I am excited to be able to share with you some very exciting news! We have just received news that Courage to Refuse, the influential group of reserve officers and soldiers that has grown from its initial 52 to over 620, and its founder, David Zonsheine, have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by two former recipients of this great honor. Will they win the Prize in December? We will have to wait and see...but the simple fact of the nomination is a critical acknowledgement of the importance of this Israeli movement against Occupation, and lends great credibility to the efforts of Courage to Refuse and all the other Refuser groups.
This nomination also inspires all the members of the RSN Board of Directors and its staff to continue our work in bringing the message of the Refusers to the United States. In 2003 we organized over 100 public presentations, meetings with Congressional staff, media events, and private meetings with key leaders in the American Jewish community. The Refusers reinforced a simple, yet powerful and fundamental message:
Israeli security is threatened, not enhanced, by Occupation. The Occupation must end for both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace.
We will soon be announcing exciting tours in the Fall and Winter 2004-2005. We will also be holding a Spring 2005 organizers conference in Washington DC, producing new and improved materials to tell the Refuser story, and more.
To host a Refusnik speaker at your synagogue, school or other institution, please get in touch with us at [EMAIL PROTECTED].
We are very proud of our friends in Courage to Refuse, and honored to be able to work so closely with them. We send them one giant Mazel Tov and congratulations from all of their allies in the United States!
Below is the article from Ha'aretz about the nomination.
In Solidarity,
Amanda Klonsky, Coordinator, Refuser Solidarity Network
**************************************************************
w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/483023.html
29/09/2004
Courage to Refuse nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
By Lily Galili
The Courage to Refuse movement and one of its founders, Israel Defense Forces reserve Captain David Zonshein, have been nominated for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.
Both were nominated as candidates for this year's prize by two former winners: 1996 prize winner Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, a bishop from East Timor who led the struggle against Indonesian rule, and 1992 winner Rigoberto Menchu, who led a struggle for native Indian rights against an oppressive Guatemalan regime.
"Our candidacy is a victory for those who love Israel, and a victory for Zionist values and the Israeli spirit, which have championed an uncompromising battle defending the State of Israel alongside protecting human life, human rights and honor," Zonshein said. "We see this as a victory for real Zionism, based on the principles of freedom, justice and peace," said Courage to Refuse director Arik Diamant.
"Particularly in these times, when the right-wing settlers announce their refusal to evacuate settlements, our candidacy marks a line between refusal to take part in actions that oppose Jewish and international law and ethics and refusal of the settlers - whose sole purpose is the perpetuation of control over another nation," Diamant said.
Courage to Refuse was established in January 2002 with the publication of a letter signed by 50 officers and soldiers who refused to serve in the territories and said they will defend Israel only from within its borders. The movement now numbers more than 600 reservists.
**************************************************************
The Refuser
Solidarity Network was formed in April 2002 to educate the North American
public about the message, efforts, and plight of Israelis who refuse to serve
their reserve or initial compulsory service in the Israel Defense Forces on the
basis of their opposition to Israel's actions in the Occupied Territories.
Get involved! Donate! Visit us online at www.refusersolidarity.net
P O Box 53474
Washington, District of Columbia 20009-9474
United
States
**************************************************************
You are subscribed to this list as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Click here to unsubscribe, or send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| Yahoo! Groups Sponsor | |
|
|
Yahoo! Groups Links
- To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VTJP/
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
