Combatants for Peace Clips Part 1

Former Israeli Air force Pilots share common PEACE vision with their Palestinian Counterparts
Professor Freeman Ure, Ph.D. (November 21, 2008, New York)

On the evening of November 20th, Pace University hosted two former ranking officers from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). They presented their perspectives, as shaped through on-going dialogues with their former Palestinian counterparts and adversaries. After over sixty years of bloodshed inflicted on both sides, they emphasized the fact that the asymmetric war of occupation is lop-sided in favor of Israel because it benefits so heavily from American aid. That aid is given annually in the form of substantial military hardware, intelligence, training and economic support. They cited the lobbying activities of AIPAC, the American Israeli Political Action Committee, in the United States as counterproductive to peace and the genuine interests of Israel. AIPAC ensures that the United States will continue to provide Israel all the military hardware and money it needs to pursue the path of occupation not the path of peace and thus does a disservice to Israel, they opined.
The "Combatants for Peace" movement in which the speakers Yonatan Shapira and Elik El-Hannan are among the co-founders, has posted its mission as follows: Combatants for Peace was started jointly by Palestinians and Israelis, who have taken an active role in the cycle of violence and later condemned it; Israeli members are former soldiers and officers in the Israeli army (IDF) and Palestinians are those formerly engaged in the violent struggle for Palestinian freedom. After brandishing weapons for so many years, and having seen one another only through weapon sights, we have decided to put down our guns, and to struggle for peace.

The two speakers shared a myriad of personal stories including Elik's loss of his sister to a suicide bombing in Israel and the dropping of a 2,200 pounds bomb from a helicopter on the home of a suspected leader of Hamas which resulted in the deaths of fifteen innocent Palestinian civilians including nine children and one two month old baby. They referred to this incident in 2002 as a routine daily assassination mission by the IDF forces. Although this is blatantly against international law, they stated such practice as more of a daily routine by the IDF. Both men agreed that the statement by some Israelis that they do not have a Palestinian partner for peace talks is just not true. It has been their experience that there are many Palestinians who would be excellent partners for the establishment of peace in the region.

Cont. on Combatants for Peace Clips Part 2

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Israeli
• Soldiers
• Pace University
• Combatants for Peace
• Arab Israeli Conflict
• Jewish Americans
• AIPAC
• UJA
• United Jewish Appeal
• Arab Americans
• Palestinians for peace
• President Carter

[abermuda1]

Thank you for posting such an eye-opening and fasinating program. The world would be a more peaceful place if more professors like yourself put the time and energy toward educating students, faculty and society-- as you clearly do. The accounts given by these 2 men are remarkable. They are both brave for sharing their stories and taking such a stance for peace in the middle east. Let's hope that by continuing to edify society about the peace process, that we will all one day live in harmony.

[CombatantsforPeace]

Thank you abermuda. Wish there were more people like you to appreciate the work of these wonderful men Elik and Yonaton.

[CaptainRedHat]

excellent