlers living among approximately 150,000 Palestinians. He is one of the founders of Break the Silence, a group of ex-soldiers speaking out about what they saw and did during their tour of duty in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. At 6-foot 1-inch, the heavy-set Shaul cuts an imposing but engaging figure with his beard, ponytail and the kippa. He smiles easily. He had a lot to say during a vegetarian kosher lunch we shared in my office with his Toronto host, Judith Wiseman. He came here after a tour of six American cities. In Toronto, he spoke at the Winchevsky Centre of the United Jewish People's Order and at the Quaker House. Then he was off to London, Ottawa and Montreal. He recounted the moment when, three months before being released from the army, he was alone and wondering what he would do upon returning to civilian life. It struck him, he said, that he had become "a monster," doing things that were not right. "It was a frightening moment." He spoke to fellow soldiers. "They were feeling the same: `Something's rotten here.' Israelis don't know what goes on here, and we must tell them.'" Within three months of being discharged in March 2004, Shaul and friends mounted an exhibit, Bringing Hebron to Tel Aviv. It had powerful photos and video testimony by 64 soldiers showing and describing the treatment meted out to Palestinians by the troops as well as some of the settlers. There were pictures of Palestinians bound and blindfolded. There was a photo of a settler carrying an assault rifle with a decal on the magazine clip: "Kill 'em all, Let God sort 'em out." Another was of graffiti on a wall: "Arabs to the gas chamber." The exhibit drew 7,000 visitors and much media coverage. Other soldiers who had served in the West Bank and Gaza came forward. More photos were gathered, as well as about 400 audio and video testimonies. In them, soldiers talk about the total power of the occupiers over the occupied - throwing Palestinians out of their homes; making them stand for hours for disobeying the curfew or trying to bypass a checkpoint or even smiling or arguing at the wrong time, Shaul said. "We can play with them. This is the mindset from which everything flows." In Hebron, Shaul manned a machine gun. "It can shoot dozens of grenades a minute up to a distance of about 2,000 metres. We'd shoot 40 or 50 a day ... "We had three high posts, two where we had kicked the Palestinian families out of and the third was a Palestinian school which we had closed down. "The idea was that anytime they shoot, we shoot back. "But the machine gun is not an accurate weapon. You just shoot in the direction of the target ... We have no idea how many we killed. I hope no one." Shaul said some acts "flow from being afraid or being bored. You are there eight hours a night at the post. You just aim and shoot the water tank." Or, "when you drive your tank or your APC (armoured personnel carrier), you bump into a streetlight. As you turn a corner, you bump into a wall. It's fun ... It's all about you. Nothing else matters ... Palestinians are no longer human." Initially, Break the Silence members did not speak to foreigners, to avoid "airing our dirty laundry." But they have since changed their policy. Two members toured the United States last year. Two exhibitions have been held in Geneva and Amsterdam. The group (http://www.shovrimshtika.org and http://www.breakthesilence.org.il) exists to break two kinds of silences: "First, the soldiers keep quiet and, then Israeli society keeps quiet. "We provide the tools for people to understand the deeply woven moral corruption and numbness of what we do (in the Occupied Territories). It's like a slide; once you start going down, you keep going down. "There's no such thing as a benign or an enlightened occupation. You can't be an occupier and not be an occupier." Shaul's overall message: "The issue is not the right of Israel to exist but rather, does it have the right to occupy Palestinian lands and control civilians as it has for 40 years?" Shaul said he has been well-received in North America, even though some did criticize him. But, "you can't really criticize me because I am an Israeli who has served in the army." He's much more: a courageous citizen of Israeli democracy. *** Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead! In late summer of 1973 I was completing my last weeks of my 4-month jail term in detention in Riverhead, Long Island, when Augusto Pinochet led the overthrow of the elected Socialist government in Chile, headed by Salvador Allende. The coup was organized by Henry Kissinger, the CIA and International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), with additional funds provided by the multinational copper leviathans (Anaconda, Kennicott, etc.). I began this song at the time, not knowing what else to do to keep my sanity when the world was on fire and I was trapped behind bars, and updated it later when Pinochet finally went on trial for those awful crimes a few years ago. By coincidence, on the very day of my release from prison ITT's offices on Park Avenue in Manhattan were blown to smithereens. My release and those bombings are inextricably tied in my emotions, in my memory. On Pinochet's death last week I drank a toast to Victor Jara, the beautiful troubador and national folk-hero murdered by Pinochet, before heading off to the usual round of meetings and protests. Feel free to invent your own tune! Be creative, demand the impossible! Mitchel Cohen ON PINOCHET'S CAPTURE I awoke one day it was early September A prisoner in my own land For fighting against the war that my country Was waging against Vietnam How sad I remember it came over the news Jangling the bars to my cell That Chile had fallen, the great eagle's talons Had gauged out its insides, 10,000 slaughtered And Chile, O Chile fell to the fascists Socialist Chile fell. I leaped from my bunk to the bars like a madman Desperate to bend them escape Riverhead prison had hold of my body But my heart Santiago did take As Pinochet swept through the gray streets at dawn And murdered all who'd protest "I protest. I protest, you bastards let me out" I screamed and a guard sneered: "You're next." And the corpses piled high in the weeks that followed Rats feasted on bodies that lined every block Allende had stood strong defending his office Pistol in