US Jews occupy Israeli army support office in NY in civil disobedience action

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/israeli-support-disobedience.html

Deeply concerned Jews in New York City, as well as Jews across the country, are engaging in acts of civil disobedience to stand against Israel’s current massacre against the Palestinians of Gaza–and to demand that the truth be told about the horrendous violence being perpetrated by the Israeli government and army against 1.8 million Palestinian people in Gaza and the underlying causes of that violence.

In New York City, demonstrators are engaging in civil disobedience at the offices of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) today, July 22, at 11 AM ET on Broadway between 40th and 39th (1430 Broadway #1301)

Carolyn Klaasen, a participant in today’s action and member of Jewish Voice for Peace, an organizer of today’s protest, said: “We are engaging in civil disobedience at the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) because the IDF and Israeli government are responsible for the systematic and ongoing brutality against the Palestinian people. In this most recent vicious assault alone, the IDF has caused the deaths of upwards of 550 Palestinians, including more than 100 children, as well as over 3000 injured. Calling the IDF a defense force is absurd; it’s an illegally occupying army.”

The group demands that the IDF ends its brutality and is calling on American Jews and all Americans to stand against Israel’s military occupation of Palestine and its ongoing assault against the people of Palestine. The two Jewish groups make clear that, despite claims to the contrary by the Israeli government, they and thousands upon thousands of Jews vehemently oppose Israel’s behavior and stand firmly with the Palestinians of Gaza during this time.

[Jefferson23]

1. Civil disobedience..that is the way it's to be done. K&R

[BrotherIvan]

10. Agreed

[easychoice]

2. I sooo hope yayhoo has jumped the shark.

There are many Jews worldwide that are mortified by this whole disaster.Netanyahu is losing support it seems.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. The whole Likud Party needs to be thrown out.

They are the ultimate reason for this mess. They have stood in the way of the peace process at every step. I hope Israelis see the reaction of their friends all over the world, reject the Likud Party, and elect a left or moderate government. That would go a long way toward ending these problems. Netanyahu deserves to be in prison for life. He is an awful man, and he's putting his country in grave danger.

[Aerows]

6. The Likud party needs to be shown the door

and something brighter needs to come of it.

I agree wholeheartedly, LuvNewcastle (you are also one of my neighbors in our weird state )

[LuvNewcastle]

7. Hey, neighbor!

[Aerows]

11. Come on in for some collard greens

fried chicken and mashed potatoes pulled directly from the garden Have some tea, and let's have some supper.

[NealK]

8. +1

Netanyahu is a criminal and a megalomaniac.

[jillan]

4. I am so happy to hear this. As a woman that was born into the Jewish religion...

I CANNOT STAND what is happening.

[RufusTFirefly]

5. Thank you for posting! This is encouraging!

Isn't it bizarre that there is reportedly more room for dissent on this issue in Israel than there is here?

[NealK]

9. K&R

[azurnoir]

12. JVP is a fantastic group who have in the past come under physical attack

Wrapped in an Israeli flag, San Francisco Voice for Israel/StandWithUs (SFVI/SWU) member Robin Dubner, an Oakland based attorney, pepper-sprayed two JVP members in the eyes and face after they attempted to nonviolently block her ability to aggressively videotape the faces of JVP meeting attendees against their will. The members, Alexei Folger and Glen Hauer, were careful to make no physical contact with her or her camera prior to the attack.

Folger said, “I did not see it coming and all of a sudden there was gooey stuff all over my head and hand. I have never been pepper-sprayed before, my whole head felt like it was on fire.”

JVP had earlier this year filed a police report about a June SFVI/SWU protest at which JVP and (peace group) Women in Black members were intimidatingly videotaped and threatened by a StandWithUs supporter after being taunted with chants like “Nazi, Nazi, Nazi” or “Kapo,Kapo,Kapo”. Caught on a widely seen videotape was a SFVI/SWU supporter pointing his camera to the faces of silent peace vigil participants while saying “You’re all being identified, every last one of you…we will find out where you live. We’re going to make your lives difficult. We will disrupt your families…”

For that reason, JVP members were particularly concerned about protecting the safety of meeting attendees and preventing the videotaping.

Hauer, a retired attorney and member of San Francisco’s Congregation Sha’har Zahav who was treated for pepper spray explained, ”When one of the intruders [Dubner] continued standing and filming people despite the facilitator and facility manager repeatedly telling her that she could not, I first asked her politely to please put away the video camera, then several times told her to put away the camera, and then tried nonviolently to stay in front of the camera with my body, even when she shoved me. I could have taken the camera but decided instead to talk to the woman and to try to be the only person she photographed."

http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/blog/right-wing-israel-advocacy-group-pepper-sprays-jewish-voice-peace-jvp-members

[ellenrr]

13. wonderful!

I wonder if there will be any news coverage.

[Jefferson23]

14. Democracy Now ( Transcipt )

Not In Our Name: Jewish Activists Arrested in Sit-in at Friends of Israel Defense Forces NYC Office

Protests in response to Israel’s assault on Gaza have drawn hundreds — and in some cases thousands — around the world. On Tuesday, members of Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews Say No! occupied the New York City office of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, a nonprofit group that raises money in the United States to send to the Israeli military. For about an hour, activists read the names of the more than 600 Palestinians killed and demanded the organization stop its fundraising for the military attacking Gaza. Nine were arrested when they refused to leave the premises. We get a video report from the protest.




NERMEEN SHAIKH: Protests in response to Israel’s assault on Gaza have drawn hundreds—and in some cases thousands—around the world. Here in New York City on Tuesday, members of Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews Say No! occupied the office of the Friends of the IDF. The nonprofit group raises money in the United States to send to the Israeli military.

AMY GOODMAN: For about an hour, activists read the names of the more than 600 Palestinians killed and demanded the group stop fundraising for the Israeli military. Nine people were arrested when they refused to leave the premises. Others protested outside the office. Democracy Now! was there and brings you some of their voices.

PROTESTER: Find out why Jews are protesting Israel’s war on Gaza. Take a leaflet.

in full: http://www.democracynow.org/2014/7/23/not_in_our_name_jewish_activists