Meeting of Shministim members with Bil’in Popular Committee on 13 October 2009

Friends of Freedom & Justice Bil’in
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task
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16th October 2009

Popular Committee) Haitham al-Khatib (Bil'in Popular Committee) Hamde Abu Rahma (Bil'in Popular Committee) Or Ben David (Shministim) Emelia Marcovich (Shministim)

Today, two members of Shministim, the Israeli organization of teenagers who refuse to serve in the Israeli Army, Or Ben David and Emelia Marcovich, met with the Head of the Bil’in Popular Committee, Iyad Bornat. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ideas for the Friday demonstration of 23 October 2009, which will be dedicated to the Shministim, to salute them and to continue to work together with the people of Bil’in.

Or mentions that she, together with other members of Shministim, have been coming to Bil’in many times on Fridays to protest against the Apartheid Wall alongside Palestinians and international and Israeli activists. She says that the Shministim members feel that they and the Palestinians are friends. Bil’in makes them feel like home and shows them that they can really talk to Palestinians contrary to the common belief among Israeli society that all Palestinians are terrorists and must be feared. Instead, Palestinians are human beings who are leading normal lives like the Israeli people.
 

For this reason, Or and Emelia decided to come today to meet with Iyad to brainstorm the planned demonstration of 23 October 2009. While Or will have to go to prison this coming Thursday for refusing to serve in the Army and will not be able to physically be at the demo, Emelia, on the other hand, will be joining the demonstration. Her prison term will start somewhat later.
 

Or and Emelia will also be sending out an email to all young people in Israel calling on them that they have the choice to refuse to serve in the occupation forces. Both said that they feel good being in the West Bank in the company of Palestinians.