Operation Wake Up! » Israel

Israeli Refusenik speaks in Halifax

David Parker — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:22:38 +0000

Click here to listen: [mp3, 21 MB, Variable kbps]

Amir Locker-Biletzki is a former soldier in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). In 2002, he co-founded the ‘Courage to Refuse’ campaign. By refusing to perform his reservist work during the height of the 2nd intifada, he subsequently served jail time, and inspired other to refuse to serve in the IDF, a movement now known as ‘Refuseniks’.

Amir spoke with CKDU before his public presentation in Halifax, on Tuesday, April 6th, at the University of King’s College.

Netanyahu reacts to organ harvesting charge

Moustafa Youssef — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:48:47 +0000

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded official condemnation of an article in Sweden’s popular Newspaper Aftonbladet that suggested that Israeli Defence Forces were killing Palestinians they captured in the occupied Palestinian territories to harvest their organs. The article, published Monday, also implied a link between the recent arrest in the US of an American Jew for illicit organ trafficking. Palestinian news agency Ma’an published a report titled, ”Disappearances, Holding Bodies, Organ Theft- Intertwined Crimes” over the weekend backing the same organ harvesting allegations. Many Arab newspapers also publicized the story.

A spokesman from the Israeli interior ministry said it was freezing the issue of entry visas to Swedish journalists. The newspaper commented on its story on Sunday noting that although there is no evidence of any organ theft, the story deserved publication because of the serious issues it raised. The Swedish foreign minister is expected to pay a visit to Israel soon but has already noted that he will not be apologizing for the article.

Halifax rallies behind Gaza

David Parker — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:42:24 +0000

For the full 12 minute audio report, click here.

Citizens around the world are taking to the streets in opposition to the recent Israeli military invasion of Gaza. Grassroots movements have mobilized people in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, acting together on co-ordinated international days of action.

In Canada, cities across the country organized their own rallies, marches, and demonstrations, including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, and other cities, some demonstrations numbering in the tens of thousands of participants.

Since December 27, 2008, over 1100 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 5000 have been wounded, the majority civilians.

In Halifax last week, rallies on Friday and Saturday drew a combined 300 demonstrators out on the streets, denouncing the on-going occupation of Palestine and the gross escalation of Israeli violence that has drawn the world’s attention.

For many Palestinian Canadians in the crowd, the killing in Gaza hits very close to home. Many members of the crowd had family in Gaza, and were worried for the safety of their loved ones.

This audio report features interviews with local Palestinians, and visiting Israeli Jewish peace activist Jeff Halper.