On Sunday, 23 Adar I 5774 the Peace Now organization posted on their Facebook page an announcement calling for the State of Israel to cancel Honenu’s non-profit organization status and informing the Israeli taxpayer that until the non-profit status is canceled and donations to the organization are no longer tax exempt, taxpayers are “contributing” to an organization which represents “terrorists” and has “criminals” among its clients.
Honenu’s stand is that everyone is entitled to a fair trial, regardless of the crime of which s/he is accused. Honenu’s homepage states: “Honenu is an Israeli Zionist legal aid organization which offers legal assistance to our people to protect and preserve their right to a fair judicial process. We provide legal services to approximately 1000 arrestees a year. Soldiers and civilians who find themselves in legal entanglements due to defending themselves against Arab aggression, or due to their love for Israel, have an organization that will come to their aid 24 hours a day. In the Arab-Jewish conflict in Israel there are dozens of foreign-funded organizations helping our enemies. We are there for those loyal to the Jewish people.”
Yosef Ben Baruch, one of Honenu’s clients featured in Peace Now’s announcement, was detained on suspicion of involvement with the Bat Ayin Underground and, after sitting in prison for 20 months, was finally exonerated and freed!
This outcome was achieved only after an intense legal struggle by attorney Tzion Amir, with extensive assistance from Honenu. The legal battle, lasting the entire prison term, finally resulted in Ben Baruch’s exoneration and release, thus demonstrating that Honenu’s work is indispensable in providing legal assistance to those wrongly accused.
Peace Now’s campaign to delegitimize Honenu closely follows the broadcast by television commentator Amnon Abramovitz, who aired claims similar to Peace Now’s on Israeli Channel 2’s Friday night (21 Adar) Ulpan Shishi program.
Honenu’s staff is of the opinion that the timing of the television show and Peace Now’s campaign is not coincidental and that it is designed to destroy Honenu by damaging its ability to raise funds for its work.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
if any one should be discredited it is ‘Peace Now’ which is nothing more than a group that appears to be neutral but in reality is anti-Israel and extremely pro-Arab.
It is backed by the lunatic fringe liberal Jew hating Jews that love to bash Israel and accept hearsay as facts.
Honenu on the other hand is an organization that has done its best to help the settlers and the right wing with the Israeli governments crackdown on settler protests against pull outs like Gush Katif.
My son attended a protest one time in Jerusalem and was attacked by the Israeli police, beaten and then arrested for some trumped up charge. (yes, they do that here) Honenu came to his rescue with no charge and had him released with in hours.
Certainly ‘Peace Now’ want Honenu to suffer; Honenu is for peace and justice and helps Jews in Israel. ‘Peace Now’ is about punishing Jews who live in Eretz Yisroel.