hand, so cowardly shot. And who to hoe the ungrown rice The painted murals, bulletproof dreams? Kissinger crashes the gates of Eden CIA toasts the success of their schemes. Chile, O Chile They're murdering your soul If only the muse had whispered to Allende Arm yourselves, Arise. My four months ended I flew like a demon Out of that prison as dynamite's wings Blasted ITT's Park Avenue office For Chile, serve notice, prove freedom still rings. Chile, O Chile They're murdering your soul If only the muse had whispered to Allende "Arm yourselves, Arise." "We are 5,000 this noon," Victor Jara sang In the Estadio Nacional They smacked his guitar till it was in ruins No resistance songs they'd allow! Yet vibrant and powerful poems sprang from his throat His hands beat the rhythmic sounds; On Pinochet's orders the evil sword flashed And Victor's hands fell to the ground, His severed hands fell to the ground. "Sing now, Victor Jara," wrists shattered and torn, "Sing now, we have chopped off your hands!" An icy wind rattled the stadium's bones Shivering through every land. Song, I can't sing you when I sing out of fear When I am dying of fright Eternal silence screams out from my heart, Fascism's sirens the night. Victor stared at his hands in the dirt, Each finger broken once wandered Joan's hair, Palms, now dead, that so often stroked her face, These bleeding stumps where his hands once did hang "Don't let them defeat you," her voice sliced through his pain And Victor opened his heart and he sang! His song for the people, for Chile, for love For freedom he sang as he bled. Today Pinochet sits in a prison at last And Victor's songs rise from the dead So sing, Victor Jara, the rice has matured And the words bubble out of your tomb Now a million are marching on Pinochet's jail All humming Victor's last tune! Sing, Victor Jara, Your song's on every lip The workers are rising again! Rise up! Rise up! Throw the fascists aside, Nothing to lose but your chains And a world to regain, to win. One Hand, one heart Chile, O Chile We've learned our lessons well Today the torturer stands trial for his crimes And Pinochet's sentenced to hell, Pinochet's sentenced to hell. I awoke one day it was early September A prisoner in my own land For fighting against the war that my country Was waging against Vietnam How sad I remember it came over the news Jangling the bars to my cell That Chile had fallen, the great eagle's talons Had gauged out its insides, 10,000 slaughtered And Chile, O Chile fell to the fascists Socialist Chile fell. TO RISE AGAIN .... - Mitchel Cohen Red Balloon Poetry Conspiracy, & Brooklyn Greens / Green Party You can buy Mitchel's new book of poetry (this poem's not in it), "The Permanent Carnival," by sending $14 + $1.35 in postage,* to Mitchel Cohen 2652 Cropsey Avenue, #7H Brooklyn, NY 11214 (If you already have the book, thank you very much! Please send feedback!) *If you'd like a copy of the book but can't afford that, just send whatever you can afford and I'll send you a copy, don't sweat it! (The first printing is almost sold out, so .... ) *** Wed., Dec. 20, 11 - 1, Peace Demo at Waxman's Office, Cut Funding for Iraq War! Bring Signs & Join Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, Topanga Peace Alliance, Palisadians for Peace, Santa Monica Peace Table, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, the S.M. Peace Club Wed., Dec. 20, 11 AM - 1 PM In Front of Congressman Henry Waxman's Office 8436 West Third Street, Suite 600 Los Angeles, CA 90048 (On Third, Just East of La Cienega) Urge Waxman to Take a Leadership Role in Bringing Troops Home Now Demand Waxman Vote against the Next 150-Billion Dollars for Iraq Ask Waxman to Sign on to HR4232, Congressman McGovern's bill to cut funding for the Occupation For more info on the peace march, contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Suggestions for Signs Waxman, Cut $$$for Occupation Waxman, Not Another 150-Billion Waxman, Why Aren't You a Co-sponsor of HR4232? Pelosi Pledges $$$$ for Bush's War, Not You, Too, Henry Iraq War: 2-Billion Per Week, $11-Million Per Hour How Much More $$$ for Oil War? Adopting an inside/outside strategy, some activists will meet inside with Waxman's staff while others march outside Waxman's office. An aide for Waxman told us the Congressman hasn't decided yet how he will vote on the next supplemental war appropriations bill. But remember, in 2002 Waxman voted for the Iraq War Authorization bill, unlike 133 other members of Congress who opposed a US invasion of Iraq. Since 2002, Waxman has voted for almost every supplemental funding bill. Enough is enough! Let's give Waxman the support he needs to stand up to the Democratic leadership. Though the mid-term election was a referendum on the Iraq War, House Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi says the Democratic Party leadership will support continued funding of the occupation. Protest this outrage. You do not have to live in Waxman's 30th Congressional District to join us on Wednesday. Tell Waxman you want him to use his great influence to talk to others, both in the Democratic leadership and in the Southern California delegation, to end funding for the occupation. Can't make it? FAX Waxman (323) 655-0502 (202) 225-4099 CALL Waxman (323) 651-1040 (phone) (818) 878-7400 (phone) (310) 652-3095 (phone) (202) 225-3976 (phone) FAX Pelosi 415-861-1670 202-225-8259 CALL Pelosi 415-556-4862 202-225-4965 Or Contact Your Congress Member http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ Sample Fax Dear _________________: The Democrats took back Congress because an overwhelming majority of Americans want the US occupation of Iraq to end. Now, we demand the Democratic Party leadership act responsibly to cut funding for this senseless occupation. Respect the will of the people. Vote NO on the next 150-billion-dollar Iraq supplemental war appropriation bill. Co-sponsor Congressman McGovern's HR4232. HR4232 would end all funding for the deployment of US troops to Iraq. HR4232 would provide for the safe and orderly withdrawal of US troops. How many more thousands of Americans and Iraqis have to die before the Democrats refuse to fund Bush's war? Cut the funding now. Sincerely, ____________________ ## ### --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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