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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Commentary Home page  back Print  Send To friend Israeli citizen Leehee Rothschild riting to James Blake Israeli citizen Leehee Rothschild -January 13, 2012--Israeli citizen writing to James Blake Friday, January 13, 2012 James, it`s late Friday night, and I`m writing this in order to tell you just a bit about my day today. Like every Friday I made my way to the West Bank, to participate in the weekly protests against the wall and the occupation. This Friday I went to the village of Bil`in. Today we`ve had a special demonstration, marking a year to the death of Jawhar Abu Rahma, a 37 year old school teacher, killed by the tear-gas that the Israeli soldiers are throwing in abundance at peaceful protestors. Less than a year beforehand, Bassem, Jawhar`s brother was also killed by the Israeli soldiers, as he was shouting and begging them not to shot, since it`s a non-violent demonstration, and while he was trying to tend to an injured girl, they shot a tear-gas canister directly into his chest. The Israeli army commemorated Jawahar`s death, as well, today. They commemorating it by shooting at us, non-violent protestors, from three different directions at once, making 300 people suffocate from tear-gas, injuring 4 with rubber bullets. This is how the state of Israel deals with non-violent resistance to its apartheid regime. It deals with it with tear-gas and rubber coated bullets, with skunk water and live ammunition, with night raids and arrests. I`m not asking you to come and stand in the front line with us. I`m not asking you to come and face the Israeli soldiers, risking your freedom and risking your life, like so many Palestinian, Israeli and international activists do week after week. All I`m asking you to do, all we`re asking you to do, is to take a day off. Cancel your show in Israel. Don`t be a pawn in the hands of the Israeli propaganda. Don`t help sustain a regime of apartheid and occupation. Side with the Palestinian popular struggle, side with resistance to oppression, boycott Israel, and side with freedom! Links to the latest articles in this section Is there still a chance to break the cycle of revenge and bloodshed? Israelis Against Apartheid Statement Following ICJ Hearing Three weeks into the Gaza War - a somber and sober assessment, with some historical perspectives