During the recent fighting, I featured an eloquent video by Courage to Refuse based on interviews with Israeli soldiers who refused to fight in the Occupied Territories. Reader Peter Drubetskoy brings news from Israel’s Generation Dov that one of the most articulate of the refusers, Noam Livneh, has been arrested for adhering to his principles.
This is an excerpt of his statement comparing the courage it took him to serve under intense combat conditions versus the courage it took him to refuse to serve:
I was a combat officer for four years. I was in Gaza. I was in Lebanon. I commanded ambushes. I commanded outposts. I fought “terrorists.” I was under mortar attack. I was shot at and did all the scary things one does in the military. And I say with all my heart that to refuse demanded more courage.
I call on all soldiers, pilots, officers and all who participate in this war to seek that courage within.
Stirring words from the frontline of the battle for the hearts and minds of the Israeli public.
Interestingly, though he refused during the war, the IDF chose not to arrest him till after fighting ended. Could it be the IDF knew it would create a martyr if it singled him out DURING the war for prosecution; and that this would provide enormous publicity for those who opposed the war?
One also has to wonder why, given that scores of others also refused to fight in Gaza, they chose to jail Livneh? Give a listen to his interview and you’ll immediately understand why. His is a gifted, passionate and profound statement why Israelis should refuse to serve and perpetuate the murderous Occupation. The IDF wants to single out the most articulate advocates and make an example of them. They want others to understand that the next ones will be them after they’re done with leaders like Livneh. It’s a simple act of naked intimidation.
The IDF uses guns on Palestinians. It doesn’t use these weapons on its own. But the methods still can be quite brutal and vicious.
That was an elightening video. How large was this protest? How many members on the left? How many moderates? And how many Israelis drop out from mandatory service in 2008? I am interested to know.
An Israeli-American friend of mine with ties to the Ashkenazy elite tells me that most of the younger generation of that elite gets out of military service these days – they get mental health exemptions, they leave the country, or they get themselves posted to units away from combat. I wonder what the numbers are on that? Who is really doing the fighting? The Arab blogosphere says they’re using Ethiopian Jews and Druze as cannon fodder. What’s the real story? Does anybody have numbers?
Interesting video, similar to the Netanyahu case that was reported here.Really courageous.
An Israeli-American friend of mine with ties to the Ashkenazy elite tells me that most of the younger generation of that elite gets out of military service these days – they get mental health exemptions…I have heard this to be true as well. The army is slowly being filled by religious zionists
Leila, reliable numbers are hard to come by, but in today’s Haaretz it is claimed that:
This does not address the numbers actively seeking to serve in non-combatant roles (“jobniks”) and says nothing of the numbers that avoid the service on idelogical, rather than opportunistic grounds
What I thought was most interesting about the video was people admitting that it was harder, it took more courage, to stand up for their beliefs and not fight a war they thought unjust, then to follow the majority, even if that meant being injured or dying.
Peer pressure, the feeling of belonging and not be ostracized, is a very strong motivator. Not everyone is willing or has the strength of character, to possibly jeopardize the approval of their friends, their family or the society they live in.
Kudos to you and your readers, for taking a stand and trying to make a diffence.
These people are great. As other contributors have indicated, it is not difficult to evade conscription if one wishes to do so. By specifically refusing a call up these people are doing a great deal more. They deserve our admiration and wholehearted support. It is they who are really building a secure future for Israelis.
Peter is as usual, spot on. Even if Israelis accept conscription they can avoid contact or combat roles. I think this in itself goes a long way to explain the inexorable degradation of IDF ethical standards and the increasing dehumanisation experienced by Palestinians in contact with the IDF.
http://www.yeshgvul.org/index_e.asp