In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

AMERICAN MUSLIMS FOR JERUSALEM

There is a small but important phenomenon regarding Israeli occupation
soldiers refusing to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  They are vocally
opposing occupation, writing letters saying that Israel's actions in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip are "illegal and immoral" and refusing to serve Israel's
occupation.  AMJ released the following media release today drawing attention to this
important issue because it has received almost no attention in the United
States.

AMJ is asking you to take a few minutes both today and tomorrow and do the
following:

1.  Find your local newspaper and/or TV station by going to
(http://www.cair-net.org/html/capwiz.html) and clicking on "Guide to the Media"

2.  There, you will find editors of your media outlets.

3.  Copy and paste AMJ's media release below and send it your local Editors.
Tell them that a growing number of Israeli air force pilots and army officers
and reservists have been refusing to serve Israel's occupation and you ask
that they cover this important story.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  AMJ at (202) 548-4200 or [log in to unmask]

Joining Rebellion by Army Reservists and Officers
Israeli Pilots Refuse to Bomb Palestinian Cities

(Washington, DC, 9/26/03) American Muslims for Jerusalem today welcomed the
decision by a group of twenty seven Israeli pilots who refuse to continue
participating in the bombing and killing of Palestinian civilians in the
occupied territories.  "It is encouraging that the Israeli occupation's own
pilots are refusing orders to attack Palestinian civilians.  At the same
time,
it is disturbing that apologists for Israel's actions in our Administration
and
Congress have not found similar courage to say enough is enough," said AMJ
Executive Director Khalid Turaani.

The air force pilots signed a letter pledging their refusal to take part in
aerial attacks on populated Palestinian areas or in any future assassinations

of Palestinians.  The letter said in part that bombing Palestinian cities and

assassinations are "illegal and immoral" and "are the direct result of an
extended occupation that is corrupting the Israeli society as a whole." The
Air Force Commander-in-Chief issued an order to ground the pilots.

The pilots' rebellion follows dozens of Israeli assassinations of
Palestinians
in densely populated Palestinian cities, which have killed and wounded
hundreds of Palestinian civilians and destroyed homes, buildings, and infrastructure
throughout the occupied territories.  One of the most notorious Israeli
assassinations was on 23 July, 2002 when Israeli pilots dropped a two thousand
pound bomb on an apartment building in a densely populated residential
neighborhood in Gaza. Without a trial, Israel's target Salah Shehadeh was killed, along
with 16 other Palestinians, including 11 children.  Tens of other Palestinian
civilians were wounded.  Sharon dubbed the attack a "great success."

The pilot rebellion follows a growing upheaval by army reservists and
officers known as Refuseniks, now numbering 549, who have signed a letter refusing to
serve in the occupied territories on moral principles. In part, the letter
reads, "We shall not continue to fight beyond the 1967 borders in order to
dominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire people." To view letter and
signatories, see: (http://www.seruv.org.il/defaulteng.asp)

"Our Administration and Congress should take a cue from the growing number of
Israeli pilots, reservists, and officers who are screaming out that the
occupation is illegal and immoral and are refusing to serve it.  Rather than
listening to Israel's massive lobbying industry, our own government should
join with the pilots, officers, and reservists who know that there can only be
peace if they refuse to keep the wheels of Israel's occupation turning,"
Turaani concluded.

-END-

American Muslims for Jerusalem is a Washington, DC-based advocacy
organization committed to the pursuit of balanced US policies that can lead to a just and
lasting peace in the Holy Land.

208 G Street, NE | Washington, DC 20002 | (202) 548-4200 Fax (202) 548-4201 |
[log in to unmask], www.amjerusalem.org

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