Democracy Now! April 2, 2002

9:01-9:06 HEADLINES 9:06-9:07 ONE-MINUTE MUSIC BREAK 9:07-9:20 ISRAEL IGNORES CALLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO HALT ITS ATTACKS ON THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, AND INVADES BETHLEHEM; THE BODIES OF 5 PALESTINIAN POLICEMEN ARE DISCOVERED IN RAMALLAH, SHOT IN THE HEAD AT CLOSE RANGE Israel ignored calls from around the world to halt its attacks on the Occupied Territories, and invaded Bethlehem. Tanks and armored vehicles pushed into the city overnight, and witnesses said helicopter gunships poured fire into Manger Square, near the Church of Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus was born. Outgunned Palestinians with rifles and grenade launchers are fighting desperately to keep Israeli ground troops out of the area. Israel declared the area a closed military zone, and information is hard to come by. There are reports that a Roman Catholic priest has been killed, and an Al-Jazeera cameraman filming from a hotel rooftop was injured in the neck. GUEST: PETER BEAUMONT, reporter for the Observer newspaper in Ramallah, author of a piece in Sundays paper called I saw the bodies, killed by a shot to the head, speaking to us from Jerusalem CONTACT: ww.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,676830,00.html 9:20-9:21 ONE-MINUTE MUSIC BREAK 9:21-9:40 ISRAELI RESERVISTS REFUSE TO SERVE IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND HOLD A REFUSNIK SEDER VIGIL Israeli military officials have said that the assault on the Occupied Territories could be lengthy. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has said the offensive could last three to four weeks, while Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called up an additional 30,000 reserve soldiers. Many of these men will be sent to the Occupied Territories. But not all of these soldiers are willing to go. As the Israeli assault has grown in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, so has the number of Israelis refusing to serve In the Occupied Territories. In late January, a group of reserve officers signed a public petition denouncing the occupation and refusing to take part in it through military service. At the time, only 50 soldiers signed their names to the list. Today, the number hovers near 380. They join dozens of other Israelis who have refused to serve without formally signing the petition. Many of them have gone to prison. Well, this afternoon, thousands of peace activists have gathered outside one of Israel's military prisons to express their solidarity with the detained soldiers. They have come together in the middle of Passover, one of the most significant Jewish holidays. It is widely celebrated as a story of liberation. GUEST: PERETZ KIDRON, Israeli peace activist with the group Yesh Gvul, an Israeli peace group that supports soldiers who refuse assignments of are of aggressive nature, like supporting the Israeli army, speaking to us from Jerusalem CONTACT: www.yesh-gvul.org GUEST: IDAN LANDAU, Israeli reservist imprisoned last year for refusing to serve, and a lecturer in linguistics at Ben Gurion University, speaking to us from Tel Aviv. LINKS: www.seruv.org.il/defaulteng.asp www.yesh-gvul.org/english.html GUEST: FATHER JAMAL KHADLER, a Palestinian priest at a seminary in Beit Jala, under siege by Israeli troops 9:40-9:41 ONE-MINUTE MUSIC BREAK 9:41-9:58 SEDER SISTERS: JEWISH WOMEN OBSERVE PASSOVER BY TAKING ON PATRIARCHY, MILITARISM, AND OCCUPATION This week is Passover. During the 8 day holiday Jews around the world remember their liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. Traditionally, on the first two nights of Passover, Jewish families hold dinners, or Seders. where friends and family gather to reflect and tell stories. Years ago, I went to an unusual Seder in New York City. It was a tradition begun in 1976 by Gloria Steinem and Jewish feminist writers Esther Broner and Phyllis Chesler. The unique Passover dinner celebrated women and liberation. And even eleven years ago, these women were voicing their opposition to the Israeli occupation. Esther Broner officiates. She wrote, The Telling and The Womens Haggadah. TAPE: Sounds of a Feminist Seder (18 min), including feminist writers Esther Broner, Naomi Wolf, Phyllis Chesler, Robin and Letty Pogrebin. 9:58-9:59 OUTRO AND CREDITS