21 mar 2016
Israeli army officers speak to Breaking the Silence director Yuli Novak as the army prevented a Breaking the Silence tour from proceeding through the occupied city of Hebron, April 4, 2014
What will the prime minister do on the day the Israeli public gets up and refuses to keep living by the sword?
Breaking the Silence has classified information in its possession. The information is so confidential that its publication could pose a genuine threat. I hope you are sitting down, because I am about to disclose that information. Just don’t tell me later on that I went first and told the gentiles or anti-Semitic foreign governments. You are hearing it firsthand from me, a silence breaker: Israel is a country that controls the lives of millions of Palestinians with no rights, and its elected officials are doing one hell of a job of keeping it from you.
There, now you know, too.
Since the previous concerted attack against Breaking the Silence in December of last year, the incitement by Netanyahu’s government and its shadow organizations have subsided a bit. But immediately following last week’s report on Channel 2, in which Breaking the Silence researchers were seen and heard speaking with a “mole” from right-wing group “Ad Kan,” Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted that “Breaking the Silence has crossed another red line, based on tonight’s Channel 2 investigation. The investigative security authorities are looking into the matter.”
And just like that, in 105 characters, Netanyahu provided the tailwind to the unfounded onslaught against human rights organizations that continue to ruffle his feathers. Exposing the reality in the occupied territories through soldiers’ testimonies — each of which are approved for publication by the IDF censor — pokes a hole in Netanyahu and his partner’s tires. For the past decade, Breaking the Silence has been exposing that which the government does not know how to deal with: a policy of never-ending occupation and control over a civilian population.
It is no coincidence that as the terror attacks have increased, Netanyahu has stepped up his attacks against leftist organizations. He is always looking for someone else to blame. Thousands of words have already been written about the government’s inability to cope with the rage of Palestinian youth; rage that is bubbling up in every possible corner and boils over every week all over Israel. And who is to blame? Arab DNA of course. It is not institutionalized, collective punishment; the arbitrary checkpoints between villages; the home demolitions and administrative detentions; a system of law that discriminates against people based on their national affiliation; or the harm inflicted on innocent people, which happens all too often. All these, in Netanyahu’s opinion, are irrelevant to our lives as Israelis. What happens in the occupied territories stays in the occupied territories.
But we all know it doesn’t work like that. And fear of this simple truth – more than the poverty report that indicates that every third Israeli child is poor, more than the increasing diplomatic isolation, the deteriorating economic situation, the high cost of living, the hospitals on the brink of collapse due to pressure and dwindling welfare services – is what keeps Netanyahu awake at night. The fear that the Israeli people will connect the dots and understand the correlation between the reality in the occupied territories and the reality in Israel; the fear that one day the Israeli public will get up and say that it is no longer willing to live by the sword. What a catastrophe that will be for Netanyahu. What will he do in the face of such demands?
But Netanyahu, after all, is just trying to survive. And that is why when he smells a threat (solely directed against his interests, of course) he strikes. It is no surprise that Breaking the Silence is a major pain in his backside. If their classified information is distributed on the streets of Israel, it will horrify every household. With the black booklets of testimonies of soldiers who chose to break their silence and talk about what they were sent to do in the occupied territories, Breaking the Silence is capable of – God forbid! – exposing what we all already know: that the occupation is untenable, and that it definitely does not remain in the occupied territories. It is precisely for this reason, and to Netanyahu’s chagrin, that Breaking the Silence will not rest until every household in Israel speaks about the occupation and about the dead end toward which he is leading us.
Dotan Greenvald served in the Nahal Brigade of the IDF and as a researcher in Breaking the Silence. Today he is pursuing a doctorate in New York on the history of Zionism. This article was first published in Hebrew on NRG.
What will the prime minister do on the day the Israeli public gets up and refuses to keep living by the sword?
Breaking the Silence has classified information in its possession. The information is so confidential that its publication could pose a genuine threat. I hope you are sitting down, because I am about to disclose that information. Just don’t tell me later on that I went first and told the gentiles or anti-Semitic foreign governments. You are hearing it firsthand from me, a silence breaker: Israel is a country that controls the lives of millions of Palestinians with no rights, and its elected officials are doing one hell of a job of keeping it from you.
There, now you know, too.
Since the previous concerted attack against Breaking the Silence in December of last year, the incitement by Netanyahu’s government and its shadow organizations have subsided a bit. But immediately following last week’s report on Channel 2, in which Breaking the Silence researchers were seen and heard speaking with a “mole” from right-wing group “Ad Kan,” Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted that “Breaking the Silence has crossed another red line, based on tonight’s Channel 2 investigation. The investigative security authorities are looking into the matter.”
