The pamphlet Hellen is holding in her hands at our discussion table after the vigil is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What's Happening to Israeli Democracy and Freedom by Alex Nissen
Alex is a founding member of Women in Black, Melbourne and the Coalition of Women for Peace who travels between Melbourne and Israel. Following is an article she wrote for The Australian Jewish Democratic Society Newsletter, May 2009, after the raids on the homes of New Profile members in three cities in Israel this month. (More on New Profile soon)
How does one begin to describe what is happening to freedom of expression and debate in Israel? When is it time for global Jewish communities to raise their voices in support of the Israeli peace movements and against the actions of the Israeli government to suppress dissent? Is it not our responsibility as Jews to hold Israel accountable for its actions?
Last year, the Israeli Attorney-General announced a criminal investigation into New Profile--a feminist movement whose proclaimed aim is "civil-isation of society in Israel" and "opposition to the undue influence of the military on daily life. New Profile is part of the Coalition of Women for Peace. The group's prime role is to support young Israelis by providing counseling and information. They also provide support and information on imprisoned conscientious objectors.
In late April, New Profile activist houses all over the country were raided. Their computers were confiscated, and they were summoned for interrogation. Since then, they have been released on bail under restraining orders and were told that during the next 30 days they were forbidden to contact other members of the movement. Contrary to the police's accusation, the organization is adamant that "We do not encourage, incite or preach in favour of draft dodging."
"Amongst those interrogated: Analeen Kish, aged 70, a ceramics artist, daughter of a family of the "Righteous Among Nations" who converted to Judaism after her marriage to Holocaust survivor Dr Eldad Kish, active in organizations of Dutch Holocaust survivors in Israel. Miriam Hadar, aged 51, an editor and translator..."
As we go to press, police have summoned an additional ten activists for interrogation. What happened to freedom of expression and dissent in Israel? Why is the Israeli government attacking feminist peace organisations now? Is is because this new Israeli government has moved more to the Right with the inclusion of Avigdor Lieberman, who is known for his racism? What is our responsibility to the Israeli peace movement, freedom of expression, dissent, justice and human rights? When is it right for us to take action? Does silence in knowing what is really happening yet ignoring the situation make us complicit?
For those who love and care about Israel, watching what is happening is painful. With all the accessible information about the continuous deterioration of human rights, is it not time to voice our opinion? (For more information: Http://www.newprofile.org/english)
How does one begin to describe what is happening to freedom of expression and debate in Israel? When is it time for global Jewish communities to raise their voices in support of the Israeli peace movements and against the actions of the Israeli government to suppress dissent? Is it not our responsibility as Jews to hold Israel accountable for its actions?
Last year, the Israeli Attorney-General announced a criminal investigation into New Profile--a feminist movement whose proclaimed aim is "civil-isation of society in Israel" and "opposition to the undue influence of the military on daily life. New Profile is part of the Coalition of Women for Peace. The group's prime role is to support young Israelis by providing counseling and information. They also provide support and information on imprisoned conscientious objectors.
In late April, New Profile activist houses all over the country were raided. Their computers were confiscated, and they were summoned for interrogation. Since then, they have been released on bail under restraining orders and were told that during the next 30 days they were forbidden to contact other members of the movement. Contrary to the police's accusation, the organization is adamant that "We do not encourage, incite or preach in favour of draft dodging."
"Amongst those interrogated: Analeen Kish, aged 70, a ceramics artist, daughter of a family of the "Righteous Among Nations" who converted to Judaism after her marriage to Holocaust survivor Dr Eldad Kish, active in organizations of Dutch Holocaust survivors in Israel. Miriam Hadar, aged 51, an editor and translator..."
As we go to press, police have summoned an additional ten activists for interrogation. What happened to freedom of expression and dissent in Israel? Why is the Israeli government attacking feminist peace organisations now? Is is because this new Israeli government has moved more to the Right with the inclusion of Avigdor Lieberman, who is known for his racism? What is our responsibility to the Israeli peace movement, freedom of expression, dissent, justice and human rights? When is it right for us to take action? Does silence in knowing what is really happening yet ignoring the situation make us complicit?
For those who love and care about Israel, watching what is happening is painful. With all the accessible information about the continuous deterioration of human rights, is it not time to voice our opinion? (For more information: Http://www.newprofile.org/english)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Night at the State Library, Melbourne, May 18, 2009
Di and I arrived at 5:15, over an hour early to meet Alex and Marg and Sue, and other Women in Black comrades for a coffee before the events of the night, but we were stunned to see that even at this early hour hundreds of people were already standing in a long que stretching up the street. The night grew dark, people greeted each other, young people from various groups leafleted us as we waited, Students for Palestine, the Jewish Students Group, others slipped into our hands broadsheets saying why the play we were going to see, all ten minutes of it, Caryl Churchill's "Seven Jewish Children," was antisemitic. Because of the controversy over the appearance of the well known Australian Jewish actress Miriam Margoyles in the reading, Australians for Palestine, the sponsoring organization of the night, had changed the night's agenda to include a panel discussion after the play reading and time for audience comments. As the night darkened we could hear the chants of competing student groups, and we knew that the time of silence over Israel's national policies was over; many parts of the Melbourne community were ready to talk out loud and passionately and will be for a long time. Palestinian and Jewish, we sat together in the too too small lecture hall, many still standing out in the street, to be welcomed by Sonia, the dedicated leading force in Palestinians for Australia, a commanding presence, who quietly centered us on the timing of the play, the commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba, the catastrophe, for the Palestinians which was the founding of the state of Israel, two opposing histories, trying to find a common ground.
