Israeli Refuseniks are examples of a moral phenomenon. Read the story of a Black Hawk pilot, Yonatan Shapiro, and others to get some idea about them. See this report on the phenomenon. See here an example of how the mainstream Jewish community in Britain reacted to them.
What do you think? Can they make a difference?
22 comments:
To be honest, when I first heard about the "refuseniks" I had thought that their protest and their speaking tours might do some good in Israel. They might demonstrate to others that they too have a choice about whether or not to serve in the Occupied Territories. Together with support from at least some citizens of Israel, their movement could make a difference over time. I suppose I was thinking of the protest movements in this country during the Vietnam war that worked to help end that war. Vietnam vets were a significant part of those protests.
But just to check things out I wrote an e-mail to a young American friend who made aliyah to Israel just last year. Her reply was: “Their hearts are in the right place, but they are fools. A person who refuses to serve there is misguided. There are troops there because they are trying to kill us. If they weren't trying to kill us, we wouldn't need soldiers there.”
So now I have changed my mind. As long as Israelis believe that Palestinians intend to kill all of them - and Palestinians also believe that Israelis intend to kill all of them - the conflict will continue. The refuseniks deserve credit for acting according to the dictates of their consciences, and Israel deserves credit for the very light sentences it gives them for their refusal, but their actions are essentially futile.
Mary, would you give the opinion of an individual who has lived in Israel for just one year more crdence than that of a major who has served in Israeli army for several years and was born in Israel?
Sadly, we live in a world where belligerent nationalism usually takes precedent over logic and reason. It is therefore encouraging to know that there are a few people out there who think critically about the actions they are called upon to perform in the name of patriotism.
Refuseniks are not traitors; they do not lack pride in Israel. Rather, it is the opposite: they hold Israel to a higher standard than what it is achieving. They believe in an Israel that ascribes to the highest of morals and cherishes the human rights and dignity of all individuals. All Refuseniks are saying is that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is beneath this standard.
The fact that Refuseniks are berated by the majority of Jews is disheartening. Unfortunately, to think critically about one’s nation is frowned upon, especially in times of war (as Israel sees itself). What most people fail to realize is that to question the actions of one’s government is the ultimate show of patriotism. If we all believed every word and followed every order from our superiors, progress would never be achieved. To question everything (to think progressively) is obviously where progress lays. Thus, it is a blessing when individuals realize that sometimes serving one’s country means not following the orders one is given.
I doubt Refuseniks will somehow end the Israeli occupation of Palestine. They are still clearly the minority and their cause is mostly looked down upon. That being said, their efforts are anything but futile. If nothing else their show of character and morals creates hope that there is some sanity amidst so much madness.
Refusniks in Israel are a slim minority of people that refuse to act out militarily toward the Palestinian people, due to their oppression and killing of civilians. These refusniks are said to be a proud of their Israeli Nation and in some cases are willing to serve in the IDF in training or defense methods but are not willing to perform air strikes or other detrimental actions in Palestinian territory showing their stance as humanitarians. Although refusniks are the minority they certainly are making a moral statement and one would hope that many would follow suit or listen as they take a stand that most certainly may land them in jail as they are breaking Israeli law.
A government spokesman has stated her embarrassment of these refusniks and that they are a disgrace to the Nation. Israel has security issues it must adhere to especially after 2001 when terrorist attacks were prominent. Many Israelis that had served before actually served again and had said similar things about refusniks that they were an embarrassment of Israel as well. The majority feels this way so the refusniks making a difference may prove a difficult feat. Israel has a strong hold militarily over the region, so if the air strikes are happening in retaliation of suicide bombings or kidnappings of soldiers the answer is severe destruction in Beirut and in Palestinian territories, which seem extremely harsh and immoral in retaliation. However, if Palestinians do not have a defense system of their own they resort to extreme actions such as suicide bombing which are also morally wrong but it is a vicious circle, the collateral damage being much greater on the side of the oppressed. This is a Omri Evrons statement on why he refuses to serve in the IDF.
"I, Omri Evron, refuse to serve in the IDF because I am faithful to the moral principles in which I believe. My refusal to enlist is in protest against the longstanding military occupation of the Palestinian people, an occupation that deepens and entrenches the hatred and terror between peoples. I oppose participation in the cruel war for the control over the occupied territories, a war waged in order to protect the Israeli settlements ...
Though I am aware that this act constitutes an infringement of Israeli law, I am compelled to stand by my democratic, humanist and egalitarian values. Military rule over millions of Palestinians is not democratic. It is my duty to oppose any law that makes it possible to deprive others of their rights and freedom, or to treat them with such violence that their fundamental humanity is negated".
