Israeli human rights group Breaking the Silence has been nominated for a prestigious peace prize from the European Parliament. Breaking the Silence is run by a group of former Israeli soldiers who work to expose human rights abuses by the Israeli army in the period since 2000.
Right wing Israeli groups are now attempting to coerce Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) not to let Breaking the Silence win the Andrei Sakharov prize for Freedom of Thought.
Please consider writing to your MEP to encourage them to vote for the prize to be awarded to Breaking the Silence. Below is a template letter you may consider using as a guide.
I am writing as your constituent to commend the work of the Israeli human rights organisation Breaking the Silence, which has been nominated by two groups of your fellow parliamentarians for for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Breaking the Silence, an Israeli NGO, was established by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and veterans who collect and provide testimonies about their military service in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the Second Intifada. It gives serving and discharged Israeli personnel and reservists a platform to describe confidentially their experiences in the Israeli-occupied territories.
The nomination was made by the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) and the Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left (GUE7NGL).
I strongly urge you to vote in favour of giving this award to Breaking the Silence, in recognition of the excellent work the group does to promote awareness in Israeli society about what is happening in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Yours faithfully,
(Your name)
ENDS
Thank you, and good luck.
EAPPI Communications Officer
Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (www.eappi.org)
