Monday, July 30, 2012

How Did I Miss This?

I have been going over newspapers that somehow just piled up without regular reading.  It happens.

I spotted this in Haaretz:-

A former Israeli soldier, who was residing in the Deheishe refugee camp near Bethlehem, was recently arrested by Palestinian security forces at Israel’s request.  Born in the Soviet Union, Andrey Pshenichnikov, 24, moved to Israel eleven years ago. Pshenichnikov served in the Israel Defense Forces, including an extra 18 months as a career soldier.  In the past three months, Andrey resided on Palestinian territory in the city of Bethlehem and in Deheishe refugee camp, “as part of the political struggle for Palestinian rights,” he explains....He says that he wanted to “abandon the privileged Zionist life, and cross to the side of the occupied people as a sign of solidarity.” 


"Political struggle"?

The story goes on:

In Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, the state argued that he was a member of a terrorist organization and that he strives for the destruction of Israel.

Terror?

Well

Pshenichnikov rejects Zionism and says his views are close to those of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine


The JC notes:

He told Israeli officials: "I have concluded that Israel is the representative of Western power interests in the Middle East, and that Zionism made cynical use of the Jewish faith … I hate Zionism".  Pshenichnikov also encouraged others to join him in opposing Israel: "I want to be part of the Palestinian resistance. I call for other Israelis who support the existence of a state of Palestine to do the same, to come live in the West Bank or Gaza as Palestinians."

Will he eventually die a "martyr's" death?

^

1 comment:

NormanF said...

Deport him back to Russia!

I see absolutely no reason for Israel to keep him.

For him, Israel will never be home.