Perhaps this is one more refusnik that will be heard, standing firm in one’s beliefs and when jailed makes a statement of yet one more person that is not seen as a human being on the side of the oppressed. These refusniks may make many people start noticing.
I am proud of these men. As one man said, they are just acting on "the values they were raised with--democracy, equality, justice, and caring about those who suffer."
I think the way these men can make a real difference is by telling their story overseas. When the two refuseniks spoke to the British audience they were called traitors multiple times, an extreme cry that they would be unlikely to be leveled against them in Israel. I feel the reason that Israelis would not say something like this is because they are closer to the situation and can see the validity of the refuseniks message. Even if other Israelis are not brave enough to take the stand these men have, I think their lack of enmity among the Israelis as compared to Britain shows almost a tacit approval. Many of the Jews in Britain however, seem to believe like many Jews of America, that Israel can do no wrong and still see Israel in much the biblical sense as opposed to the political, and military power it is today.
One woman whose testimony I found particularly powerful was the woman whose son had disagreed with the occupation but joined the military anyways and was killed by a Palestinian sniper. When asked do you think your son sacrificed his life for his country, she answered "No, he sacrificed his life for settlers." Wow. Talk about nailing the issue on the head. The settlers need to move back behind the '67 lines so young Israelis like this woman's son do not have to endanger their own lives to protect people who choose to live outside of the borders agreed upon in international agreements.
Peace = security for Israel
Despite the fact that the refuseniks only number in the hundreds, I think the fact that they are in the military and beginning to publicize their cause means they have the chance to make a difference. Maybe if the U.S. catches on that it is not anti-Semitic to criticize some of Israel's actions, and understand that there are Israeli's that criticize Israel we will be less willing to write them a blank check and less hesitant about avoiding criticism in our media.
Finally, Yonatan Shapira makes an interesting point in the last line when he talks about Israel as an idol. Though a long-shot, the metaphor does seem to work. Idol worship was considered so horrible to G-d because it led followers of G-d astray, away from the covenant. I think the case could be made that unwavering support of Israel, without any constructive criticism, would consist of condoning activities that would be leading people astray from G-d and the laws set forth in the Ten Commandments. Though many Zionists are self-described as non-religious and this argument that they are being led astray from G-d's commandments, (and thus the covenant) may not hold much sway in Israel itself, I think abroad this connection might be made to rile up conversation and make people begin to think about what it means to be a Jew, and what types of measures are justified and necessary for Israel's security, and what measures go beyond this. Thou shalt not kill, right?
The refuseniks show that there are some Israelis that have a heart. When we saw the Checkpoints film in class, I was quite angry to see Israeli soldiers treat Palestinians so cruelly. It is good to know that there are soldiers that believe their government policies are not always right. The three refuseniks that held a conference at the University of Berkley gave a description of democracy. They believe democracy does not mean is not just a majority decision; “it must protect the rights of the minority, including basic human rights.” It is impressive to know these men do not see themselves as better than the Palestinians. They support the state Israel and its existence, but they do not agree with the government’s policy. Also, there is much opposition from Israelis. Many call them traitors. According to Robert Hirschfield, the majority of American Jews worship Israel. They strongly support the government of Israel’s policies. Yonatan Shapira believes American Jews to realize Israel is not perfect. If there is a need for a group like the refuesniks, something is not right. It is disheartening to know they are a small group and do not receive the amount of attention they need.
I have to agree with Dustin on this one. The Refuseniks are not traitors if anything. One could define them as the ideal democratic patriot. The reason why is because they have acknowledged the fact that Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine has involved immoral and inhumane acts such as military strikes on civilian populations (military orders given to fire on civilians because of their religious or ethnic background is called genocide!) . By publically identifying this issue and refusing to partake in the act of cold blooded murder the Refuseniks are allowing the Israeli people to get a clear idea of what their military is really doing in Palestine. This can allow the people of Israel to reevaluate their government and make necessary modifications to their current international and military policies, which can potentially save the lives of thousands if not millions of innocent Palestinian civilians.
Israeli Refuseniks are considered the other group, the “minority” and thought to be different from the larger group of which it is part from due to refusing to obey the law, to show their love to Israel and to collaborate with the government and have been looked down upon as the “Traitors.” But Refuseniks have tried to hold on tight because their strong sacred beliefs their values not to take part in serving the military mission and fight beyond the 1967 borders is important; because according to Refuseniks beyond the 1967 war what is being done now is immoral to humiliate, kill and murder innocent lives, and illegally dominating the other (Palestine) are against the values and beliefs they stand for. Its not like Refuseniks have refused to serve Israel or hate their country, the Refuseniks love and would serve to defend Israel, they have served until the 1967 war, and still serve and take part in the Air Force, such as training, but they refused to take part in a specific thing, such as attacking civilians, because according to the Refuseniks it just causes more harm than guaranteeing security and peace. Sadly, the only mean to have your voice heard today is through violence because considering to think critically and try negotiating it through have been tried for the past 60 years and did not lead to any solution but lead to more deaths and violence.
