244 Professors and lecturers sign a statement in support of "refuseniks" by Prof. Anat Biletzki 1:31am Sun May 5 '02 anatbi@post.tau.ac.il 244 faculty members, from universities in Israel, have signed a statement supporting students who refuse to serve in the occupied territories as part of their reserve duty. The professors said they would help students who encounter academic, administrative and financial problems as a result of their refusal. print article Press Release May 4, ‏2002 244 Professors and lecturers sign a statement in support of "refuseniks" 244 faculty members, from universities in Israel, have signed a statement supporting students who refuse to serve in the occupied territories as part of their reserve duty. The professors said they would help students who encounter academic, administrative and financial problems as a result of their refusal. The incentive was begun by professors at Hebrew University, who organized 40 faculty members for their support. The Minister of Education's Pavlovian reaction - asking to indict the signatories - had an interesting effect: 200 additional faculty from other universities joined the statement, and there are additional signatories every day. The current unrest on campuses has brought further actions: an ad taken out by Hebrew University making its official stand explicit; disciplinary complaints brought against lecturers; a conference on conscientious objection at the Law School at Hebrew University; protest vigils of students and faculty at Tel Aviv University for freedom of speech. The organizers of the statement, including Prof. Motty Perry from Hebrew University and Prof. Anat Biletzki from Tel Aviv University, emphasized that help and support for objectors in no way contradicts support for reservist students. "We value the courage, the integrity, and the sacrifice of the conscientious objectors, and we're willing to display equal courage, integrity and sacrifice - in order to support and defend them," say the organizers. The enclosed statement and names of signatories have been published on the web-site of "Courage to Refuse" (http://seruv.org.il/) . Additional information: Prof. Motty Perry (Hebrew University) - 02-533 2152, 054-888494 mailto:motty@math.huji.ac.il Prof. Anat Biletzki (Tel Aviv University) - 03-681 8392, 054-852840 mailto:anatbi@post.tau.ac.il Prof. Tova Rosen (Tel Aviv University) - 03-691 0058, 050-723472 mailto:trosen@post.tau.ac.il OPEN LETTER We, faculty members from a number of Israeli universities, wish to express our appreciation and support for those of our students and lecturers who refuse to serve as soldiers in the occupied territories. Such service too often involves carrying out orders that have no place in a democratic society founded on the sanctity of human life. For thirty five years an entire people, some three and a half million in number, have been held without basic human rights. The occupation and oppression of another people have brought the State of Israel to where it is today. Without an Israeli declaration of an end to the occupation, accompanied by appropriate action--unilateral, if necessary--the present war is not being fought for our home but for the settlements beyond the green line and for the continued oppression of another people. We hereby express our readiness to do everything in our power to help students who encounter academic, administrative or economic difficulties as a result of their refusal to serve in the territories. We call on the University community at large to support them. [List of 244 signatories from Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Haifa University, Ben-Gurion University, Technion, Weizmann Institute, colleges] add your comments

Support from USA by Charles 6:40am Mon May 6 '02 address: Orlando, FL USA flfirst500@aol.com print comment I am truly heartened by the news of the brave Israeli officers who are refusing to participate in the actions of the IDF in the occupied territories. It gives hope that good sense will eventually prevail and the peoples of the Mid East can all live in peace. Charles. CentralFlorida_IMC add your comments

thanks! by young scientist 6:49pm Mon May 6 '02 print comment it is indeed a good news. Few days ago, I was asked to sign a petition against scientific collaboration wit Israeli researchers..... I was tempted... but I decided it is not the proper way.... Now I see how good was my choice.... thanks! add your comments

Peace! by Kimberly 5:23am Tue May 7 '02 print comment I learned of the Refusniks on a local news program and my heart lifted. I hope they are aware there are those of us around the world that support their fight for peace in the Middle East. add your comments