Peace Activists Convicted In Israel

Peace Activists Convicted In Israel

Yesterday, 30 March 2005, two Israeli peace activists were convicted for their non-violent civil disobedient actions against the Occupation.

Neta Golan and Shelly Nativ, were arrested in April 2001 for their attempts to stop the Israeli military from cutting down Palestinian olive trees in the West Bank village of Deir Istiya. Golan, chained to the olive trees, was charged with disturbing a police officer and public worker, when she refused to vacate the area after it was announced a closed military zone. Nativ who sat in front of the bulldozer, was charged with disturbing a police officer.

Judge Mymon of the Kefar Saba magistrate court convicted the two for their charges yesterday. In her decision, Judge Mymon states that it makes no difference if there is a threat of violence or not in order for the military to declare an area a closed military zone. Anytime Palestinians choose to protest non-violently in areas controlled by the Israeli military, their location is announced a closed military zone.

Judge Mymon is the same judge who released settler Yehushaa Elitsur, charged with manslaughter, to house arrest last September after he shot to death Palestinian Sahel Jbara, 46, as he was approaching a checkpoint Elitsur had set up.

Last week, Rabbi Arik Asherman and Omer Uri, of Rabbis for Human Rights were convicted by Israeli Judge Freedman of disturbing the police for their actions in May and April 2003 to stop the Israeli military demolitions of Palestinian homes.

The ISM condemns the Israeli legal system's defense of war crimes committed by the Israeli military and settlers and it's criminalization of non-violent protest.

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