And just like that, in 105 characters, Netanyahu provided the tailwind to the unfounded onslaught against human rights organizations that continue to ruffle his feathers. Exposing the reality in the occupied territories through soldiers’ testimonies — each of which are approved for publication by the IDF censor — pokes a hole in Netanyahu and his partner’s tires. For the past decade, Breaking the Silence has been exposing that which the government does not know how to deal with: a policy of never-ending occupation and control over a civilian population.
It is no coincidence that as the terror attacks have increased, Netanyahu has stepped up his attacks against leftist organizations. He is always looking for someone else to blame. Thousands of words have already been written about the government’s inability to cope with the rage of Palestinian youth; rage that is bubbling up in every possible corner and boils over every week all over Israel. And who is to blame? Arab DNA of course. It is not institutionalized, collective punishment; the arbitrary checkpoints between villages; the home demolitions and administrative detentions; a system of law that discriminates against people based on their national affiliation; or the harm inflicted on innocent people, which happens all too often. All these, in Netanyahu’s opinion, are irrelevant to our lives as Israelis. What happens in the occupied territories stays in the occupied territories.
But we all know it doesn’t work like that. And fear of this simple truth – more than the poverty report that indicates that every third Israeli child is poor, more than the increasing diplomatic isolation, the deteriorating economic situation, the high cost of living, the hospitals on the brink of collapse due to pressure and dwindling welfare services – is what keeps Netanyahu awake at night. The fear that the Israeli people will connect the dots and understand the correlation between the reality in the occupied territories and the reality in Israel; the fear that one day the Israeli public will get up and say that it is no longer willing to live by the sword. What a catastrophe that will be for Netanyahu. What will he do in the face of such demands?
But Netanyahu, after all, is just trying to survive. And that is why when he smells a threat (solely directed against his interests, of course) he strikes. It is no surprise that Breaking the Silence is a major pain in his backside. If their classified information is distributed on the streets of Israel, it will horrify every household. With the black booklets of testimonies of soldiers who chose to break their silence and talk about what they were sent to do in the occupied territories, Breaking the Silence is capable of – God forbid! – exposing what we all already know: that the occupation is untenable, and that it definitely does not remain in the occupied territories. It is precisely for this reason, and to Netanyahu’s chagrin, that Breaking the Silence will not rest until every household in Israel speaks about the occupation and about the dead end toward which he is leading us.
Dotan Greenvald served in the Nahal Brigade of the IDF and as a researcher in Breaking the Silence. Today he is pursuing a doctorate in New York on the history of Zionism. This article was first published in Hebrew on NRG.
18 mar 2016
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ישראלים – תפתחו את העיניים! עד כאן עושים סיבוב על התקשורת והציבור – אל תקנו את הספין!
זו לא פעם ראשונה שטוענים נגדנו דברים מופרכים, כי לא מצליחים להתמודד עם התוכן והמהות של העדויות שלנו – התנגדות לכיבוש והפניית תשומת הלב הציבורית למחירים המוסריים שהוא גובה מהחברה הישראלית. אז בואו נגיד את זה הכי ברור שיש: 1. אנחנו לא אוספים מידע מסווג ומעולם לא פרסמנו מידע מסווג. זו פשוט המצאה. כל העדויות שלנו עוברות דרך הגוף המוסמך שקובע מה מותר לפרסום ומה לא - הצנזורה הצבאית. 2. כבר 11 שנים אנחנו אוספים עדויות ועושים תחקירים בצורה קפדנית ורצינית. כל עדות שלנו נבדקת, מאומתת ומאושרת על ידי הצנזורה לפני פרסומה. זו בדיוק הסיבה שלמרות ניסיונות חוזרים של ארגוני ימין לחבל בעבודתנו – הם לא הצליחו עד היום. |
זו בדיוק הסיבה שהצלחנו לחשוף את כל השתולים שעד כאן שלחו אלינו.
3. כמו שיודע כל עיתונאי מתחיל- כדי לעשות תחקיר מקיף, מעמיק ורציני, כדי לאמת עדות ולוודא את אמינותה – חייבים לשאול את כל השאלות וחייבים להבין את הסיטואציה לעומקה. רק כך ניתן לאמת עדויות.
