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Gay Israeli Jew Defends Palestinians, Builds Bridges … and Faces Jail

Ezra Nawi faces jail next week for opposing Israel’s “illegal demolition” of Arab homes
 

■ Ezra Nawi faces up to 10 months in jail. photo courtesy Ezra Nawi

LONDON, August 7, 2009  –  Ezra Nawi, a 57-year old Israeli Jewish plumber who is openly gay, is facing up to 10 months in jail for non-violently resisting Israel’s demolition of Palestinian home in the occupied West Bank.

And today, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is urging people to join an email campaign to press for the dropping of all charges against Mr. Nawi.

“Ezra Nawi is a human rights defender of conscience and courage,” Mr. Tatchell said this afternoon.  He added that Mr. Nawi will be sentenced by an Israeli court on August 16.

“He is facing up to 18 months imprisonment for non-violently resisting Israel’s illegal demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and for peacefully defending Palestinian famers who are being driven off their land by Israeli settlers,” said Mr. Tatchell.

Mr. Nawi has played a prominent role in defending poor and vulnerable Palestinians, many of them Bedouin.

“By supporting the human rights of the Palestinian people as an out gay man, Ezra is probably doing more than anyone else to undermine homophobia in Palestine.  He is a bridge-builder.

“His life shows the possibility of unity, solidarity and respect between gays and straights in Palestine and Israel,” said Mr Tatchell.

Mr. Nawi said that being gay has made him understand “what it is like to be a despised minority”.

“They can steal their land, demolish their homes, steal their water, imprison them for no reason and at times even kill them,” he lamented of the harsh anti-Palestinian policies of the Israeli authorities.

“I’m here to change reality,” he said.  “The only Israelis these people know are settlers and soldiers.  Through me they know a different Israeli.  

“And I’ll keep coming until I know that the farmers here can work their fields,” he promised.

Several years ago, Mr. Nawi had a relationship with a gay Palestinian refugee, Fuad Mussa who fled the West Bank, fearing ‘honour killing’ because of his homosexuality.

Mr. Nawi was convicted on charges of allowing his partner to live illegally in Israel, while Mr. Mussa was jailed by the Israelis.

As a result of his human rights work, Israeli settlers, police and soldiers have subjected Mr. Nawi to a torrent of homophobic abuse.

“They did not hesitate to out me as a gay man; indeed, they spread rumours among the Palestinians with whom I work that I have AIDS,” he explained.

Mr. Nawi is a member of Ta’ayush Arab-Jewish Partnership which promotes cooperation, unity and solidarity between Israelis and Palestinians.

“Opposing racism, segregation and discrimination, it works for the goals of peace, justice and equality for all,” said Mr Tatchell.

“For eight years, Ezra has befriended and supported poor Palestinian farmers in south Hebron, on the occupied West Bank.  The land they bought decades ago is under threat by aggressive, expansionist Israeli settlers, some of whom have been filmed beating up Palestinians in a bid to drive them off their land, so they can seize it for themselves.

“In March this year, Ezra was convicted of assaulting a police officer during a protest in February 2007 over the demolition of Palestinian houses on land at Um El Hir that the Palestinians claim is lawfully theirs.

“Film of the protests and of Ezra’s arrest, which was broadcast on Israel’s Channel 1, shows no assault. It shows passive resistance only,” Mr. Tatchell pointed out.  The footage can be viewed on YouTube HERE.

“The arresting officers did not mention any assault in their initial statements,” Mr. Tatchell claims.

“Ezra admits he shouted and lay in front of the bulldozer, but insists he is committed to non-violence and did not strike the officers.  He is a pacifist.  Everyone who knows him says he would never raise a hand against anyone.

“He is subject to almost round-the-clock surveillance and harassment by the Israeli military,” Mr. Tatchell continued..  “His plumbing business has been audited, and he was handed a huge tax bill that he disputes.  He believes that his phone calls are monitored, and soldiers shadow his every move.

“Despite this intimidation, Ezra remains undeterred.  His commitment to justice for the Palestinians is as strong as ever.

“He is pure inspiration; a truly heroic defender of human rights.  I urge people to lobby the Israelis to drop all charges against him,” said Mr Tatchell.

Three things that you can do to help Ezra Nawi:

1) Sign the petition against Ezra being jailed HERE

2) Protest to the Israeli Embassy in your country (Click HERE for addresses etc).

3) Ask your MP and MEP to protest to the Israeli Ambassador, Ron Prosor.  You can email your MP and MEP direct via this Website.  For those outside the UK, press you elected representative to make representation to the Israeli Ambassador in your country.

SEE ALSO

Unlikely Ally for Residents of West Bank.  By Ethan Bronner.  Ezra Nawi was in his element. Behind the wheel of his well-worn jeep one recent Saturday morning, working two cellphones in Arabic as he bounded through the terraced hills and hardscrabble villages near Hebron, he was greeted warmly by Palestinians near and far. (New York Times, June 27, 2009)

 

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