OK not yet

Family,

Because i didn't want to have to rehearse the entire story from this morning, i simply copied the text of what i posted on the On Earth Peace blog site. It runs together, so i hope you can read it without getting too crosseyed. See ya soon..jerry


I had all the intentions of ending my blogging with my last post, but God always has a way of surprising me and changing my plans. As if the experience of immersing myself into the communities and stories of the Palestinian people weren't enough, God wanted me to feel even more of the pain and struggle of the Israeli occupation. This morning, after worshipping at the Church of the Redeemer, our group met with Mordecai.

Now a little caveat is needed. I have only used first names throughout my blogs, because frankly we have been inundated with so much information and new people that last names never really came up, including the last names of many of my co-delegates. It truly has been a whirlwind journey, but the good thing is i will get to spend the rest of my life rehearsing and learning more about my sisters and brothers in this, "most recent" delegation.

Back to Mordecai. Anyway. He grew up as an Israeli citizen and Jew who found himself working in a nuclear plant, as a physicist. He planned on using his degree and education to further humankind and do "good" things, but the Israeli government had alternative plans. They had not divulged the "fullness" of what he was doing, and he soon learned that he was part of the nuclear armament of the Israeli Government, even though the government denied trying to build up nuclear weapons.

So from around 1976-1984, he worked at this plant, witnessing the build up of nuclear bombs. He had had enough. He snuck in a camera, took 60 pictures, so that the lies that the Israeli government were telling, could be revealed and the truth illuminated. He had to leave Israel/Palestine for his own saftey after this, but he also had to find someone to tell his story. After seeking refuge in Australia, the London Times agreed. It took years, and he had to go to London to see what was happening.While there, the Israeli Secret Police, he beleived, was trying to get to him, so he fled to Italy, with an American woman, who turned out to be a spy. She led him the secret police and they beat him, kidnapped him, drug him, and returned him to Israel, where he faced trial.

Now. During this time, he found that he no longer was Jewish, but that his faith rested in the person of Jesus. This is key.Because as he stood before the judge, no longer Jewish, he had to go to prison for 18 years, for disclosing the truth. He spoke the truth, that's it, and he had to go to prison. Prison in itself was too much punishment, but for the next 18 years he was in solitary confinement, as one guilty of treason. No contact with another human being for 18 years, in small cell, he somehow survived with his sanity and a stronger faith in Jesus.

It should be noted, that during this entire time, the Israeli government was trying to brainwash him and torture him psychologically, which didn't work. By his own admission, he was too stubborn.He got out, after 18 years, which was just four years ago, and he was banned from speaking to western media. Of course he refused to honor this ban, and he is now facing three more months in prison for violating that ban. He believes the story must get out, and it will. He may not have a voice, per se, to reach the world, but we will, we must be his voice. Google him. Read about him. Tell your congressmen and congresswomen about him. It is time that we do something about this incredible injustice.

No person should have to have their life stolen from them, simply because they spoke the truth. His has already been stolen, why don't we give him part of it back?So let's do it. Let's put pressure on our government and the Israeli government to get Mordecai free from his prison, which is East Jerusalem. He wants to come to the states, and we can get him there. We have helped others with less credentials, why not help him? It is more of a challenge that i simply cannot let go of. He deserves to tell his story, but more than that, we need to hear it, each one of us. Amen.