The Israeli organization New Profile has released the following statement in response to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman calling them a “terror organization,” along with other peace and human rights organizations like Adalah, Yesh Din, and Breaking the Silence.
New Profile Denounces Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman
New Profile rejects and denounces Minister Lieberman’s choice to call New Profile and other human rights organizations “terrorist organizations”.
New Profile is a civil feminist movement active against institutionalized violence and for dialogue and peace, for demilitarizing Israeli society, for freedom of conscience, equality and justice for all – Arabs and Jews, women and men, including those choosing not to serve in the IDF.
New Profile persists in its commitment to non-violence and encourages true, open civil discourse in Israel. Minister Lieberman kindles and leads incitement against human rights and civil society organizations in this country.
The attempt to slur as “terrorist” any view critical of the ruling power’s ideas expresses a basic misunderstanding of democracy and presents any controversy as an existential threat that must be eliminated.
We call upon the public in Israel to ask itself and its elected representatives why criticism and independent thinking threaten them as much as terrorist actions.
Inflaming fear and trembling of real and imagined foes perpetuates the situation whereby war, inequality and racism are regarded a must, manifest destiny. It is not. The choice is in our hands, we the citizens – choosing to live in an egalitarian, non-violent, civil and democratic society.