“We, who were raised to love the state of Israel and contribute to the Zionist enterprise, refuse to take part in Air Force attacks on civilian population centers. … These actions are illegal and immoral and are a direct result of the ongoing occupation which is corrupting all of Israeli society.” I think if the Israeli government or Israeli people thinks and act the way the Refuseniks are, we would not have had the war lasted for 60 years, where hatred is taught and violence is only our means of communication. The problem is that Israelis are not willing to question and criticize the authorities and putting an end to it, fearing the consequence it leads, Such as being harmed, harassed, humiliated, which can be hard to face.
In my opinion yes I do think they can make a difference even though they are only 450 but, again we can not judge based on their size, because it is not about the quantity but about the quality.
Actually this is my first time to read and watch about the Refuseniks. I was really surprised and enthused by the Refuseniks who were ready to face a challenge each time to talk and face humiliation and anger from the public. The Resfuseniks have caused in my opinion hostility in Israel, due to the fact, they were able to get a lot of attention from inside and outside media and to got others talking and rethinking of what is really going on in Israel. This shows Refuseniks has made a huge impact in trying to persuade their views.
Refuseniks are a threat to Israel because if it escalates and more soldiers sign the petition and refuse to serve then government might reconsider its policy or might take a different route. Those who were interviewed and refused to serve were once prominent soldiers, who took part in serving the military during the 1967 war and had a crucial presence on other soldiers to have in the military. If Refuseniks are not a threat to Israel as the Arial Sharon member cabinet stated, then why are they being prisoned for refusing to serve?
Nonetheless, there are Jews and non Jews who also refuse to the continuance of the occupation but they were not able to do much because in my opinion they were ordinary citizen with no power, there are those who have tried to have their voice heard but they really did not make a huge impact; and others who simple just think their voice can’t make much of the difference. However, having these soldiers who had the courage to step up and have their voice heard and who knew the consequence of doing so, did it anyway, in my opinion are the true heroes who should be honored.
Dont get me wrong serving and defending your country is a duty on all of us and we all have to do it. But when you know that your government and the policies are crossing the boundary, abusing its power and killing innocent civilians, that’s the time when you know that u have to step up and make a decision whether to continue or not based on your values and your beliefs. An easy example, that was given by one of the solider who was interviewed in the video said, while he was patrolling at the checkpoint an old lady approached him and spit on his face in front of other soldiers and as a consequence “I shoot her and we moved on!!!” I think that episode should be one of the incentives why you should not serve in the military.
I think the Refuseniks are very noble and courageous. Its a fresh of breath air to know that not everyone in the IDF agrees with the occupation. I think ignorance and fear leads people to call them traitors. In fact, they are the exact opposite. In a sense, they are heroes; attempting to save Israel. They not only refuse, but they go out and educate others. These are not civilians who are watching the news or reading about the occupation, these former soldiers have seen the effects of the occupation with their own eyes and made a decision. I disagree with the point that the only way to serve your country is by serving, I think this arises from the fear of “another Holocaust”. These soldiers are probably doing more than for their country than most active soldiers in Gaza are!
In reference to Mary-Lee’s friend who said “Their hearts are in the right place, but they are fools. A person who refuses to serve there is misguided. There are troops there because they are trying to kill us. If they weren't trying to kill us, we wouldn't need soldiers there”; I personally think this mentality is what will continue to cause problems it is an ongoing cycle. But I would have to disagree that their actions are futile, they are only 450 and they have convinced and educated others about the situation, not only in Israel but the world. Yonatan Shapira is engaging in more diplomacy and dialogue than most leaders today. He was able to sit down with former Fatah fighters and Palestinian prisoners and have a dialogue that led them to rebuild a Palestinian home, among other humanitarian and community oriented programs.
After watching the video about the Refuseniks in the UK, people that were attacking them were essentially trying to protect their religion. One of the soldiers even explained how Jews abroad are more concerned with Judaism than with Israel. Even Shapira goes as far as comparing the worship of Israel to the worship of the Golden Calf in the Bible by American Jews. They are trying to show people that what is happening under the occupation is wrong, and that not serving in the Israeli occupation forces does not mean they are traitors or hate their country. In fact I would say that they love their country more because they want to continue to serve just not doing something that is against their beliefs.
