Israeli peace activist to speak at Democratic luncheon

The speaker at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Adam Keller, spokesperson for Gush Shalom (Hebrew for "Peace Bloc"), an extra-parliamentary organization independent of any political party. The group objects to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, and opposes Israel's policies of blockade and non-recognition of the Gaza Strip. They support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, with the Green Line as the border except for minor exchanges of territories, and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

Israel has experienced a series of large protests in recent months in response to the Netanyahu government's proposed judicial reforms, which would limit the Supreme Court's oversight powers. Many Israelis see this as a threat to democracy.

The protests began in January 2023, after the government introduced a bill to change the composition of the Judicial Appointments Committee. The bill would have given the Knesset, Israel's parliament, more control over the committee, which is responsible for appointing judges to the Supreme Court.

Protesters argued that the bill would politicize the judiciary and make it more difficult to hold the government accountable. They have also expressed concern that the bill would be used to fire the country's independent attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit.

The protests have continued since then, growing in size and intensity. In April thousands of Israelis gathered outside the home of former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, in support of him and in opposition to the government's plan to weaken the judiciary.

The protests have had a significant impact on Israeli politics. They have led to the resignation of Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, and have forced the government to delay its plans to change the judicial system.

The protests are a sign of the deep divisions in Israeli society. They also highlight the importance of the judiciary in protecting democracy.

In addition to the judicial reforms, there are other reasons why there have been so many demonstrations in Israel lately. These include the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, the rising cost of living, and the government's lackluster pandemic response.

These are complex issues, and there are no easy solutions. However, the protests show that Israelis are not afraid to speak out against their government when they feel that their rights are being violated.

Gush Shalom activists regularly confront Israeli security forces at construction sites in settlements in the West Bank, and along the Separation Barrier. Amnesty International has lauded Gush Shalom for promoting peace and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, and the American Friends Service Committee awarded the organization's founder Uri Avnery its "Profiles of Peace" award. The Haaretz newspaper publishes a weekly editorial statement by Gush Shalom in its weekend edition.

Adam Keller was born in Tel Aviv in 1955 and attended Tel Aviv University. He is a long-standing supporter of Yesh Gvul ("There is a border"), an organization of reservists who refuse to serve in the occupied territories. Adam himself served several prison terms for refusing to report for military duty in the territories occupied since 1967.

In 1988, Reserve Corporal Adam Keller was charged with insubordination and the spreading of propaganda harmful to military discipline, in that while on active duty he had written on 117 tanks and other military vehicles graffiti with the text: "Soldiers of the IDF, refuse to be occupiers and oppressors, refuse to serve in the occupied territories!" And at his army base he placed stickers reading "Down with the occupation!" on electrical pylons and inside of officer bathroom stalls.

Keller was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment. He was an active member of Yesh Gvul, but declared that he had acted on his own without consulting with anyone else. For its part, the movement did not take responsibility for his actions, but did provide his wife with the financial support given to the families of refusers.

In April 2004 Keller was a member of a Gush Shalom delegation who visited Palestinian National Authority leader Yasser Arafat at his headquarters in Ramallah to protest what they claimed was a death threat against Arafat by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Keller is the author of Terrible Days: Social Divisions and Political Paradoxes in Israel. Since 1983 he has been editor of The Other Israel, a bi-monthly newsletter of the campaign for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

This event is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Monday, July 31st, and can be attended either in person at Black Bear Diner, inside Max Casino, or online via Zoom. Mr. Keller's presentation, from Tel Aviv via Zoom, will begin after all the lunch orders have been taken, around 1:30. Those wishing to be on distribution for luncheon Zoom links should contact Rich Dunn at richdunn@aol.com.