Verzet van binnen Israel zelf, en tegenwoordig steeds vaker van mensen die eens overtuigde zionisten waren. Dorothy Naor stuurt me bijna dagelijks berichten. Hier is er zo een: een open brief van een oude veteraan, eens kolonel in het Israelische leger, die het bedankje naar aanleiding van het zestigjarig bestaan van de staat terugstuurt. Het leger is van een verdedigingsleger een bezettingsleger geworden, zegt Dov Yirmiya.

I am attaching an English translation of an open letter by the 94 year
old peace activist, Dov Yirmiya, an ex-colonel in the Israeli army, which
was published on June 11 in Zo Haderekh, the Communist weekly.
Yirmiya’s book “My War Diary” (1983) played an important role in
mobilizing Israeli public opinion against the First Lebanese War. In
1983 he was awarded the Emil Grunzweig Human Rights Award for
his “activities promoting the welfare of civilians in Lebanon”.
Dorothy Naor

I am returning your invitation
An open letter to the Minister of Defence

I have received your elegant invitation to veterans of the 1948 war,
on the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, under the slogan:
“The State of Israel expresses its thanks to you.”

As a veteran of the 1948 war, who was already wounded in face to
face combat two weeks before the Declaration of the State, I feel
obliged herewith to return the invitation to you, as Minister of Defence.
I do so regretfully but see this as my duty.

I consider you, Ehud Barak, as one of the top military commanders
and prominent political leaders who were responsible for converting
the army from “the Israeli Defence Force” to an army of occupation
and oppression of the Palestinian people and defender of the criminal
settlements in their country.

40 years of occupation have utterly corrupted the Israeli army and all
strata of Israeli society.They are both characterized by the nationalist
‘east wind’ [the east wind brings the chamsin and locusts – C.A.] which
blows and kindles conflagrations of endless wars, which threaten our
people and land with the third and final destruction. Your share in the
responsibility for all this is enormous, and therefore I return your
invitation to you, without thanks…

Dov Yirmiya, Naharia

P.S. I sent this letter to Haaretz, but it was not printed…[D.Y.]