ISM activist: "You live in fear for your life every day"

[Resistance]

Socialist Worker Online

In an attempt to frustrate Israel’s unrestrained use of force against Palestinians, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) has brought activists from around the world to document and witness Israel’s war in the Occupied Territories. On April 5, 2003, BRIAN AVERY, an ISM volunteer from Albuquerque, N.M., was shot in the face by an Israeli sniper, disfiguring him for life. Brian talked to Socialist Worker’s NATE GOLDBAUM about the reality of Israel’s occupation.

CAN YOU start by telling how you were shot?

THERE HAD been an Israeli-imposed curfew in Jenin for two days. I had spent most of my time prior to that in Nablus, the major city in the West Bank. I had been in Jenin for about a week, mostly working with the medical crews around there, riding with the ambulances.

An Israeli imposed curfew is a 24-hour-a-day lockdown. No one can go outside of their house out on the streets. They are prone to do this for weeks or months at a time. The ISM is out on the streets during the curfews. Typically, we are the only ones out–save for maybe some of the local kids. We go out to make sure that if any civilians are out on the streets, they are not being gunned down by the military–and if they are, that proper medical assistance is available.

About two blocks from the apartment, we heard a couple of Israeli vehicles rolling up. An armored personnel vehicle, which is basically an old, rehabbed tank–they just take the turret off and make it into a personnel carrier–and a tank behind that rolled down the middle of the street. They stopped.
I had a red vest with a big, bright reflective strip on it. We held up our hands and just stood there. It is not an unusual phenomenon for them to drive up, and we’ll be standing there. This time, though, they drove up and just started opening fire right at us.

I was hit in the face. The guy next to me, a Swedish activist named Tobias Karlsson, had leapt aside when rounds were first fired at the ground. He said that bullets had also whizzed past his head.

[Resistance]

1. you know what is interesting to me

we have an American peace activist deliberately shot in the face by Israeli troops, and he can't get his story out to the American media, cause it's a total whitewash here.

That is really pathetic. We're left having to do internet searches just to keep up with the status on how maimed and wounded peace workers are doing.

[ex_jew]

2. Is it because Israel is America's "beloved"

(in the phrase of another poster)? I won't be a bit surprised when they start taking ISM members to Gitmo. Giving aid and comfort to the enemy, indeed.

[Resistance]

3. true.

America's "beloved" should be her own citizens first -- yet obviously there is a greater love for preserving Israel's image. This is where ideologues make a wrong turn.

[_Jumper_]

6. It is a fatal flaw

If it weren't for the media we may have had a balanced approach to the problem and we wouldn't be facing the threat of terrorism. Why won't the media do its job? The media in virtually every country covers both sides of the issue.

[MikeGalos]

4. Hey, if you're an ISM activist you should be afraid

The terrorist you're feeding, hiding and letting sleep in your spare bedroom might have his bomb go off when there isn't an Israeli child around.

(But we don't talk about that aspect of the ISM, do we?)

[Resistance]

7. It isn't mentioned

because it's utter nonsense.

:crazy:

[MikeGalos]

12. Well

I'm so glad that we've been told that facts are nonsense. Mustn't let that religious ferver be marred by facts.

(We've discussed it before, you've seen the evidence before, so don't play coy with us.)

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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[Violet_Crumble]

19. We've only seen complete nonsense and NO evidence...

We have asked for evidence in the past that the ISM knowingly harbour and assist those who plan or carry out suicide-bombings and all we've ended up seeing is more shrieks of them being terrorist-supporting mongrels or links to sites filled with so many incorrect 'facts' that no-one in their right mind could describe as reputable. We've been waiting patiently for someone to provide some documentation of these claims, because to accuse individuals or a group of supporting and assisting terrorism is a very serious accusation that should come with evidence from a reputable source. And what no-one has yet to provide a shred of evidence over is that the ISM knowingly harbour and assist terrorists. And it's got to be that they knowingly do it, because for the claim to carry any weight at all, there has to be intent there, which obviously some of you hold in high regard when it comes to the energetic defences of the IDF because it's claimed they don't intend to kill civilians....

