This is from our friend and colleague, Vicki Marantz. Her nephew is Abraham Gutman, the Israeli co-founder of an ad hoc group called “Jews and Arabs Refuse to be Enemies.”
This is how he describes his activism:
I am an Israeli student at Hunter College pursuing a joint BA/MA in economics. I grew up in Tel Aviv; when I was 18, I volunteered with the Israeli Emergency Medical Services for two years instead of [being drafted] to the IDF. I am extremely passionate about human rights, poverty reduction, and the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Check out his piece at The Huffington Post, “It Is Lonely Being an Israeli Lefty.” The following is the announcement for a silent vigil he’s co-organizing on Monday, Aug. 11, at 5 PM, near the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan:
#JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies Silent Protest NYC
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WHERE: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, New York 10017
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Join us in a silent protest of the continuing conflict between Israel and Palestine on Monday, August 11th, 2014 outside of the United Nations.
When a professional makes a mistake he or she can be held accountable for malpractice. On this upcoming Monday, we are going to hold the leaders of the world, the professionals who promised us peace and security, accountable for their failures. We will do so in a silent protest. Many leaders view the conflict between Israel and Palestine (like many other conflicts) as a fact of life. For us it is a horrific tragedy and putting an end to it should be one of the top priorities of the world leaders.
So many have died in this conflict. Their death – our failure! We will not make the same mistakes again. Many people from all over the world – Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, Palestinian, and others – have expressed dissent from the status quo of conflict, occupation, and hate, which is maintained by so many leaders. Many people both on social media and on the streets of the world have gathered to say enough!
If we are not heard when we speak up, maybe our roaring silence will be heard. Come light candles with us in the memory of those who have lost their lives in the recent war in Gaza. Come tell the leaders of the world – no more!
*more details will be provided soon – please don’t bring any national flags, we are one!
You can RSVP via Facebook at: #JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies Silent Protest NYC
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