As Sonya wrote in the program notes: "While everyone has their own opinion of the matter, the Palestinian Nakba remains pivotal to this event. It is inherent in the play's own intent to show a 'shared' history, which we believe is the point of the play and not the attempts to denigrate it as antisemitic. So, not only do we hope the play will contribute to a greater understanding of the Palestinian narrative here in Australia, we also hope to find common ground with the Jewish community so that Israel's policies and practices do not come between people desiring universal human rights, respect for international law and a just peace."
-- I found the reading of the play moving and rich with connections, and the ensuing conversation--a young Palestinian Australian woman scholar, a well known Jewish QC, Prof. Yakov Rabkin, a Canadian visiting Professor of History and author of "A Threat from Within: Jewish Opposition to Zionism," an Australian Palestinian father telling of his family's history of displacement and of his family still living in Israel, detailing his life of interconnectedness, a young Zionist professor and Dennis Altman, the gay historian speaking as a "public intellectual," a term I will run from forever more--sometimes inspiring, sometimes infuriating, sometimes challenging, sometimes pushing me to new thinking. The evening ended with a short film of the assault on Gaza set to the reading by Dr. Rafey Habib of his poem, "A Prayer for Gaza." [We will include the texts of the poem on another posting] All the talk fell away, as images of the dead and wounded, of the crumpled world that once was Gaza, of the images of militarism raining down destruction on all our dreams of life and hope--for in such unjust acts, we all die a little, the Jewish heart that seeks a humane world and the Palestinian mother who looks for her child amid the rubble of her home. I can still hear the voice of the actress, refusing mikes or that stage, shouting out to us, stop the bombing, stop the killing, talk, TALK, TALK, she screamed. As we poured into the now quiet night street, we knew that there was no turning back from our struggle to call for a new Israeli way. Later we learned that the library had been pressured not to allow the event to happen. It is too late for such tactics now.
Joan
As Sonya wrote in the program notes: "While everyone has their own opinion of the matter, the Palestinian Nakba remains pivotal to this event. It is inherent in the play's own intent to show a 'shared' history, which we believe is the point of the play and not the attempts to denigrate it as antisemitic. So, not only do we hope the play will contribute to a greater understanding of the Palestinian narrative here in Australia, we also hope to find common ground with the Jewish community so that Israel's policies and practices do not come between people desiring universal human rights, respect for international law and a just peace."
-- I found the reading of the play moving and rich with connections, and the ensuing conversation--a young Palestinian Australian woman scholar, a well known Jewish QC, Prof. Yakov Rabkin, a Canadian visiting Professor of History and author of "A Threat from Within: Jewish Opposition to Zionism," an Australian Palestinian father telling of his family's history of displacement and of his family still living in Israel, detailing his life of interconnectedness, a young Zionist professor and Dennis Altman, the gay historian speaking as a "public intellectual," a term I will run from forever more--sometimes inspiring, sometimes infuriating, sometimes challenging, sometimes pushing me to new thinking. The evening ended with a short film of the assault on Gaza set to the reading by Dr. Rafey Habib of his poem, "A Prayer for Gaza." [We will include the texts of the poem on another posting] All the talk fell away, as images of the dead and wounded, of the crumpled world that once was Gaza, of the images of militarism raining down destruction on all our dreams of life and hope--for in such unjust acts, we all die a little, the Jewish heart that seeks a humane world and the Palestinian mother who looks for her child amid the rubble of her home. I can still hear the voice of the actress, refusing mikes or that stage, shouting out to us, stop the bombing, stop the killing, talk, TALK, TALK, she screamed. As we poured into the now quiet night street, we knew that there was no turning back from our struggle to call for a new Israeli way. Later we learned that the library had been pressured not to allow the event to happen. It is too late for such tactics now.
Joan
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Coming Events: Reading of Seven Jewish Children
Our colleagues in Melbourne, Australians for Palestine, have organized a reading of Caryl Churchhill's play, Seven Jewish Children, on 18 May at the State Library of Victoria--as you may know Miriam Margoyles has already suffered for her appearance in this 7 minute reverie about history and its complexities. Women in Black will be in attendance. Two excellent films, This Palestinian Life and The Land Speaks Arabic will also be shown.
We hear much of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the NATO and Allied Forces' fight to control them but little of the ongoing consequences for ordinary Afghans, particularly women and girls. Live has become increasingly more insecure and traumatic for these women.
In the first week of June, we will be fortunate to have one of RAWA's (The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan : http://www.rawa.org) courageous and inspirational members, Shazia Shakib, with us in Melbourne.
Here is your opportunity to mees Shazia and hear of the current situation in Afghanistan and the challenging work of RAWA whilst in great company of women.
