Israel Troops Exhibit Tells of Harassment

[Scurrilous]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4162574,00.html

<snip>

"The Israeli soldiers speak with embarrassment about throwing stun grenades at Palestinian children for fun, harassing a bride and groom, and standing by as Jewish settlers vandalize Palestinians' property.

Their photos and stark testimonials are the heart of a new exhibit that tells a story of the intertwined and violent lives of the military, Palestinians and Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron."

<snip>

"More than 80 soldiers who served in Hebron got together to create the exhibit of photographs and video testimony, called "Breaking the Silence."

Organizers said the idea of the exhibit was both to come to terms with their own actions and to serve as a warning to others.

"It is only now that we realize we did some twisted things," Micha Kurz, 20, told the Maariv daily. "We can't be quiet anymore. We want every soldier to see this and to also talk about it. It must not be allowed to happen."

[CaliforniaLady]

1. The killing has gone on too long.

That sounds good that 80 soldiers are "breaking the
silence", but when does the killing stop?

The so-called "Road Map for Peace" doesn't seem to
be going to well.  

[dArKeR]

2. Photo exhibition by Israeli soldiers has army on defensive

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , TEL AVIV

When Israeli soldiers opened an exhibit this month documenting some of their own misdeeds while serving in the tense West Bank city of Hebron, they caused a brief stir.

At a photographic institute in Tel Aviv, the soldiers, all recently discharged, offer video testimony of gratuitous harassment and abuse of Palestinians, such as firing tear gas just to get a reaction. Hanging on the wall are dozens of car keys confiscated from Hebron residents, a punishment both common and unauthorized, soldiers said. And a photo taken by a soldier shows graffiti, presumably written by civilians, which reads, "Arabs to the gas chambers."

The Israeli military, which had expressed only mild dismay initially, has re-energized the debate surrounding the exhibit by confiscating the video testimony on Tuesday and calling in five soldiers for questioning on Wednesday.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/25/2003176444

Micha Kurz, 21 (The next Al Franken?)
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/photo/2004/06/25/2003138561