The nerve to Say "NO". Documentary on Israeli refuseniks.

[Tom Joad]

This subject has special relevancy for me, as my website highlights US public resisters in the military. I consider them the real heroes of the war. After all the idiocy nearly every citizen gets from the US media these folks are also subjected to the indoctrination of the military, and the idea that if they leave they will be abandoning their comrades. When in fact, they will not be abandoning their comrades, but joining humanity in a more real way, by refusing to treat their neighbors as enemies, by refusing to wage a war of aggression and terror. It is rulers (in the case of the US-- Bush and Co.) who have refused their responsibility to their own country, and to any kind of morality (or whatever one wants to call it)that will lead us to a decent & livable future. To come to that conclusion after all the hype of those who tell you they know better, it really takes courage. You can see the list of US objectors here: http://tomjoad.org/WarHeroes.htm

Israeli resisters are almost given time in prison, and should be seen as political prisoners. (Amnesty Int'l recognizes all such resisters political prisoners, in Israel,the US and anywhere else where there is compulsary military service). They know, that the conflict in Palestine is not "Jewish people vs. Palestinians", it is the Israeli occupation vs. those who wish to live freely in their homeland.
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http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/SCENE03/603110328/1011/SCENE
The nerve to say 'No'
Prospect documentarian sheds light on occupation-opposed Israelis

By Tamara Ikenberg The Courier-Journal
<snip>

When an Israeli turns 18, he or she is required to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Men must serve three years and women, two. Men also must do annual reserve duty following their initial tour. Those who refuse are almost always sentenced to jail.

The first smattering of Israeli Refuseniks emerged in 1967 during the Six Day War, when Israel first took over Gaza and West Bank. Their numbers grew during the Second Intifada, which started in 1987. To date, 1,700 Israelis have publicly spoken against the occupation.

Penny Rosenwasser, a board member for Jewish Voice for Peace, emphasized how pivotal army involvement is in Israeli society.

"You get benefits from being in the army. When you go for a job interview there, they say, 'What did you do in the army?' (By refusing to join), young people lose their friends, families -- it can affect their career choices. It's a very big decision," says Rosenwasser, who has traveled to Israel and Palestine several times.

"Just seeing the courage of these young people, to risk being ostracized by so many of the people you love and care about, shows extraordinary commitment."
<snip>
Please, read the whole thing.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/SCENE03/603110328/1011/SCENE
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for further reading:
Yesh Gvul (There is a limit)
http://www.yeshgvul.org/english/
There are things decent people do not do.

Courage to Refuse:
http://www.seruv.org.il/defaulteng.asp
"The mission of occupation and oppression do not serve this purpose" (protecting Israeli citizens)

[pelsar]

1. such BS....

Israeli resisters are almost given time in prison, and should be seen as political prisoners

israeli refusniks have almost nothing in common with the american version.....whereas they existed during intifada I in both blatant and in more subtle ways...they all evaporated with the onslaught of the sucide bombers....since then they're numbers have remained relativily constant...and no they are not ostracized, not from the army and not from society.

Every reserve unit has members who are, might or were.....

and those who dont want to serve..get out it without any problem at all...the army doesnt want them, not in their jails and not in the uniform....someone has absolutely no idea what they're writing about.

so many false statements in so few words..heres another one:
Men also must do annual reserve duty following their initial tour. Those who refuse are almost always sentenced to jail.

no most men dont do reserve duty, and for those that actually do...if they dont want to....its easy to get out of it...without jail time....sheeesh someone has no idea about israeli society....sometimes it makes sense to ask israelis...