[IMC-Editorial] Trip of Israeli Concsientious Objectors to france

[Rotem Mor]

bounjour mon ami, 
 
My name is Rotem Mor, I am 22 and live in a small town near Jerusalem. I will be guiding a group of young Israeli Army objectors to Europe from the 24.7-14.8. 

We will be spending two weeks at Plum village (near Bordeaux, and then we'll have about a week to spend (in smaller groups) in the rest of Europe. We will probebly be 3 people staying in Paris between the 7th to 12th and then about nine afterwards.
 
I myself was a CO a few years ago and spent some time in prison for it as well (more info at: www.geocities.com/rotemmor). I think it would be realy cool if the young refusers could meet up with local activists and exchange thoughts and ideas as well as feel they are supported.
 
I have attached more information about the trip bellow. 
Looking forwards to being in touch.
Yours, 
rotem 
Planned Retreat and Speaking Tour of Young Israeli
Conscientious Objectors
 
Dear Friends, 

This summer a group of ten to fifteen 17-18 yr old
Israeli conscientious objectors will visit France for
a period of two to three weeks. We are planning to
participate in a retreat in Plum Village, near
Bordeaux, where the renowned Buddhist monk and peace
activist Thich Nhat Hanh teaches. Afterwards, in
smaller groups, we will go on a tour of France
and neighboring countries. 

Conscientious objection is a complicated and difficult
issue in Israel. Refusal to serve on grounds of
rejection of violence is recognized only for women in
practice and even for them it is a tedious process. No
other forms of political and ideological refusal are
recognized and objectors face extended periods behind
prison bars. Since the start of the current uprising
in 2000 hundreds of objectors have served prison times
ranging from a couple of months to over a year.

The core of our group formed during a seminar
organized for young women and men before their army
service. These two-day seminars, which I (Rotem Mor)
led with the help of New Profile: an Anti
militarization feminist Israeli organization, provide
young people with a safe space, information from
different sources, and the opportunity to meet and
discuss with others who are in a similar situation.
The seminars include field tours, meditation, group
discussions, talks and movies.

The group consists of eight young men, one of whom is
now imprisoned for refusing to enlist. The group was
initiated with the purpose to prepare and help young
men through the process of refusing. This group
consists of men only because the refusal process is
different and because there is much work we can do
amongst ourselves, as men, in our perception of our
world. Our meetings focus not only on practical
issues, but just as much, on our experience, as
individuals and as a group, of the refusal to serve in
the army. Our formal meetings last a couple of hours
and consist of meditation and reflection, discussion,
learning and planning.

We have been working together since November 2003 last
year. We are working to continue building a mass and
critical movement that can make a difference in our
societies. Enlarging our movement is especially important now
because the penalties for refusing to serve in the
Israeli army have dramatically increased. We want to
strengthen our supportive community to 
allow us to face these hardships.

We hope to include an equal amount of women, graduates
of the seminars, in our trip to France in order that
our group be more complete and because women and men
play an equal part refusing to serve. We are planning
to stay for two weeks in Plum Village, ending 7
August, and then divide into groups of two or three to
meet and speak with local activist communities in
various places in France and neighboring countries.
These young women and men are the future leadership of
our movement towards a sustainable peace and justice
in our country. We hope that this trip will provide
them with the needed confidence and strength.

For the success of our trip we need the help of
organizations and individuals willing to support us in
funding and organization. We need to make contact with
groups, institutions and individuals willing and able
to organize talks and host young people in France and
nearby countries (between the 8 and 12 of August). We
also welcome help in arranging transportation and
hosting. We will probably be in Paris for a few days around
the 12 August before our departure. 

 


We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support 


for furthering peace in our region.


With our best regards,

 Rotem Mor and Yael Barda
(Israel/Palestine) 

 (contact): Rotemdanmor at disinfo.net

For information about Tich Naht Hanh: http://www.seaox.com/thich.htm

for information about Plum Village: http://www.plumvillage.org
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