Meretz USA Salutes Breaking the Silence

February-March 2008

Meretz USA is co-sponsoring the traveling photo exhibit of the Israeli veterans group, Breaking the Silence. We believe the objectives of Breaking the Silence, as well as this exhibit, are fully in keeping with the spirit of Annapolis, which has renewed direct negotiations between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to achieve peace and an end to the conflict through the creation of a peaceful Palestinian state.

The name chosen by the veterans, Breaking the Silence, underscores their intention to inform - indeed, to confront their fellow Israelis with the realities of occupation: not simply its frequent abasement of innocents, but its unavoidably corrosive effect on those required to enforce it. Their purpose is not to harm Israel as it remains in conflict with the Palestinian people, but to shed light on a too-often ignored aspect of the conflict, and in so doing, to build sentiment within the Israeli people and the larger Jewish community for actively pursuing peace. Breaking the Silence does not reject military service or counsel others to refuse such service. Breaking the Silence asks only that the Israeli and Jewish people honestly consider the impact of the occupation on the occupied and the occupier.

We take special note that many of the founders of Breaking the Silence were religious Jews serving in Hebron who honored their commitment to Judaism's moral code and the code of conduct set forth by the Israel Defense Forces, both of which require humane behavior towards adversaries. Thus declaring their loyalty to both their people and their state, Breaking the Silence serves as a forum for all IDF soldiers who wish to express their discomfort at what was required of them and their fellows in enforcing the occupation.

Because peace between the State of Israel and its neighbors, including the Palestinian people, has always been one of our movement's principal objectives - indeed, because Israel itself has always pursued peace as the best guarantor of its security - we believe that it is the obligation of American Jewry to support the process begun by the United States at Annapolis, and support the government of Israel, as the only legitimate arbiter of Israel's sovereign will, as it negotiates peace. Lest we forget what is at stake, we have chosen to support Breaking the Silence in bringing its photo exhibit to the United States so that the American Jewish community can reflect on the price both Palestinians and Israelis must pay in the absence of peace.

As progressive Zionists, we believe that the kind of Israel we support is no less important than our love of Israel and its right to exist. Indeed, it is because these young Israelis ask that Israel live up to its ideals that we know that there is a future for Zionism and the State of Israel. We honor Breaking the Silence and are proud to support their effort to touch the soul of the American Jewish community, and reinforce its support for ending the occupation and achieving peace.