250 teenagers sign new “Refusal Letter”
The Other Israel | 13.03.2005 13:50
About 250 Israeli teenagers today sent a collective letter to the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, chief of the IDF general staff and Minister of Education.
The signatories declare that they will refuse to take part in the occupation, either by refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories or by altogether refusing to serve in the army.
"The occupation policy is is immoral and contrary to the principles of democracy. We will not be part of this illegitimate policy. By our conscience and our sense of civic duty, we are bound to refuse" they declare. "We wish to live in a society which pursues justice, upholding equal rights to every single citizen. The occupation and repression policy is an obstacle to the realization of this vision, therefore we shall refuse to take part in it."
Next week, the call-up date comes around for the first two conscientious objectors among the letter’s signatories, Eyal Brami and Alex Cohn. They intend to show up on the appointed time at the army’s Induction Centre, in order to inform the military officials of their firm refusal to be drafted: "The occupation policy tramples upon Palestinians' basic human
rights. It leads to the killing of Israelis and Palestinians, and turns our society into an impoverished, violent and terrorized society. We believe that there is another way."
The group follows in the footsteps of previous “Shministim” groups, initiated by successive generations of highschool pupils at various times in the past two decades. The sending of previous letter in 2002 led to the imprisonment of many of the signatories. Six of them were singled out for a highly-publicized trial at a full military court-martial, resulting
in an accumulated period of some two years behind bars for each of these six. The initiators of the new letter, well aware of that record, declare themselves to be unintimidated and determined to follow the dictates of their conscience at whatever cost will be exacted.
"The occupation policy is is immoral and contrary to the principles of democracy. We will not be part of this illegitimate policy. By our conscience and our sense of civic duty, we are bound to refuse" they declare. "We wish to live in a society which pursues justice, upholding equal rights to every single citizen. The occupation and repression policy is an obstacle to the realization of this vision, therefore we shall refuse to take part in it."
Next week, the call-up date comes around for the first two conscientious objectors among the letter’s signatories, Eyal Brami and Alex Cohn. They intend to show up on the appointed time at the army’s Induction Centre, in order to inform the military officials of their firm refusal to be drafted: "The occupation policy tramples upon Palestinians' basic human
rights. It leads to the killing of Israelis and Palestinians, and turns our society into an impoverished, violent and terrorized society. We believe that there is another way."
The group follows in the footsteps of previous “Shministim” groups, initiated by successive generations of highschool pupils at various times in the past two decades. The sending of previous letter in 2002 led to the imprisonment of many of the signatories. Six of them were singled out for a highly-publicized trial at a full military court-martial, resulting
in an accumulated period of some two years behind bars for each of these six. The initiators of the new letter, well aware of that record, declare themselves to be unintimidated and determined to follow the dictates of their conscience at whatever cost will be exacted.
The Other Israel
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More on this story from Ynet
14.03.2005 01:52
Youngsters say ‘no’ to army
A group of 250 highschoolers signs letter of refusal to be drafted “because of the occupation.”
By Hanan Greenberg and Moran Zelikovich
TEL AVIV - A group of 250 highschoolers from across the country have signed a letter declaring they refuse to join the army because of their opposition to the occupation.
One of the youngsters, 18-year-old Eyal Barami, has been designated for combat service but says he does not intend to go ahead with the army’s plans.
“I am unwilling to serve the occupation and racism in the army, and I ask for an exemption,” he told Ynet.
“Every human being deserves basic rights - The right to life, equality, dignity, and freedom. Our moral and civilian obligation is to act for the protection of those rights, by refusing to take part in the occupation and oppression policy,” the student letter reads.
The youngsters, however, emphasize that they are interested in contributing to society in an alternative way, which does not entail hurting others.
‘Spend less on security'
Some of students have openly declared their refusal to serve before and are willing to face justice and even serve a prison term, 17-year-old Aviv Sela says.
The idea for the letter did not stem from a specific incident, he says, but rather, as are result of a process that has been going on for several years.
“The injustices caused by the IDF do not contribute much to our security,” he says.
“My parents don’t support my refusal to serve in the army, but they support me as their son and stand behind me,” Barami says. “I’m unwilling to try to change things within the system, because I believe the change won’t come from the inside. It’s an undemocratic system.”
If Israel wishes to be like countries that enjoy peace, the government must spend less money on security needs and direct more resources to education and welfare, he says.
“We’re in war for 40 years already, and they didn’t try to stop the occupation or end it somehow,” he says.
(03.13.05, 17:36)
David