Uri Avnery is a strong and uncompromised critic of Israeli foreign policy.
Everyone who is concerned about Israel's invasion of Lebanon should know the name of this remarkable man. Avnery is reviled by Israel's hard-right. The head of the 'Jewish National Front' Baruch Marzel has even called for Avnery's murder on the floor of the Knesset.
I'll share some of his bio and his two most recent articles in response to Israel's invasion of Lebanon.
Bio:
Uri Avnery created a world sensation when he crossed the lines during the battle of Beirut and met Yassir Arafat on July 3, 1982 -- the first time the Palestinian leader ever met with an Israeli. Several Israeli cabinet ministers called for Avnery's indictment for high treason, while peace activists hailed the meeting as a historical breakthrough. It was the culmination of an effort started by Avnery many years earlier.
Avnery was born as Helmut Ostermann on September 10, 1923, in Beckum, Westphalia. His father, member of an old-established well-to-do German Jewish family, was a private banker in Beckum, and later on a financial expert in Hannover. As a veteran Zionist, he took his family to Palestine immediately upon Hitler's rise to power (1933). In Palestine, he quickly lost the considerable capital he had brought with him, and had to do hard manual work, as did his wife.
In 1938, just before turning 15, he joined the Irgun underground (Irgun Tzwai Leumi - National Military Organization), in order to take part in the fight against the British colonial regime. He served for three years, but left the Irgun in protest against its anti-Arab and reactionary social attitudes and terrorist methods. Later he explained his attitude in a booklet entitled "Terrorism, the infantile disease of the Hebrew revolution" (1945). His only brother, Werner, a commando soldier in the British army, was killed in the Ethiopia campaign.
Click to read the rest of his bio
"Stop that shit!"
By Uri Avnery
18-7-2006
A WOMAN, an immigrant from Russia, throws herself on the ground in total despair in front of her home that has been hit by a missile, crying in broken Hebrew: "My son! My son!" believing him dead. In fact he was only wounded and sent to the hospital.
Lebanese children, covered with wounds, in Beirut hospitals. The funeral of the victims of a missile in Haifa. The ruins of a whole devastated quarter in Beirut. Inhabitants of the north of Israel fleeing south from the Katyushas. Inhabitants of the south of Lebanon fleeing north from the Israeli Air Force.
Death, destruction. Unimaginable human suffering.
And the most disgusting sight: George Bush in a playful mood sitting on his chair in St. Petersburg, with his loyal servant Tony Blair leaning over him, and solving the problem: "See? What they need to do is get Syria to get Hizbullah to stop doing that shit, and it's over."
Thus spake the leader of the world, and the seven dwarfs - "the great of the world" - say Amen.
SYRIA? BUT only a few months ago it was Bush - yes, the same Bush - who induced the Lebanese to drive the Syrians out of their country. Now he wants them to intervene in Lebanon and impose order?
Click to read the rest of the article
The Real Aim
By Uri Avnery
15-7-2006
THE REAL aim is to change the regime in Lebanon and to install a puppet government.
That was the aim of Ariel Sharon's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. It failed. But Sharon and his pupils in the military and political leadership have never really given up on it.
As in 1982, the present operation, too, was planned and is being carried out in full coordination with the US.
Click to read the rest of the article
Uri Avnery is a founder of Gush Shalom - What many consider the head and heart of the Israeli peace movement.
Uri Avnery has been around for a long time and he's been widely recognized for his peace activism. Even so, he is not nearly as well-known as he should be. He is old and he may not be around much longer, so let's give him some of the support and recognition he deserves.