Peace activist Abie Nathan was in a weakened condition Sunday as he entered the ninth day of a fast he began on his 65th birthday.
But he says he will continue to subsist on water and orange juice “until I drop” or until the “foolish law” banning contacts between Israelis and representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization is rescinded.
Nathan has already served time in jail for violating that law, and charges are pending against him for subsequent violations.
He is using the international fame he has gained by his unconventional exploits for peace, and efforts on behalf of disaster victims worldwide, to make his point that Israel has to talk to its enemies if it wants to make peace with them.
The Indian-born Nathan told a visitor that he was trying to emulate the late Indian nationalist leader Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, who resorted to non-violent protest.
Nathan is fasting at a Tel Aviv hotel. His weakened condition caused him to slip in the bathtub, but doctors said he was not hurt.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
