Activists are Disrupting the Israeli Occupation From Within
Dear Friend,
Mattan here. I spent 110 days in prison for refusing conscription into the Israeli army. As a staff member in RSN, I am writing to tell you what we support today. As part of our mid-year campaign, I am writing to tell you we need $60,000 to continue providing crucial support for the growing needs of the anti-occupation movement. From capacity building and strategising to financial support, legal aid, and amplification, we, the RSN community, are here for them. Let's show them Friend that we are here to support them, the resistance from within.
Resisting the genocide in the last few years has once again showed us how poweful it is when many people decide to refuse and how it can force Israel to change direction. Without active soldiers, there can be no occupation nor genocide – which is why we have always supported refusers and will always continue to do so.
Beyond refusal, I am so inspired looking at the different groups we support: a coalition leading street protests against Jewish settlements in Palestinian lands, collectives doing sit-ins and blocking main roads to protest the war, and an embargo campaign.
In the past few years, during the genocide, our activities expanded to support also other forms of nonviolent struggle and civil disobedience against the occupation of Palestinian lands. This happened because only a small part of the population, those in active service or just before it, can refuse military service. During the genocide in Gaza, it was clear to us that resistance by other parts of the society is crucial – and that those undertaking it needed our support, your support. This change happened gradually over the past few years, and recently, as we mentioned in our last newsletter, we have even (slightly) changed our name from Refueser Soldiarity Network to Resistance Solidarity Network – to better reflect this growth.
One of the amazing coalitions we’re now proud to support is the “Peace Partnership”, a coalition of over 60 Jewish and Palestinian organizations that was able to mobilize the anti-occupation movement after the 7th of October and during the current so-called ceasefire. They organized the largest anti-war protests in recent years, solidarity days with Palestinians, protests against settlers' violence, webinars with Francesca Albanese and took part in many other actions. Additionally, in their protests, there were calls for an arms embargo as the Israeli occupation depends on arms and support from the international community.
We also support other activist groups and initiatives. We support activists who blocked roads and governmental buildings as a protest against the occupation. Their actions disrupt the “business as usual” of the occupation-war machine, making it difficult to continue the status quo, and for people to ignore what’s happening on the other side of the fence.
In these days of violent ceasefire, the occupation continues and is getting worse while the attention of the world is shifting away. We need wider tactics of resistance to bring an end to the occupation. We need to reorganise, remobilise, and act in any possible way that disrupts the occupation. This is why we need your help in raising $60,000 to continue supporting this crucial work. Your support will make it possible. Join us in supporting resistance from within.
In solidarity,
Mattan Helman
Team Manager
Resistance Soldiarity Netowrk