A Black Day in the Holy Land

Peace 2000 witnesses a human tragedy - We need a solution now!
By Thor Magnusson - Jerusalem 15th May 2001

An Israeli hero - fighting to end the violence:

A brave young man of Israel is fighting for peace. Peace 2000 has recognized his contribution to end the violence. Here is an extract of the speech delivered by Thor Magnusson for Peace 2000 when the Leifr Eiriksson Peace Award was presented to Gabriel Wolff who has refused to serve in the Israeli military:

The person who many of us regard as the modern time Godfather of peace, Mahatma Gandhi, said that an eye for an eye retaliation would soon make the whole world blind. These words are as true today, as they were in India in the last century.

Fortunately my nation, the Icelanders, learned this lesson a thousand years ago. The award we are presenting here today is named after Leifr Eiriksson, son of Iceland, discoverer of Vinland - the American continent in the year 1000. On the same year, when

Iceland was faced with a civil war and an invasion by a foreign power, the Vikings gathered at the Althing in an attempt to resolve their differences on religion and land disputes.

For the last thousand years, Icelanders have solved their disputes and differences in peaceful discussions at the Althing, which was originally founded in the year 930 and is now the oldest continuous legislative body on the planet. At the beginning of its meeting in the year 1000, a grave situation faced the Althing. A civil war was eminent. Christians and the traditional Viking Godic worshippers had become divided and broken their association formed 70 years earlier when the Althing was originally founded. Godic members were in great majority, but the Christians had the support of the powerful Norwegian King. Christianity was spreading throughout Europe - often through massive bloodshed.

It was at this historic meeting at the Althing in the year 1000 that Thorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, a renowned wise man and peacemaker was appointed as the Law Speaker. After days of heated debate, the Althing delegates came to a compromise which would make Christianity the religion of Iceland, but at the same time allowing private worship of the old Gods.

After having retired for some two days to his tent to carefully consider the alternatives, Thorgeir presented his proposal. Despite being a Godic worshipper himself he came forward with a controversial proposal centered upon great tolerance towards both religions. The situation was heated and he had to carefully choose his words but through his speech he appealed to all men to permanently lay down their arms and resort to solving their differences through peaceful dialogues at the Althing. This became the cornerstone of a culture of peace that has lasted ever since, apart from a brief period in the thirteenth century. While violent wars plagued the world, the Icelanders became the only nation in the world to never carry weapons. The Leifr Eiriksson Peace Award is presented to those people around the world who today carry on this culture of peace.

Other countries have followed in the footsteps of the Vikings with great success. Costa Rica abolished their military establishment some 50 years ago. Former President, Nobel Price Laureate Oscar Arias Sanches has correctly pointed out that almost in every instance a national army poses the greatest security threat to their own civilian population.

There is a growing population of war resisters in the world that in the search for a lasting peace, we must abolish the national military concept. That the long term security of our planet and peoples, the prosperity and happiness of our societies will be greatly enhanced with our lands free of armed forces. Several proposals have been made how this could be implemented, which I will not go into the details of now, but will mention one outstanding report on this issue, that is the United Nations report on Common Security by the Olav Palme Commission which was done with the participation of representatives from 16 nations around the world.

I have come here to present the Leifr Eiriksson Peace Award to an extraordinary young man who has shown both courage and extreme dedication in resistance to the use of military forces against a civilian population. He has refused to serve in the army, and has spent almost two months in prison for it. He was released from prison only yesterday, but is expecting to be arrested again this coming Sunday as he will again refuse to enlist into the military. This young man is a bold representative of war resisters, a dedicated person of high morals that is ready to stand up for his beliefs that a military solution cannot work for Israel and Palestine. That the Israeli and Palestine people must learn to become friends and together build this land into a great nation of prosperity and happiness as one family – as one part of our human family who ultimately all share the same destiny.

Letter

It is with deep honor, I present this award to Gabriel Wolff, a nineteen year old talented Israeli Musician and a man of great foresight who is wholeheartedly devoted to peace. May I please ask Gabriel to come here to accept this award for himself and as a representative for the several other young conscientious objectors in Israel that with great courage have opposed the armed forces and refused to hold a gun against their fellow citizens.


15th. May 2001. It's a day remember by the Palestinians as the 'Black Day' - the day that they lost their country to Israel. It's a human tragedy. Violence is escalating. This photograph is from a Jerusalem suburb, on the way to Ramala.	Just before Ramala, there is Ram. Israeli soldiers are on every corner.Suddenly a shot. The car in front has been hit. A father comes out with his crying daughter.	In a Ramala demonstration. It looks peaceful. Hundreds of people in the street - Israeli soldiers in the far distance. Some 100 meters apart. Suddenly shoots are fired. The people start running away.


Shot in the head. His brain is out. They fight for his life. The doctor does not expect him to live the night!	The ambulance needs cleaning. Blood being paid for what?	The family patiently awaits in the hospital. Will he survive?