So, Mike. If you want people to believe what you claim are facts, then feel free to provide even a tiny shred of evidence from a reputable source and you might find that some of us will sit up and take it seriously. Until that happens, all I'm seeing is a smear campaign that seems to be aimed at any group that shows sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people...

Violet...

[Resistance]

21. everyone knows the ISM doesn't support terrorists

The only reason the claim has been floated around is because the IDF murdered a couple of their members, and now there has to be a propaganda campaign to cover-up and/or justify killing them.

[GabysPoppy]

25. From the ISM New Jersey website

"We are opposed to the existence of the apartheid colonial settler state of Israel, as it is based on the racist ideology of Zionism and is an expression of colonialism and imperialism, and we stand for the total liberation of all of historic Palestine."

Don't support terrorists? Their goals are the same goals of Hamas.

So much for the bullshit that they don't support terrorists.

[Resistance]

26. Um hello

non-violence is not terrorism

Oh wait - let me guess, non-violence is the new form of terrorism.

Look out everyone! Here comes the non-violent peace activists! Better gun 'em all down! Better bulldoze them to death! Because non-violence=terrorism and therefore we better liquidate all terrorists!!

:crazy:

[GabysPoppy]

27. You can twist words as much as you want

But you cannot run from the statement on the NJ ISM website. They are one and the same with Hamas no matter how you try to run from them or ignore them. They advocate the end of the State of Israel and anyone extolling the ISM is saying the same thing.

[tinnypriv]

28. And some "supporters" of Israel

Are opposed to Palestinian nationalism.

So, a priori all supporters of Israel are extolling Kahane Chai?

I don't think so.

Incidentially, though I happen to think that the NJ ISM website statement is idiotic and offensive (can explain my objections if anybody is interested), your unfortunate (and likely intentional) distorting of their statements means that I will have to defend them.

One example, here is a sentence you failed to note even though it is directly before what you quoted:

"We call for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories, the recognition of the full, non-negotiable human right of return for all Palestinian refugees, and full political, social and economic equality under law for all people in historic Palestine." (emphasis added)

I assume the part in italics includes Jews.

Therefore, I hardly see how non-violent advocacy of a one-state solution (allegedly with full equality for Jews and Arabs) equals Hamas.

In addition (repeat: even though I don't agree with their statement), it should be placed in the proper historical context - i.e. the principles underlying it are roughly analogous to every major Israeli political grouping (especially the one in office right now, rhetoric aside), namely the advocacy of "autonomy" (and only this) for the Arabs of the WB/Gaza.

I don't see you condemning that, whereas I (and others) condemn both as rejecting the principle of self-determination.

[GabysPoppy]

29. Sorry, if it was intentional to distort

I would have paraphrased the paragraph. It was quoted verbatim which of course you knew. You aren't "forced" to defend anyone or anything. You do so of your own free will. If you choose to romanticize them good for you, however I see nobody twisting your arm.

Of course meeting with the suicide bombers of Mike's place was just a big coincidence. Nothing to concern yourself with, you had no connection with any of the victims. Peace loving folks they all are.

:puke:

[tinnypriv]

30. If you have any evidence whatsoever

That the terrorist bombers of Mike's place were in any way connected with ISM, post it.

If not, you should withdraw your (insinuated) slander.

Note that not even the Israeli government has dared to claim that ISM directly supports terrorists (they've claimed they do "indirectly" in various ways).

Note further that though IDF did claim the "sheltering" of terrorists, even they were forced to withdraw that in the face of massive counter-evidence.

[GabysPoppy]

31. Did they or did they not have an encounter with them?

Which is what I claimed.

Sorry, I don't believe in coincidences. Coincidences are just for X-File scripts.

What was that all about, an episode of Blind Date?

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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[drdon326]

33. "Grow up" ??

wow.....real nice.

