Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiEzra Nawi: An Activist in Need
Every so often someone comes along who is so brave and so inspiring that you just can't sit by and remain silent when you learn they need your help.
We're writing to you today about one of these rare people.
His name is Ezra Nawi.
You've probably never heard of him, but because you may know our names, now you will know his name.
Ezra Nawi is one of Israel's most courageous human rights activists and without your help, he will likely go to jail in less than 30 days.
His crime? He tried to stop a military bulldozer from destroying the homes of Palestinian Bedouins in the South Hebron region. These homes and the families who live in them have been under Israeli occupation for 42 years. They still live without electricity, running water and other basic services. They are continuously harassed by Jewish settlers and the military.
Nawi's friends have launched a campaign to generate tens of thousands of letters to Israeli embassies all over the world before he is due to be sentenced in July. They've asked for your help.
His name is Ezra Nawi
We keep saying his name because we believe that the more people know him and know his name, the harder it will be for the Israeli military to send him quietly to jail.
And Ezra Nawi is anything but quiet.
He is a Jewish Israeli of Iraqi descent who speaks fluent Arabic.
He is a gay man in his fifties and a plumber by trade.
He has dedicated his life to helping those who are trampled on. He has stood by Jewish single mothers who pitched tents in front of the Knesset while struggling for a living wage, and by Palestinians threatened with expulsion from their homes.
He is loved by those with little power, to whom he dedicates his life, and hated by the Jewish settlers, military and police.
Now that you know Ezra, you have a chance to stand up for him, and for everything that he represents. Especially now, as Israel escalates its crackdown on human rights and pro-democracy activists.
He needs you. His friends need you. Those he helps every day need you. So please send a letter to the Consulate, to the media, to your family and friends.
Take just a moment to write your letter. Do it now. And then share his name with a friend. Do it for Ezra Nawi.
16 Comments so far
Show AllI wonder if there are any Palestinian peace activists that we need to support.
Assuming the activist is still alive...
and assuming a Palestinian peace activist has the same worth...
It is so shaming to know the government of the USA supports the fascist Israeli state. No doubt because that is what our republic has become, an outright fascist state :(
E-mail sent to add my voice against this Israeli outrage. I feel sorry for the Israeli Soliders who must do this kind of work to cause so much suffering among innocent Women and children. And Ezra is correct all that was accomplished was that what would replace these poor shacks that were once homes, will be replaced by a sea of hatred.
I don't feel sorry for these soldiers. They are adults who, if repelled by what their rogue government tells them to do, can opt out, can join the ranks of
'refuseniks'. After all, what is more important, obeying the illegal orders of a finite entity or minding the state of one's immortal soul?
I feel sorry for American soldiers.
And we should pity those who feel hate - pity giving us a sense of smug superiority.
A PIECE OF MY HEART
Got to thinking today about what people do in concert with other people and it has not been a picture that one would put in an album because of this we have repeated down through history all that we would find abhorrent, my heart lost pieces in oh so many pages of books where the greed soared and innocents lost and perished. Is there any continent that is pure? Nay and for every race or nation has there been the greed and my heart left a piece. Why is this so; why must a small portion of a species so foul its nest with things that are so fleeting in the measure of time that others are left to the outer reaches of this planet we call home? A piece of my heart goes to current pages on CD and other venues for the India farmers who perish by their own hand and force children to be adults and forego childhood, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq where being collateral is a way of death and other Arabian states have much and share not with their own, Israel, which is supposed to be a Democracy, how, when you shove your neighbor out of his home? Africa, a big piece of my heart and South America, Central America where transition takes pieces too. My home the US of A has taken a chunk and left me wondering why is this tragedy so? The heart is of love and when whole it will share with all who were, are and will be and this is where I wish my heart should be. Tony 6/10/2009
http://www.icahd.org
Where were these people when the Jews crushed the life out of Rachael Corrie?
I can't tell you that, I don't remember, but I do know what Rachael Corrie's parents are doing this Friday:
http://ijvcanada.org/upcoming-events-annual-general-meeting/
Judy Rebick (co-founder of rabble.ca) and Rachael Corrie’s parents are doing the keynote speech this year for Independent Jewish Voice (Canada). Naomi Klein did the keynote speech for them last year under the old name. Kim Elliott, the common-law wife of Member of Parliament Libby Davies, is looking after rabble.ca now.
The Israeli soldiers did not crush the life out of Ezra Nawi, like they did Rachael Corrie, they arrested him. We can still save Ezra Nawi.
Thanks for the up date. My email is on the way. I applaud you bringing attention to this case...
done - thank you cd for the posting this action alert from jewish voices for peace. thank you naomi klein /noam chomsky /neve gordon for using your voices to assist activists like ezra nawi.
...peace...
Me, too. Boycott, divest, and sanction Israel. I'm making sure that NOTHING I buy comes from Israel.
It's sickening to see the grins on the faces of the IDF soldiers after they destroy those pitiful houses. The Israelis really are the Nazis of today.
With few brave exceptions like Ezra Nawi.
E-mail sent
Naomi asks, I do.
Me, too.
Sent a letter this afternoon. E-mailed my lefty friends and family to do likewise.
Will Do!!!!!!