Israelis
Defy the Draft
For decades, it has been a given in Israel that citizens over the age of eighteen must serve in the military.
This past December, in a sign of growing dissatisfaction with the Sharon government's treatment of Palestinians inside the West Bank and Gaza, fifteen reservists in the Israeli army's top commando unit announced their refusal to serve in the Occupied Territories.
While many young people quietly avoid military service, a growing number of younger Israelis are openly resisting conscription, but they face a hostile reaction from some segments of the public and the military itself. In January, five of these young resisters were given one year jail sentences for refusing to serve. Others have been sentenced to consecutive one-month punishments.
Together with the Israeli organization New Profile, AFSC's Jerusalem Quaker International Affairs (QIAR) Program is working to change the harsh reality that faces Israeli conscientious objectors (COs) and military resisters. Through a variety of projects, New Profile supports Israeli COs and military resisters, raises awareness about the dangers of militarism, and counters militarism in Israel.
In 2003, joint AFSC-New Profile activities included:
- A week-long international seminar titled "Militarism and Draft Resistance and Refusal in Israel " was organized with War Resisters International. AFSC made it possible for activists promoting conscientious objection in Spain, Chile, Turkey, and South Korea, as well as two trainers, to attend the seminar.
- A visit by two New Profile members to Geneva, Switzerland was coordinated by the Quaker United Nations Office. The Israelis attended a Human Rights Commission meeting and met with several diplomatic missions and interested organizations.
Read more about AFSC's peacebuilding
efforts in the Middle East 
^ Top of page |
Email this page