Another packed Activity Centre Lounge event was held Monday, March 24. Stories Of Resistance, Tal Mitnick and Einat Gerlitz, 2 Israeli conscientious objectors to Israeli military service and to the settler colonial ethnic cleansing project in Gaza and the West Bank, came to Denman Island at the midday to speak about their path to resisting the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. Thanks to Fireweed and Melanie Murray and the other organizers for their sponsorship.
The Israeli visitors spoke of their personal stories, and how they broke from the brainwashing and propaganda of Israeli children’s education to find both compassion and friendship with their Palestinian neighbours. They spoke of hearing the sound of bombing raids in Gaza, and of seeing the small body bags containing Palestinian children, tens of thousands of which have been killed in the continuing slaughter of civilians, including journalists, doctors, nurses, and aid workers.
They also spoke of the complicity of our own Western governments, including Canada, in arming and funding these war crimes, and of how the relationship between Israel’s international influence is a reciprocal extension of Western Imperialism in the MiddleEast. Both Mitnick and Gerlitz served months in prison for resisting military service, and were later released as conscientious objectors.
Following the telling of their stories, there was a very useful question and answer session, and they received a standing ovation at the end. They had reminded us that they considered themselves privileged Israelis, with the ability to speak openly, if even under tremendous criticism and outing of their personal information, opening them to death threats by their fellow citizens. They considered these personal injuries as badges of honour.
They assured us that when they return to their home, they expect to easily move through their border customs and return to their working lives, and their continued efforts to make the necessary changes to their communities in resistance to Israeli Apartheid. They pointed out that their Arab/Palestinian neighbours enjoyed few of these same freedoms to speak out or activate publicly, for fear of the repercussions that would be brought upon them.
If this issue is important to you, or if you are looking to find kindred spirits with local activists, there is a FREE PALESTINE/DECOLONIZE B.C.! Benefit Concert on April 26 at the Back Hall at 7:00pm. This event is hosted by Denman4Palestine and the Slai-Dai-Aich Rest and Recovery Network, featuring international folk singer David Rovics, currently on his Make Planet Earth Great Again World Tour.
