Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson to launch movement against Israeli occupation
Press Trust of India
Posted online: Friday, August 13, 2004
Jerusalem, August 13:
Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, Arun Gandhi, is to kick
off an unarmed Palestinian movement against Israeli occupation which is being
launched by a group of social and political activists in Ramallah.
Gandhi, head of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence in the US, will be
the star attraction at three mass rallies planned in Ramallah, Abu Dis and
Bethlehem on August 26.
The campaign is being organised by a group of Palestinian social and
political activists in Ramallah, who have joined hands with anti-fence
activists, NGOs, and Fatah activists headed by minister without portfolio and
Fatah member Kadura Fares in the wake of the International Court of Justice's
ruling, condemning the construction of the West Bank barrier by Israel.
Gandhi told daily Ha'aretz from the US that he intends "to promote the
philosophy of non-violence, the approach that non-violence is the only venue
that can solve our problems".
"I am coming both to learn and to teach his (Mahatma Gandhi) philosophy. I
understand that many bad things happened 55 years ago, but the attempt to get
justice by revenge accomplishes nothing," he is quoted to have said by the
daily.
He said he learned that from his grandfather when he was just a boy in South
Africa and thought of revenge in retaliation to the apartheid and humiliation
there.
"I've dedicated my life to explain to people how damaging prejudices can be,
and how to form better relations. That is the basis of non-violence. Relations
must be based on love, understanding and honour, not on negative foundations,"
Gandhi said.
"I will tell the Palestinians that it is their responsibility to change. If
the Israelis do not want to listen, it does not mean we cannot act," Gandhi
said.
He also told the daily that he would convey to the Palestinians that the
essence of violence is that each side justifies it by saying the other side
started.
"The question is who is more intelligent (to stop using violence) and who has
more power to change. I think the Palestinians have a chance to be more
intelligent and not act like the Israelis."
The Ramallah group is said to have established ties with Palestinians for
peace and democracy in the US, headed by Mohammed al Atar, in order to launch a
"creative way of resistance".
Terry Boulata, principal of a private school in Abu Dis and a major
anti-fence activist, is said to be the link between al-Atar and the Ramallah
group.
The fence is said to separate Boulata's home from her place of work and from
her husband's family.
"The struggle is our right, but we must be creative," she told Ha'aretz.
The organisers intend to bring thousands to the rallies and record the talks
with Gandhi. "We want to organise a Palestinian peace camp to explain to Israel
and the world that our freedom is the key to peace," Boulata said.
