Desmond Tutu: ‘[Israel] must realize that they cannot break the spirit of those who fight for free-

[ProgressiveMuslim]

dom and justice"


by Adam Horowitz on December 24, 2009

Today Archbishop Desmond Tutu released a statement regarding Abdallah Abu Rahmah’s arrest and indictment:

Statement from Desmond Tutu on Bil’in activist Abdallah Abu Rahma

24 December 2009

Elders’ chair, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has expressed his deep concern about the arrest and indictment of Abdallah Abu Ramah of Bil’in and has called for his unconditional release.

Abu Rahma is a school teacher and coordinator of the Bil’in Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, which has carried out a five year campaign of non-violent protest and legal challenge against the wall that separates Israel from the West Bank.

“My fellow Elders and I met Abu Rahma and his colleague Mohammad Khatib in August when we visited Bil’in,” said Desmond Tutu. “We were impressed by their commitment to peaceful political action, and their success in challenging the wall that unjustly separates the people of Bil’in from their land and their olive trees. I call on Israeli officials to release Abu Rahma immediately and unconditionally.”

Abu Rahma was arrested by Israeli soldiers at 2 a.m. on 10 December 2009 and indicted on 22 December 2009 on several counts stemming from his leadership role in the Popular Committee. On 15 September Mohammad Khatib was severely beaten during a raid attempting to arrest Abu Rahma. Since 23 June 2009, 31 residents of Bil’in have been arrested...

read on...
http://mondoweiss.net/2009/12/desmond-tutu-israel-must-realize-that-they-cannot-break-the-spirit-of-those-who-fight-for-freedom-and-justice.html

[Ken Burch]

1. Kicked.

If the Israeli government is going to make endless sanctimoniuous snark about "Palestinian violence" it has an OBLIGATION not to arrest of harass those who protest nonviolently, or who coordinate such protests. This must be an absolute.

[Christa]

2. Kicked and would have rec'd it if I could. nt

[grassfed]

3. k

[Violet_Crumble]

4. Non-violent protest is actually a big threat to the Israeli govt...

There's no moral highground advantange to be gained and non-violence is a lot harder to deal with than violence, which I guess explains the violent attempts to nip non-violence in the bud...

[delad]

5. would have to agree with that n/t

[azurnoir]

6. +1 n/t