[Violet_Crumble]

40. So every Israeli who had an encounter with them supports terrorism?

Because that's where that line of thought leads. Anyone who encountered these guys clearly must be supporters of terrorism. If it doesn't apply to anyone else who encountered them, then that line can't be used to try to smear ISM activists. What I've been asking for and no-one has yet to provide despite the repeated requests is evidence that the ISM knowingly aided terrorists and had the intent to do so. There's nothing X-fileish about that. Intent is the exact thing that some posters here use to excuse everything the IDF does, no matter what it is that's done. So my question to you is why do you suddenly not believe in coincedence when in the past you've been more than willing to write off so much of what the IDF does to civilians as accidents that happen with no intent involved?

btw, Gabyspoppy. While I'm waiting for you to answer the question, keep in mind that people do exist who don't fall for the smear campaign against peace activists, yet don't 'extol' the peace activists. I admire them for their idealism and how they put their lives on hold and go into incredibly dangerous areas, but I no more put them up on pedestals than for instance you would 'extol' the IDF and Sharon...

Violet...

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

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[Violet_Crumble]

50. Still waiting for a reply, Gabyspoppy...

I've got no idea why my post reminding you I was waiting for a reply was deleted. So let's try again, shall we? If there's no answer, it's safe to assume that all the empty and hysterical accusations against the ISM I've seen are nothing but total bullshit....

Violet...

[Resistance]

43. Ohhh, so THAT is why the IDF murdered the peace activists

Because they are terror-lovers and the ISM is the same as Hamas! So the Israeli troops bulldozed Rachel Corrie to death (for supporting terror) then they moved on and smoked Tom Hurndall, then made an attempt on the life of Brian Avery.

It all makes sense now. The ISM are terror-supporting hatemongers, and therefore must be eliminated.

Thanks for clearing it all up. Now we know why the IDF murders peace activists.

[GabysPoppy]

44. You are entitled to your beliefs

Just don't expect everyone to believe them just because you say so.

Hate driven thoughts have one thing that is constant. Cloudy vision.

[Resistance]

45. I've just been trying to figure out why the IDF murdered these kids

Now I know why - they're not really peace activists, but the ghastly twins of Hamas, and they're here to spread Eeeeeevil!!

So when they say we promote non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation, what they mean by that is 'we promote blasting away all Jews and throwing them into the sea!'

LOL thanks for clearing it all up!

:party:

[Resistance]

34. LMAO

ISM is now one in the same as Hamas!!

God I love this place.

:party: :crazy: :smoke:

[GabysPoppy]

39. When their stated purpose is similiar

the conclusion is simple enough to understand.

you can :party: and LMAO all day but it doesn't change the reality.

Support for ISM and support for Hamas go hand in hand, whether here or abroad.

[Violet_Crumble]

41. What you just said wasn't reality at all..

I support the ISM. I don't support Hamas. If the support goes hand in hand, then my post would soon be deleted, as supporting Hamas quite rightly isn't acceptable here, and if they go hand in hand, then supporting the ISM wouldn't be acceptable here either. If the day were ever to come when expressing support for peace activists (there's a hint for ya. the ISM are peace activists and Hamas is a fundamentalist terrorist organisation. Big difference) were to lead to post deletions here, that's the day I'd pack it in and leave DU....

Violet....

[Resistance]

42. It's funny

Next we'll be reading that Gandhi was a terrorist too! :crazy:

[_Jumper_]

5. Is what he said about curfews true?

n/t

[tinnypriv]

8. Yes

When Israel imposes a curfew it has it enforced by snipers and IDF soldiers.

Anybody who steps outside while it is in place is liable to be shot without warning. This includes women and children.

[Resistance]

9. and peace workers

[tinnypriv]

11. They're shot

Whether there is a "curfew" or not.

[tinnypriv]

10. Though I should stress

At least this is slightly more humanistic than the previous practice.

Say, in 1956, when Israeli border guards cold-bloodedly murdererd 47 Arabs in Kafr Kassem (43 were slaughtered by one officer - Issachir Shadmi - in an hour).

The "crime" the Arabs were guilty of was technically violating a curfew (which they knew nothing about).

Incidentially, if you're interested, the officer in charge served just over a year in prison (subsequently he was given the job of "Officer for Arab Affairs" in Ramle).

