He is gay, Israeli, Jewish and a defender of Palestinian human rights. On 16 August he faces jail for opposing Israel’s illegal demolition of Arab homes.

Ezra Nawi is building bridges across the sectarian divide of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He’s a 57-year old Israeli Jewish working class plumber who speaks fluent Arabic and defends Palestinian human rights. He’s also openly gay in a region where Islamist and Judaist fundamentalists are violently homophobic.

Next week, on 16 August, he will be sentenced by an Israeli court. He is facing up to 18 months imprisonment for non-violently resisting Israel’s illegal demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and for peacefully defending Palestinian famers who are being driven off their land by Israeli settlers.

A campaign has been launched to save him from imprisonment (see details below).

Being an out gay man is mostly easy in London or New York. But in the Middle East? No. It takes guts, especially when there are fundis on both sides who want to kill you.

By supporting the human rights of the Palestinian people as an out gay man, Ezra is probably doing more than anyone else to undermine the homophobia that undoubtedly exists in sections of Palestinian society. But his acceptance by some Palestinians illustrates that homophobia can be overcome, even in very traditional communities. It refutes the common stereotype that all Arabs are anti-gay.

Ezra’s exemplary life shows the possibility of unity, solidarity and respect between gays and straights in Palestine and Israel. It suggests that prejudice and division can be conquered; that a kinder, gentler, fairer future can be won for all the people of the Middle East.

“Being gay has made me understand what it is like to be a despised minority,” explained Ezra.

Speaking of the harsh anti-Palestinian policies of the Israeli authorities, he laments:

“They can steal their land, demolish their homes, steal their water, imprison them for no reason and at times even kill them."

“I’m here to change reality. The only Israelis these people know are settlers and soldiers. Through me they know a different Israeli. And I’ll keep coming until I know that the farmers here can work their fields,” he said.

Several years ago, Ezra had a relationship with a gay Palestinian refugee,  Fuad Mussa. Fuad fled the West Bank, fearing ‘honour killing’ because of his homosexuality. Ezra was convicted on charges of allowing his partner to live illegally with him in Israel. Fuad was jailed, painfully demonstrating that Israel is not quite the pro-gay rights society that it often claims.

Because of Ezra’s human rights work, Israeli settlers, police and soldiers have subjected him to a torrent of homophobic abuse, even death threats.

“They did not hesitate to out me as a gay man; indeed, they spread rumours among the Palestinians with whom I work that I have AIDS,” Ezra told The Nation.

Ezra is a member of Ta’ayush Arab-Jewish Partnership. It has a vision of a fairer, non-violent future. Ta’ayush promotes cooperation, unity and solidarity between Israelis and Palestinians. Opposing racism, segregation and discrimination, it works for the goals of peace, justice and equality for all.

Ezra’s court case arose from his many years of befriending and supporting poor Palestinian farmers in south Hebron, on the occupied West Bank. The land they bought decades ago is under threat by aggressive, expansionist Israeli settlers, some of whom have been filmed beating up Palestinians in a bid to drive them off their land, so they can seize it for themselves.

In March this year, Ezra was convicted of assaulting a police officer during a protest in February 2007 over the demolition of Palestinian houses on land at Um El Hir that the Palestinians claim is lawfully theirs.

Film of the protests and of Ezra’s arrest, which was broadcast on Israel’s Channel 1, shows no assault. It shows passive resistance only. The arresting officers did not mention any assault in their initial statements, according to  The Guardian.

Ezra admits he shouted and laid down in front of the bulldozer, but insists he is committed to non-violence and did not strike the officers. He is a pacifist. Everyone who knows him says he would never raise a hand against anyone.

He is subject to almost round-the-clock surveillance and harassment by the Israeli military. His plumbing business has been audited, and he was handed a huge tax bill that he disputes. He believes his phone calls are monitored, and soldiers shadow his every move.

Despite this intimidation, Ezra remains undeterred. His commitment to justice for the Palestinians is as strong as ever. He is pure inspiration; a truly heroic defender of universal human rights.

Three things that you can do to support Ezra Nawi:

1) Sign the petition against Ezra being jailed
 

2) Protest to the Israeli Embassy
          

3) Ask your MP and MEP to protest to the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor. You can email your MP and MEP direct via this website.