Sir.
As a group of Israeli–Jewish and Palestinian women we wish to protest thecurrent wave of attacks/threatened legal procedures etc against Gush Shalom.In sending letters to senior officers who have allegedly committed, or are likely tocommit, illegal acts in times of war, or who have given, or have executed, illegal acts intimes of war, Gush Shalom is fulfilling its function as a protest organization in ademocracy.
Unlike many other protest groups of a different political persuasion, Gush Shalom hasnot used inciteful language, has not threatened injury or harm to the recipients of theletters, nor. has the group broken any law.. Instead, they have acted in a way that anydecent organization, or individual, would do: they have protested what they perceive tobe war crimes, actual or potential, and indicated their willingness to put this perceptionto the test of law.
The recipients of the letters may, if formally accused, in time to come have anopportunity to clear their names.. If innocent, they have nothing to fear.. If guilty, is itnot appropriate that they should be brought to trial ?. Surely this is the epitome of therule of law?
At a time when we are witnessing the policies of extra-judicial executions of allegedterrorists by our government, rampant abuses of the human and civil rights and denialof provision of humanitarian aid to a civilian population under siege by Israeli armedforces,. as well as countless incidents of abuse of innocent Palestinians by invidiualsoldiers and security personnel,. we Israeli women who care about our country, feelthat Gush Shalom is a voice of moral consience in the wilderness… The witch-huntthat has arisen around.. their thoughtful and very creative action is not only absurd, itis dangerous to the very fabric of our democracy.
Yehudit Keshet,
on behalf of MachsomWatch – Checkpoint Watch, Women Againstthe Occupation.