For context, that means he served roughly half the sentence given to a Palestinian prisoner recently released in the exchange with Hizbollah - a Mr Khalid, imprisoned for 24 months for throwing stones in Occupied Territory (the WB).

Or another example: Shadmi was given the same sentence as is routinely given to Palestinians who "pretend to be Jewish" (in order to marry, etc).

Equality of principles, etc.

[Resistance]

14. if there were peace activists getting in the way back then

do you think they'd have been deliberately fired on, as they are today?

[tinnypriv]

16. Well

According to Israeli PM Sharatt, these sort of acts "proved" that "for Jews shedding Arab blood is permissible" (paraphrased from his diaries).

So if the peace activists were Arab, they'd probably have just been murdered.

Still, if they were international, it would probably the same in any case. Don't forget the same sectors who carried out or covered up this massacre are basically in charge now in Israel (the career line is complex), and they also were carrying out international terrorist bombings directed at western civilian targets in Egypt (private cars, theaters, shops, libraries etc).

They also instigated the practice of hijacking airliners with civilian passengers - that was also in the 50's.

A few other cases: they also were murdering teenagers for "revenge" (admitted and lauded by current PM Sharon), committing espionage in neighbouring countries with cross-border raids, and slaughtering the residents of an entire Arab village (actually carried out by current PM Sharon, and compared to Lidice in the Jewish and American press).

So, if you take all the above, I don't really see that Israel would have had any moral or tactical problem whatsoever with shooting at peace activists, if they had existed. In fact, given the record, that would have been quite a restrained response.

[_Jumper_]

18. Are people not allowed to go outside during curfews?

n/t

[tinnypriv]

20. It can depend on the commander on the ground

However, the standard practice is that no-one is allowed outside, period.

See: http://www.btselem.org/English/Publications/Summaries/Lethal_Curfew_2002.asp

[_Jumper_]

36. Wow

Thanks!

[Gimel]

38. Isn't that

the point of a curfew? If it was not inforced, there would be no curfew. Usually it's for the protection of the innocent as well.

[Resistance]

54. Shooting peace activists in the head

is not legitimate "enforcement" of a curfew.

[Comadreja]

15. Revealing quote from CIA on the Press

"We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know, and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows." : Katherine Graham: Speech to CIA recruits in 1988

[Resistance]

17. That is really scary

It seems we the people have no control anymore.

:scared:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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[Gimel]

37. What does this have to do with I/P?

Rather an offhand statement.

[Resistance]

46. It's a reference to my post #1 on this thread

I was interested in the fact that an American peace activist was deliberately shot in the face by Israeli troops, yet he can't get his story out to the American media, because there is a total whitewash of Israel's murders of ISM workers going on.

Axel, I assume, was reinforcing the idea of the whitewash of these murders by quoting the speech to CIA recruits that "democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows"

[Gimel]

47. Like what's her name

and that young English fellow, so-and-so. And wasn't there another one? What about the English kid al-Qaeda member who helped blow up Mike's place? Sure don't remember names, however.

[Resistance]

53. can't help you with names

since you don't seem to know them either.

I'm talking about the ISM peace activists Israel has murdered and shot - Rachel Corrie, Tom Hurndall, Brian Avery, and many others. There is a complete whitewash of these Israeli crimes here in the U.S.

[Gimel]

55. That's them!

I'm amazed that you know their names so well.

Actually, after all those articles posted (must be zillions all over the net) on them, I tend to disagree with you. Maybe you don't count that as media. I do.

[Resistance]

56. isn't it a tragedy

that articles continue to be written which call attention to the fact that Israel gets away with murdering peace activists in cold blood?

It's really terrible.

[Comadreja]

35. Know what some of the CONservatives are calling ISM?

International Speedbump Movement, in honor of Rachel Carrie. Sick MFs.

"The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." : Samuel P. Huntington

[Forkboy]

49. I'm suprised some of the posters here haven't used that

though I bet they do on other sites.

[drdon326]

51. International Speedbump Movement ??

Noooo way. lol

[Forkboy]

52. sad