When? Tuesday June 2nd, 2009
Where? Downunder Curry, 417-419 Hight Street, Northcote
What: A delicious three course meal (BYO or licensed)
Cost: $45 ($25 meal and $20 donation to RAWA)
Bookings? Booking essential: Phone--email mok@connexus.net.au
We hear much of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the NATO and Allied Forces' fight to control them but little of the ongoing consequences for ordinary Afghans, particularly women and girls. Live has become increasingly more insecure and traumatic for these women.
In the first week of June, we will be fortunate to have one of RAWA's (The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan : http://www.rawa.org) courageous and inspirational members, Shazia Shakib, with us in Melbourne.
Here is your opportunity to mees Shazia and hear of the current situation in Afghanistan and the challenging work of RAWA whilst in great company of women.
When? Tuesday June 2nd, 2009
Where? Downunder Curry, 417-419 Hight Street, Northcote
What: A delicious three course meal (BYO or licensed)
Cost: $45 ($25 meal and $20 donation to RAWA)
Bookings? Booking essential: Phone--email mok@connexus.net.au
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Welcome to Women in Black, Melbourne, Australia
A brief history: The first Saturday of every month, a group of women, called Women in Black, stand in front of the Old GPO in Melbourne, Australia, protesting the Israeli occupation of Gaza specifically and the use of military force against civilian populations around the world. Women in Black came into being in 1987 in Israel as a protest against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. From this first silent vigil in the center of Haifa by seven Israeli women sprang what is now a world-wide grassroots network of women committed to peace with justice, actively opposed to war and other forms of violence. The Israeli women, soon joined by Palestinian women, held their silent vigil to show their resistance to the occupation of Palestinian lands and the rise of unprecedented violence against women and children.
Women in black vigils were soon being held in Italy and Belgrade, and then in other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South American and Australia. in 1989, 5,000 women, Palestinian and Israeli, marched in Jerusalem, demanding a two state solution where the human rights of women and children were protected. Sadly, this international grassroots movement is as important now as it was in the start of the Intifada over 20 years ago.
Vigil sites around the world: Haifa, Jerusalem, Israel; Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Armidale, Melbourne, Australia; Naples, Turin, Padova, Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; Oxford, London, England; Belgrade, Serbia; Cologne, Berlin, Bonn, Germany; Edinburgh, Scotland; Goteberg, Halmsted, Sweden; Kitchner, Calgary, London, Ontario, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Canada; Valencia, Spain; 20 states in the United States of America; Amsterday, Netherlands; Malmo, Stockholm, Pitea, Sweden; Marseille, Strasbourg, Paris, France; Oslo, Norway; Switzerland; Vienna, Austrai; Pune, Marashtra, India...
From the Archives
Melbourne's Women in Black vigil has a long history, beginning in 1989. From Melbourne's Women in Black Newsletter No.3 (November 18, 1989):
"It is now six months since June 3rd when Women in Black inaugurated itself with a successful vigil if rather wet vigil which attracted lots of media coverage. Since then we have kept up regular vigils on the GPO steps in the Bourke Street Mall. Sustaining regular monthly vigils has been an achievement in itself. The WIB faithful and other women who attend have generally agreed that the vigils are worthwhile and very consciousness raising--both for members of the public with whom we engage in discussion and for the vigilers themselves.
Hellen, Alex, Marg, Sue, Sandra, Sivan, myself, Joan, and others welcome you to this site and to our vigils.
Women in black vigils were soon being held in Italy and Belgrade, and then in other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South American and Australia. in 1989, 5,000 women, Palestinian and Israeli, marched in Jerusalem, demanding a two state solution where the human rights of women and children were protected. Sadly, this international grassroots movement is as important now as it was in the start of the Intifada over 20 years ago.
Vigil sites around the world: Haifa, Jerusalem, Israel; Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Armidale, Melbourne, Australia; Naples, Turin, Padova, Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; Oxford, London, England; Belgrade, Serbia; Cologne, Berlin, Bonn, Germany; Edinburgh, Scotland; Goteberg, Halmsted, Sweden; Kitchner, Calgary, London, Ontario, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Canada; Valencia, Spain; 20 states in the United States of America; Amsterday, Netherlands; Malmo, Stockholm, Pitea, Sweden; Marseille, Strasbourg, Paris, France; Oslo, Norway; Switzerland; Vienna, Austrai; Pune, Marashtra, India...
From the Archives
Melbourne's Women in Black vigil has a long history, beginning in 1989. From Melbourne's Women in Black Newsletter No.3 (November 18, 1989):
"It is now six months since June 3rd when Women in Black inaugurated itself with a successful vigil if rather wet vigil which attracted lots of media coverage. Since then we have kept up regular vigils on the GPO steps in the Bourke Street Mall. Sustaining regular monthly vigils has been an achievement in itself. The WIB faithful and other women who attend have generally agreed that the vigils are worthwhile and very consciousness raising--both for members of the public with whom we engage in discussion and for the vigilers themselves.
Hellen, Alex, Marg, Sue, Sandra, Sivan, myself, Joan, and others welcome you to this site and to our vigils.
Monday, May 11, 2009
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