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Gay Israeli Jew defends Palestinians, builds bridges

Help save Ezra Nawi from jail

Peter Tatchell

Friday, 14 August 2009

Ezra Nawi is a human rights defender of conscience and courage. On 16 August, he will be sentenced by an Israeli court. 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. I'm urging people to join the email campaign to press for the dropping of all charges against Ezra.An Israeli Jewish plumber, aged 57 and openly gay, Ezra 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.

"Being gay has made me understand what it is like to be a despised minority," explained Ezra. Speaking of the harsh anti-Palestinian policies of the Israeli authorities, he laments: "They can steal their land, demolish their homes, steal their water, imprison them for no reason and at times even kill them. I'm here to change reality. 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 said.

Several years ago, Ezra had a relationship with a gay Palestinian refugee, Fuad Mussa. Fuad fled the West Bank, fearing 'honour killing' because of his homosexuality. Ezra was convicted on charges of allowing his partner to live illegally in Israel. Fuad was jailed by the Israelis. Because of Ezra's human rights work, Israeli settlers, police and soldiers have subjected him 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," reports Ezra.

Ezra is a member of Ta'ayush Arab-Jewish Partnership. Ta'ayush 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. 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.
Watch the film here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysIaQUJWBdk

The arresting officers did not mention any assault in their initial statements. 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. 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.

Three things that you can do to help Ezra Nawi

1) Sign the petition against Ezra being jailed
www.freeezra.org

2) Protest to the Israeli Embassy
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Sherut/IsraeliAbroad/Continents/

3) If in the UK you can ask your MP and MEP to protest to the Israeli Ambassador, Ron Prosor. You can email your MP and MEP direct via this website
www.writetothem.com

www.petertatchell.net