חשוב שתדעו, ברגעים אלה מתקיימת חקירה של משרד המשפטים נגד וועד מתיישבי השומרון שיצרו את עד כאן. תבינו, כספי המיסים שלכם ממנים את הרדיפה, את המרגלים השתולים, את עלילות הדם: http://news.walla.co.il/item/2944657
ארגוני המתנחלים והחברים שלהם בממשלה יעשו הכל כדי להשתיק את מי שמדבר נגד הכיבוש. לראש הממשלה אין בעיה להפוך את שירותי הביטחון לכלי פוליטי לרדיפת חיילים שמתנגדים לכיבוש - מדובר בספין מופרך בשביל שלא נתעסק בעד כמה המצב פה גרוע (טרור ברחובות, עולם שמתייאש מאיתנו, יוקר מחיה ומה לא).
זו חציית הקו האדום האמיתית והמסוכנת, ואת זה צריך לחקור.
Google translation
Israelis - open your eyes! So much to do round the media and the public - do not buy the spin!
This is not the first time things groundless claim against us, that fail to deal with the content and nature of our evidence - is resistance and directing public attention to prices it charges moral society.
So let's say it as it is clear that:
1. We do not collect information classified and never released classified information. This simple invention. All our evidence passes through the competent body determines what is allowed and what is not advertising - military censorship.
2. 11 years we have been collecting evidence and making inquiries in a strict and serious. All our evidence is reviewed, verified and approved by censors before publication.
This is precisely why, despite repeated attempts of right-wing organizations to sabotage our work - they have not succeeded to date.
That's why we've been able to uncover all the departed that sent us here.
3. As any journalist knows Mthil- to do extensive research, in-depth and serious, to verify evidence and ensure its credibility - have to ask all the questions and have to understand the situation in depth. Only in this way can be verified evidence.
It is important to know, in these moments there is an investigation of the Department of Justice against the Samaria Residents who created here. You see, your tax dollars appoint the persecution, the spies departed, the blood libel: Http://news.walla.co.il/item/2944657
Settler groups and their friends in government will do anything to silence those who speak out against the occupation. Prime Minister no problem to make the security services into a political tool to persecute soldiers who oppose the occupation - it is absurd for spin not dwell on here for a few bad situation (terrorism in the streets, world despairs of us, cost of living and what is not).
This red line real and dangerous, and it should investigate.
3. כמו שיודע כל עיתונאי מתחיל- כדי לעשות תחקיר מקיף, מעמיק ורציני, כדי לאמת עדות ולוודא את אמינותה – חייבים לשאול את כל השאלות וחייבים להבין את הסיטואציה לעומקה. רק כך ניתן לאמת עדויות.
חשוב שתדעו, ברגעים אלה מתקיימת חקירה של משרד המשפטים נגד וועד מתיישבי השומרון שיצרו את עד כאן. תבינו, כספי המיסים שלכם ממנים את הרדיפה, את המרגלים השתולים, את עלילות הדם: http://news.walla.co.il/item/2944657
ארגוני המתנחלים והחברים שלהם בממשלה יעשו הכל כדי להשתיק את מי שמדבר נגד הכיבוש. לראש הממשלה אין בעיה להפוך את שירותי הביטחון לכלי פוליטי לרדיפת חיילים שמתנגדים לכיבוש - מדובר בספין מופרך בשביל שלא נתעסק בעד כמה המצב פה גרוע (טרור ברחובות, עולם שמתייאש מאיתנו, יוקר מחיה ומה לא).
זו חציית הקו האדום האמיתית והמסוכנת, ואת זה צריך לחקור.
Google translation
Israelis - open your eyes! So much to do round the media and the public - do not buy the spin!
This is not the first time things groundless claim against us, that fail to deal with the content and nature of our evidence - is resistance and directing public attention to prices it charges moral society.
So let's say it as it is clear that:
1. We do not collect information classified and never released classified information. This simple invention. All our evidence passes through the competent body determines what is allowed and what is not advertising - military censorship.
2. 11 years we have been collecting evidence and making inquiries in a strict and serious. All our evidence is reviewed, verified and approved by censors before publication.
This is precisely why, despite repeated attempts of right-wing organizations to sabotage our work - they have not succeeded to date.
That's why we've been able to uncover all the departed that sent us here.
3. As any journalist knows Mthil- to do extensive research, in-depth and serious, to verify evidence and ensure its credibility - have to ask all the questions and have to understand the situation in depth. Only in this way can be verified evidence.
