The latest survey of the Isreali people shows the majority want the creation of a Palestinian state on pre 1967 borders, and an end to illegal settlements. The Isaeli government is therefore out of touch with its own people, as they continue to confiscate land and build settlements, and not about to offer pre 1967 borders for a Palestinian state, nor do they want one at all.

I spent 3 days with people active in Israel to end occupation and settlements. They were wonderful committed people for peace, but have been marginalized by the controlled press, and the propaganda around the ‘war on terror’. Only last week they had a peaceful demonstration of around 400 people, until the police decided to beat up some of the demonstrators, including a friend of mine. He was filming the event for Indymedia, and after beating him smashed his camera to pieces. The demonstration was never reported on, nor will one that is meant to be happening today, led by a group called ‘Peace Now’, which hopes to get around 30 000 people attending. Another group of arab and jewish Israelis is heading for a checkpoint into Gaza to protest against the imminent invasion of Gaza, and there are likely to be casualties, the army usually targeting the arab contingent more than the jewish.

Indymedia Israel, where I spent much time while in Tel Aviv, has been trying to get information to the public, which they are not recieving in mainstream media. They have many attacks by right wing groups, and had their computers hacked into and information destroyed, prior to them putting up a firewall. One woman I met had her flat searched, looking through documents and stealing a few items. They all know the authorities monitor them, individually and through Indymedia, but they continue their work anyway. Many are ostrasized by family and friends as well for their actions, and moreso as they are ‘refuseniks’, refusing to serve when called up to the army.

I attended a university open day at Tel Aviv University, where one of my good friends attends. I met some of the refuseniks who were handing out leaflets on the street, a passer by abusing them. Asking why they were not demonstrating on campus, I was told they were band from doing so by the University authorities, even though a group of professors had recently written a public letter in support of their actions. I was also told how hard it is to have demonstrations at the university at all, requiring a permit which takes time and may not be agreed to.

We then entered the campus. A rock band was about to play, as I was bombarded by corporate logos hanging from buildings, around stalls, and worn by many students and workers selling food and materials. One could buy anything from scuba gear to perfume. There epitomy of this was when i saw a group of women in white holding placades. But they were not demonstrating. They were selling- perfume. The voice of youth had become anaesthetized and converted into a voice for the corporations and capitalism. Only 40 km away a war raged on, while Israelis students basked inside the light of the corporate bubble, listening to music none of which had a political message. Asking if there was any musicians or artists trying to fight fascism and end the occupation, I was told very rarely. People were scared to speak out, the rock bands were not rich and self sufficient enough to survive the reaction that would result against them, and so there was silence. One very well known Israeli singer, who recently spoke out against the occupation and illegal settlements has been hounded by lobby groups, and she has received death threats if she decides to go ahead with a planned concert in Jerusalem this weekend.

I was also told that many Israelis have left the settlements, most going there because the housing was subsidized by the government and they were given tax breaks. Those remaining tend to be foreign settlers, a large proportion from the USA. As settlements are still being built in Palestine and land confiscated, the same thing is happening inside Israel, the government continues to confiscate land and housing from the Israeli Palestinians, and attacks occur against them from right wing extremists.

The war here has other costs too. Forty percent of their GNP is spent on the military, and an added war tax has just been imposed, all resulting in less money for health, education and social security ( payments of which end after 3 months unemployment). The economy has slowed, partly due to the lack of tourists. There is also the fact that the military is institutiionalized in society, and so even harder for anyone to step out of and refuse support, along with the negative of militarization on society in general.

I loved my new friends and was so glad I was able to spend time with them, wishing I could have stayed longer. I felt for them in many ways, living under fascism, intimidation, a government controlled press, harrassment by right wingers, monitoring by Shin Bet, and their isolation from family, friends, and internationals. I would recommend anyone thinking of going to Palestine to help fight occupation and abuse of human rights, to also visit the Israelis working inside Israel for the same thing. There is much they can learn from your experience in Palestine, and much you can learn from them about their struggle. And, like their Palestinian neighbours, they are wonderful, kind and giving people, who I miss very much. Lamenting the demise of the university for freedom of speech and political activity, I hoped the activists could one day break through the corporate anaesthesia of the young, and to challenge the propaganda they are fed. They are this country’s future, not old people like Sharon, and I believe that change will only come from pressure from this generation, through activism, music and the arts. I think they need our support, and internationals can help, but ultimately it needs to come from within. And, after meeting those I did, I believe that one day this will happen, a day when the young will challenge and rise up against the authority of the state, and of the generations above them, to face the fear and the power that stops so much activism, in what could be a wonderful country.