Analysis of Israeli Conscientious Objectors After the WTC/Pentagon Bombings
Less than 24 hours after the attack on the WTC and the Pentagon, the Israeli military radio station interviewed Israel's Minister of Tourism Rehav'am (a.k.a - Gandhi) Ze' evi. Ze'evi, a former military general, is the leader of Israel's ultra-rightwing faction, Moledet openly advocating the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian Occupied Territories. In the interview, Ze'evi argued that Israel should 'seize the opportunity, now that the world understands us' and 'exterminate the Palestinian entity'. He did not even try to hide the great satisfaction in his voice, but then, he had good reason to be satisfied: that night he had been made a member of the so-called 'kitchen cabinet' - the top decision-making body of the Israeli government.
Reporting on his first meeting with this forum, Ze'evi said he raised his ideas before the other ministers, and those who earlier were hesitant now 'humbly lowered their eyes'. However, while Ze'evi's mad plans encounter little resistance in the Israeli government, they may now meet unexpected opposition from below.
Recent years, and especially recent months, saw a dramatic decline in the willingness of Israelis to enlist in the army and to take part in the occupation. Conscientious objection is on the rise, and dramatically so.
Conscientious objection in Israel comes in many different forms. In addition to pacifists and anarchists, objecting to serve in any sort of army, there are also political objectors, who refuse to serve in an occupying army, and yet other political objectors who do serve in the army, but refuse to be stationed on occupied territory. Finally, there are members of the Druse religious community, who are drafted by the Israeli army, but refuse to serve in an army fighting against their own, Palestinian, people.
All in all, we know of at least 26 objectors that were imprisoned for their beliefs since the beginning of the Intifada one year ago. This compared to only three imprisoned COs in the preceding year. They are, however, only the tip of the iceberg.
New Profile, a feminist organization working to de-militarize Israeli society and supporting conscientious objectors of all types, estimates at least one hundred men and several hundreds of women were interviewed this year by the two military committees set up to examine cases of conscientious objection. A CO status exists in Israel for women only. Men are practically always rejected by these committees by various excuses and most reach military prison in the end. Three appeals filed by COs to Israel's supreme court, which are being discussed these days, challenge this situation.
Yesh Gvul, an organization supporting selective political objectors, reports that it received some 200 calls from objectors. 95% of these objectors do not end up in prison, because the army at some stage decides to station them within Israel's recognized borders. However, some still end up in prison, including, most recently, four junior officers.
The Druse Initiative Committee, promoting objection to military service in the Druse community, estimates that only some 50% of all Druse men end up serving in the military.
The growth in the number of declared objectors is not only the result of the Intifada. It also marks the arrival of a new generation of Israeli citizens, more independent in their thought than their parents and older siblings. 62 of these young people, aged 15-18, have recently signed a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stating their intention to refuse participating in the oppression of the Palestinian people. 'We protest before you against the aggressive and racist policy pursued by the Israeli government and its army, and inform you that we do not intend to take part in the execution of this policy', they wrote. Since the letter was published on September 2nd, it has received wide public attention and more youths have added their signature to it.
Will the plans of minister Ze'evi materialize or will the resistance of people of conscience in Israel will help prevent a new disaster coming in the wake of the one that already happened? It is hard to tell. Still, one important index gives room for hope, at least in the long range. According to data obtained by New Profile, in recent years, the relative amount of Israeli citizens that complete regular military service has dropped below the 50% line (now standing approximately at 44%). It appears most Israelis, even when they voice support for the gravest crimes, fail, in the final account, to support these crimes with their actions.
Bryan Atinsky IMC-Israel English Editorial Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <../attachments/20010913/81ac4c82/attachment.htm>