Palestinian kid feeding pigeons on a roof in the West-Casba. Photo taken through a sniper’s rifleO site Breaking the Silence é uma iniciativa de um grupo de veteranos do exército israelita que recolheu mais de 700 depoimentos de soldados sobre as acções militares de Israel nos territórios palestinianos.
"Soldiers who serve in the Territories witness and participate in military actions which change them immensely. Cases of abuse towards Palestinians, looting, and destruction of property have been the norm for years, but are still excused as military necessities, or explained as extreme and unique cases. Our testimonies portray a different, and much grimmer picture. While this reality is known to Israeli soldiers and commanders, Israeli society continues to turn a blind eye, and to deny that which happens in its name. Discharged soldiers who return to civilian life discover the gap between the reality which they encountered in the Territories, and the silence which they encounter at home. In order to become civilians again, soldiers are forced to ignore what they have seen and done. Breaking the Silence voices the experiences of these soldiers, forcing Israeli society to address the reality which it has helped to create."
Aqui fica uma citação retirada dos relatos da operação "chumbo fundido" (OPERATION CAST LEAD - Gaza, Dezembro 2008):
ResponderEliminar"Many soldiers said that they fought without seeing "the enemy before their eyes." "You feel like an infantile little kid with a magnifying glass looking at ants, burning them," one of the soldiers testified that "a 20-year-old kid should not have to do these kinds of things to other people."
"The testimonies prove that the immoral way the war was carried out was due to the systems in place and not the individual soldier," said Mikhael Mankin from "Breaking the Silence." What was proven yesterday is that through the IDF the exception becomes the norm, and this requires a deep and reflective discussion. This is an urgent call to Israel's society and leadership to take a sober look at the foolishness of our policies."
Gostei de ver o Regador abordar este assunto israelo-palestiniano. Tenho-o acompanhado através de um site de judeus americanos que tém uma opinião semelhante à dos ex-soldados israelitas. Soube com um certo divertimento que um amigo meu que entrou nesse site recebeu uma ameaça pela net.
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