It is important to know, in these moments there is an investigation of the Department of Justice against the Samaria Residents who created here. You see, your tax dollars appoint the persecution, the spies departed, the blood libel: Http://news.walla.co.il/item/2944657
Settler groups and their friends in government will do anything to silence those who speak out against the occupation. Prime Minister no problem to make the security services into a political tool to persecute soldiers who oppose the occupation - it is absurd for spin not dwell on here for a few bad situation (terrorism in the streets, world despairs of us, cost of living and what is not).
This red line real and dangerous, and it should investigate.
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A photo from Breaking the Silence of a soldier from the 50th "Nahal" Brigade, standing guard in a Palestinian home, Hebron 2003
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said rights group Breaking the Silence had “crossed a red line" following allegations that the group collected classified information from members of the Israeli military. The PM launched the allegation shortly after Israel’s Channel 2 aired an investigative report based on video footage obtained by undercover members of right-wing NGO Ad-Khan that reportedly documented Breaking the Silence questioning members of the military on operational activities. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon meanwhile called for a criminal investigation against Breaking the Silence on accusations the group collected sensitive classified information. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely on social media accused Breaking the Silence of “blackening the face of Israel to the world" and potentially damaging state security. Breaking the Silence told Channel 2 in response to the allegations said the organization works “carefully to publish only materials approved by the military censor.” The group charged the right-wing government of attempting to silence Israeli citizens and members of the military who opposed the ongoing military occupation, pointing to the PM’s response as a cause for concern regarding the future of democracy in Israel. The incident marks ongoing targeting by right-wingers of Breaking the Silence, which collects testimonies from Israeli veterans in effort to document every day life in occupied Palestinian territory and expose Israeli war crimes. Ad-Kan, the group that collected the video footage in question, is a far-right Israeli group that “exposes” leftists and human rights activists in a self-described effort to protect “legitimization” of Israel. The group has placed moles in Breaking the Silence before to gather information on its activities. Ad-Kan in January attempted to vilify former Israeli Foreign Ministry director-general Alon Liel through video footage showing him voicing support of the group’s efforts to increase international pressure on Israel. The ex-diplomat also praised members of Breaking the Silence as ”the most moral, wisest people who... were not brainwashed by right-wing messianic propaganda.” The footage eventually led to many Israeli officials to call for his dismissal last month. Israel's right-wing government in recent months has upped pressure on NGOs that aim to protect the human rights of Palestinians. The Knesset last month approved the first reading of the "NGO transparency bill," denounced by critics as a move to delegitimize and weaken human rights organizations in Israel. Israeli watchdog Peace Now responding to the passing of the first reading by saying the bill was "a violent and discriminatory act of public shaming against those criticizing the government." Voicing concern regarding freedom of speech, the group said in a statement: "Coercing specific civil society organizations to mention their funding sources in every possible occasion is no different in principle than the wearing of special badges." It continued: "To improve Israel's image in the world, what's needed is a change in policy rather than a crackdown on dissent." |
14 mar 2016
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"Today, I fear for new soldiers who want to break their silence. I would tell them that we're in a period in our country in which we can't just sit on the fence and wait for things to happen on their own" (Ido, BtS Educational Activities Coordinator).
As soldiers who served in the occupied territories and broke our silence, we know how hard it is to share the reality we experienced there. But we also know that it's our responsibility and obligation to do so. Now it's your turn to listen. Breaking silence - final video of five -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A couple months ago a campaign was launched against us with the aim of silencing us. Strong forces have come out against us with government support and backing. |
Here we are, two months later, stronger than ever. Unapologetic. Unwavering. Daring to dream.
We speak of the occupation and of serving in the occupied territories.
The day the occupation ends we'll close our doors, but until that happens, we'll be here.
We speak of the occupation and of serving in the occupied territories.
The day the occupation ends we'll close our doors, but until that happens, we'll be here.
11 feb 2016
Attendees of an Israeli Knesset Education Committee meeting, on Tuesday, called for the dismissal of former Foreign Ministry director Alon Liel, after the official criticized the Israeli right and supported efforts to end Israel’s ongoing military occupation.
Liel, also a former Israeli ambassador to South Africa, initially came under fire in January after video footage reportedly revealed him in a meeting with members of Breaking the Silence, an Israeli organization which documents testimonies of Israeli soldiers regarding their time in service.
The recording aired Leil’s support of the group’s efforts to increase international pressure on Israel, citing such pressure as necessary because Israel’s “political system is lost.”
The ex-diplomat also praised members of Breaking the Silence as ”the most moral, wisest people who... were not brainwashed by right-wing messianic propaganda.”
Liel, also a former Israeli ambassador to South Africa, initially came under fire in January after video footage reportedly revealed him in a meeting with members of Breaking the Silence, an Israeli organization which documents testimonies of Israeli soldiers regarding their time in service.
