Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran combatants who have served in the Israeli military since the beginning of the Second Intifada and who have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories. Breaking the Silence endeavors to stimulate public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers face a civilian population on a daily basis, and are engaged in the control of that population’s everyday life.
Avichai Sharon, Yehuda Shaul and Noam Chayut, a group of soldiers who had served in Hebron, founded the organization in March of 2004. The organization began with a photo exhibit accompanied by written testimonies from soldiers. Since it’s establishment it has acquired a unique role in expressing the voices of soldiers to the Israeli media and public. The organization has collected more than 700 testimonies from soldiers who represent a wide range of Israeli society and cover nearly all units that operate in the territories. They additionally lead trips for the Israeli public to Hebron one of the most active and contested areas of settlements.
Event co-sponsored by J Street U
Check out some of the testimonies, videos or other resources on their website: http://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/
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