Noam Chayut, a former Israeli soldier and member of the organization Breaking the Silence, will speak in Tokyo this weekend in coordination with journalist Toshikuni Doi's documentary "Chinmoku wo Yaburu" ("Breaking the Silence"), a film that sheds light on the situation in Palestine through extensive on-location footage and interviews with Palestinians, Israelis and former Israeli soldiers.
Chayut will talk about his experiences and thoughts on the Mideast problem on Saturday, May 30 from 2 p.m. (doors open at 1:30) at Meiji University's Surugadai Campus in Liberty Tower Rm. 1001. See www.meiji.ac.jp/koho/campus_guide/suruga/access.html
Toshikuni Doi will also speak. There is a material fee of ¥1,000 and translation will be provided. Chayut will speak in English.
On Sunday, May 31, Chayut will speak at the end of the 10:20 a.m. screening of "Chinmoku wo Yaburu" at polepole theater in Higashi Nakano.
Chayut will speak in Osaka June 1 and in Okinawa June 3.
The organization Breaking the Silence (www.shovrimshtika.org) is a group of veteran Israeli soldiers that collects and voices the testimonies of soldiers who served in the Occupied Territories.
Chayut is a veteran of Israel's Elite Combat Patrol Unit of the Nachal Brigade. He served as an officer in most of the Palestinian cities, including Jenin, during operation Defensive Shield in April 2002. Discharged as a lieutenant in March of 2003 after serving almost 5 years in the army, Chayut joined Breaking the Silence in June 2004.
The film "Chinmoku wo Yaburu" (Arabic, English, Hebrew, with Japanese subtitles) continues in Tokyo and will show in other cities in Japan. For a schedule of showings in Tokyo call: (03) 3371-0088 or see www.mmjp.or.jp/pole2/. For a complete list of showings throughout Japan see Doi's Web site: www.doi-toshikuni.net/j/index.html
