On Sunday 18th September Peace Now Scotland will be holding a public meeting in Glasgow with Tomer Inbar who was a major in the Israeli Army. The meeting will be chaired by Paul Usiskin, chair of Peace Now UK who will discuss at the end of the meeting Peace Now's ''2 states for 2 peoples''.
Tomar Inbar lives with his wife and daughter in London and intends to return to israel in a few years. He was an F16 combat pilot, serving 8 years as a combat operational pilot. He was a member of the Israeli Air Force Aerobatics Team and an instructor in the IDF Flying School. He signed the Pilots' Refusal Letter, after refusing to bomb in Gaza and the West Bank, and was immediately thrown out of the army.
In January 2002, "The Combatants Letter" was made public in Israel, initiating acts of refusal among Israeli Reservist solidiers who felt they could no longer serve conscientiously in the Occupied Territories. These solidiers who dedicately served in the IDF for many years have spoken of the huge crisis of their refusal, their agonising dilemma, the memories that haunt them, the anger of their families and their rejection.
There was a public uproar accused by refusal in a country where the highest regard for security and the duty of military service is among the foundations of Israeli consensus. These soldiers, like all soldiers in the IDF were prepared to fight in order to protect their families back home - but they came to the conclusion that "the occupation poses a threat to the security of Israel"
Tomer was severley criticised on Kibbutz Bet HaEmek in the Galil, where he was born and raised.
As the dust settles on the pull-out from Gaza, we invite you to hear Tomer Inbar's own story, a fascinating insight into his decision to refuse. His story was recently the subject of a channel 4 documentary.
8pm, JCC, 222 Fenwick Road
Donation £5