The recording aired Leil’s support of the group’s efforts to increase international pressure on Israel, citing such pressure as necessary because Israel’s “political system is lost.”
The ex-diplomat also praised members of Breaking the Silence as ”the most moral, wisest people who... were not brainwashed by right-wing messianic propaganda.”
16 jan 2016
Yisrael Beiteinu (right-wing Israeli political party) leader Avigdor Liberman on Friday called Israeli human rights organizations B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence traitors, stating that the “left-leaning groups” were funded by the same people who finance Hamas.
The right-wing party leader said in an Israeli Channel interview on Friday January 15, that:
“As far as I’m concerned these entities are not [exercising] freedom of expression, it’s greed. They aren’t any different from Ehud Adiv or Mordechai Vanunu — they’re complete traitors.”
Ehud Adiv was found guilty of treason in the 1970s for traveling to Damascus, in Syria, to meet with members of the PLO, while Mordechai Vanunu was found guilty of the same charge for disclosing nuclear secrets to the British press.
According to the Israeli media, Liberman’s remarks came amid a growing debate over a bil lproposed by Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party requiring certain Israeli non-governmental organizations to publicly declare their foreign government funding.
The so-called NGO Law or Transparency Law would require all Israeli groups that receive half or more of their budget from foreign governments — which is true for many left-wing but few right-wing groups — to disclose their foreign benefactors.
“With all our desire to stay politically correct and be polite, there are things that need to be told as it is. There’s [cash] flow from the institutions most hostile to Israel. Not just the European Union, not just states. Also those same foundations that fund Hamas, they also fund B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence,” Liberman added.
Also, member of the Knesset earlier this week released a bill that seeks to turn the Breaking the Silence organization illegal. They described Breaking the Silence as “a subversive organization acting to change Israeli policy by non-democratic methods and by exerting international pressure that causes Israel damage.”
In the other hand, due to a lot of criticism from the Israeli media, former Israeli soldiers from Breaking the Silence said in recent weeks that they are only trying to expose the reality of IOF actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.The group added that its mission is essential to stopping violence in the region by helping to end the military occupation of the Palestinian territories. Members of the organization are trying to draw public attention to issues that are not covered by Israeli media and are not made public.
Last week, a fire broke out at B’Tselem’s office in Jerusalem. None of their staff were in the building, but people working on other floors had to be evacuated by the fire brigade.
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem, endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.
According to its website, B’Tselem acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and ensure that its government, which rules the Occupied Territories, protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.
The right-wing party leader said in an Israeli Channel interview on Friday January 15, that:
“As far as I’m concerned these entities are not [exercising] freedom of expression, it’s greed. They aren’t any different from Ehud Adiv or Mordechai Vanunu — they’re complete traitors.”
Ehud Adiv was found guilty of treason in the 1970s for traveling to Damascus, in Syria, to meet with members of the PLO, while Mordechai Vanunu was found guilty of the same charge for disclosing nuclear secrets to the British press.
According to the Israeli media, Liberman’s remarks came amid a growing debate over a bil lproposed by Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party requiring certain Israeli non-governmental organizations to publicly declare their foreign government funding.
The so-called NGO Law or Transparency Law would require all Israeli groups that receive half or more of their budget from foreign governments — which is true for many left-wing but few right-wing groups — to disclose their foreign benefactors.
“With all our desire to stay politically correct and be polite, there are things that need to be told as it is. There’s [cash] flow from the institutions most hostile to Israel. Not just the European Union, not just states. Also those same foundations that fund Hamas, they also fund B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence,” Liberman added.
Also, member of the Knesset earlier this week released a bill that seeks to turn the Breaking the Silence organization illegal. They described Breaking the Silence as “a subversive organization acting to change Israeli policy by non-democratic methods and by exerting international pressure that causes Israel damage.”
In the other hand, due to a lot of criticism from the Israeli media, former Israeli soldiers from Breaking the Silence said in recent weeks that they are only trying to expose the reality of IOF actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.The group added that its mission is essential to stopping violence in the region by helping to end the military occupation of the Palestinian territories. Members of the organization are trying to draw public attention to issues that are not covered by Israeli media and are not made public.
Last week, a fire broke out at B’Tselem’s office in Jerusalem. None of their staff were in the building, but people working on other floors had to be evacuated by the fire brigade.
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem, endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.
According to its website, B’Tselem acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and ensure that its government, which rules the Occupied Territories, protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.
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