The following paragraph is from the current US Department of State travel advisory regarding Israel & Palestine:
In September and October 2004 and February 2005, citizens of Western nations, including Americans, involved in pro-Palestinian volunteer efforts were assaulted and injured in the Occupied Territories by Israeli settlers and harassed by the Israeli Defense Forces. Those taking part in demonstrations, non-violent resistance, and “direct action”, are advised to cease such activity for their own safety.
So. The US gov’t repeatedly tells the Palestinians that they MUST develop nonviolent resistance if there is to be peace. But when Americans and other “Westerners” go there to help that nonviolent resistance and get roughed up, shot at and, using their terminology, “harassed” by the IDF, it’s best not to be there. Yes, indeed, you should all come home and stop being peaceful.
However, if you are an American citizen and you want to go serve in the IDF and do some of the “harassing,” that’s just fine. We won’t even mention you in the travel warning.
