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DESCRIPTION:May 15 International Conscientious Objectors' Day:\n\nFree the Israeli 
 Refuseniks! \nEnd the Occupation!\nFree Illegally Detained 
 Palestinians!\n\nJoin us on May 15, 2003 for a Rally \nand Press Conference 
 in front of \nIsraeli Consulates Internationally!\n\nIn San Francisco:\nMay 
 15, 2003\n456 Montgomery Street\n12 Noon\n\n\nIsraeli Conscientious 
 Objectors proclaim,\n"We will no longer help to dominate, expel, starve and 
 humiliate an entire people."\n\nThe Situation:\n\nThe U.S. war on Iraq and 
 the escalating violence in Palestine are all part of \nthe same ongoing war 
 waged for economic gain and political control at the \nprice of enormous 
 human suffering.  The conscientious objector \nmovement links 
 \nPalestinians, Israelis, Jewish Americans, youth, and the antiwar 
 \nmovement; \nuniting and strengthening our movement with the power of a 
 young \nperson's \nrefusal to fight an unjust war.\n\nIsraeli reservists 
 and high school seniors are refusing to serve in \nthe \nOccupied 
 Territories and oppress the Palestinian people. Some are \nrefusing to 
 \nserve in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) altogether.\n\nIt is estimated 
 that since the 29th of March 2002, 15,000 \nPalestinians have \nbeen 
 detained, 5,270 of whom remain in prison.  Of these, 1,140 \nPalestinians 
 \nare under administrative detention meaning they have not had a trial, 
 \nand are \nimprisoned without charges being brought against them.  224 
 \nPalestinian \nchildren are currently held in Israeli prisons and 
 detention centers \ninside \nIsrael and in the West Bank (B'tselem, The 
 Israeli Information Center \nfor \nHuman Rights in the Occupied 
 Territories).\n\nIsraeli Conscientious objectors have declared, ¡°We will 
 no longer \nhelp to \ndominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire 
 people."  Yet, for \nthis they \nare being abused and imprisoned and their 
 democratic rights denied.\n\nIn Israel, six refuseniks are awaiting trial 
 in late May in front of \na \nmilitary court. They face three-year prison 
 sentences.  In addition, \nsix new \nobjectors have just recently been 
 jailed.\n\nOn April 1, 2003, U.S. marine Stephen Funk publicly declared his 
 \nconscientious \nobjection to the war on Iraq, "I refuse to kill¡­ it is 
 impossible to \nachieve \npeace through violence." Calls to the GI Rights 
 Hotline have doubled \nsince \n2002.\n\nThe refusenik movement is growing 
 and subsequently these peace \nactivists are \nbeing treated with harsher 
 and harsher consequences.\n\nTheir courage, their willingness to speak out 
 publicly at great risk \nto \nthemselves, has breathed new life into the 
 Israeli peace movement. \nBut \nconscientious objectors in Israel, the U.S. 
 and throughout the world \nurgently \nneed our support.  Join us in sending 
 a message to the Israeli and \nU.S. \ngovernments that we will not stand by 
 while the brutality of \noccupation \ncontinues and those who call for 
 peace are imprisoned.\n\n----------\n\nJoin us, refuseniks and local peace 
 activists, in bringing our \npetition to \nIsraeli consulates on May 15, 
 International Conscientious Objectors' \nDay:\n\nWe demand, that all 
 refuseniks be immediately freed!\n\nWe demand, that Israel recognize 
 conscientious objection as a \ndemocratic \nright,\n\nWe demand, a full and 
 unconditional withdrawal of Israeli troops from \nthe \nOccupied 
 Territories.\n\nWe demand, the release of all illegally detained 
 Palestinians.\n\nThese actions in the United States have been sponsored 
 by:\n\n* Revolution Youth \n* Yesh Gvul \n* A Jewish Voice for Peace \n* 
 Global Exchange \n* International Solidarity Movement Support Group \n* 
 TIKKUN Community\n* Middle East Children's Alliance\n* War Resisters League 
 West\n* Bay Area United for Peace and Justice\n* Not In Our Name- Bay 
 Area\n* Refusenik Parents' Forum \n* Central Committee for Conscientious 
 Objectors \n* Tzedek\n* Freedom Socialist Party\n* Socialist Organizer\n* 
 Bay Area United Against War\n\nFor Resources & Updates on the May 15th 
 protest action, please 
 visit:\n\nwww.refusersolidarity.net\n&\nwww.wri-irg.org\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/02/03/19853.php
SUMMARY:Israeli Consulate Rally: International Conscientious Objectors' Day:
LOCATION:Israeli Consulate\n456 Montgomery Street\n
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/02/03/19853.php
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