Israel is described as a democracy by it's people, a democracy that happens to have a mandatory policy for enlistment in the military for all males. Being a democratic state, the Knesset passed this law for the greater good of the country. However since Israel considers itself a democracy, the freedom to be able to express oneself is fundamental. These Israeli soldiers who choose to outwardly express their disdain for the actions in Israel in occupied territory demonstrates Israel's true identity as a democratic state. This freedom of speech is restricted in Israel's neighboring states.
These refuseniks fully understand that their actions to refuse orders may result in punitive action against them. Jail sentences were served and each refusenik was released because the Israeli government could not continue the undemocratic punishment. These refuseniks show another side of the Israeli people, the people who we as a democratic country consider our allies.
Refuseniks, such as Major Rami Kaplan, make it a strategic point to stress the fact that they wish to continue to serve in the Israeli Defense Force. They do not wish to refuse all orders from their command nor do they wish to desert their country and fellow soldiers. They simply will not follow orders that result in the continual destruction of a people in territory that is considered by the world and Israel alike to be "occupied territories."
I can understand the frustration that some Jews of the world have towards these individuals because it seems like they are betraying the state of Israel and in a sense the Jewish faith. However, in response to the video clip of the refuseniks trip to Britain, those Jewish British citizens have no right to stand up in and criticize the actions of high ranking military personnel who not only have seen the occupation in front of their eyes but have also seen confidential orders passed among high ranking officials towards the goals of these so called security protection training missions. It may be one thing to have a heated debate between Israeli's who have served in their military but the anger and frustration displayed by the British Jews seemed ignorantly unwarranted.
I am encouraged that there are some Israelis like these refuseniks who retain natural sense as human beings enough to notice the cruelty of what there national army is doing in occupied territories. Like Yonatan Shapira, keeping in touch with Palestinians and knowing their suffering at first hand seem the best way to prevent being manipulated by the government.
Right is always set with responsibility. In countries whose serving in military forces is mandate, it is part of their responsibility spending some years in the army in order to enjoy their right and freedom as citizens of a modern sovereign state. In the case of Israel, however, as long as illegal occupations and invasions are concerned, Israelis have right to refuse serving in the military service because they have nothing to do with the national defence, as they said. I believe that is truely consistent with the principle of the democracy. Yet these refuseniks do not seem the major stream among Jews.
The video which shows how Jewish community in the U.K. reacts to refuseniks was shocking for me. I can not imagine how strong Jew's desire for the land of Palestine is. But I would like them to get information of status of Palestinians not through media coverage but through firsthand experience. It may work good for both Jews and Palestinians.
The Refuseniks are an interesting and increasing facet of life in Israel. They are comprised of Israeli’s who have made the decision to either stop serving in the Israeli Defense Force or to stop serving in the areas which Israel has occupied post-1967. Their ranks are not limited to any one element of the Israeli military with soldiers from all areas including pilots from the highly respected Air Force and commandos from the Special Forces having made the decision to stand against the Israeli occupation. Their ranks also appear to be growing in size as the occupation of Palestinian lands lasts longer and longer. While in comparison to the entire military the numbers might seem relatively small, many of the refuseniks maintain that others support them and just have not decided to do so publicly or are not comfortable with going to the same extreme at this time.
I think the idea that soldiers from the Israeli military, in some cases, high ranking officers and members with prestigious standing willing to admit that Israel is wrong is groundbreaking. It goes to show that some Israeli’s recognize that there is an error in the policies which the Israeli government is undertaking. That perhaps the government might not be doing what is best for Israel’s well-being. One of the refuseniks, Yonatan Shapira, states that he feels perhaps the passing of the guard towards a younger generation, one who has not been as deeply affected firsthand by the Holocaust, is a good thing for Israel. That, this new guard, will be better at looking at the overall picture and make judgments without the idea that Jewish survival is at stake is something which I agree with.
In learning about Israeli’s history it would appear that there is a trend of sorts in the recycling of politicians among the different roles of leaders. My take on this is that if peace could not have been reached during there first time in office, any return to the old leadership is probably not going to have results that differ much from their first attempts. The refuseniks though are a break from this tradition; they are showing that Israel does indeed have a conscience.
I find the refuseniks to be very courageous and commendable. I don't feel that they are traitors, in fact I think it's quite the opposite. They are standing up to the human rights abuses that are so clearly and blatantly occurring regularly in Israel. Their ranking as high officials in the IDF, that they are the heart of the military which is the heart of the country, and their willingness to go to jail for their beliefs, proves that what is happening needs to be recognized internationally and stopped.
Even though they are only a group of about 450 people, their voices are being heard and they are causing a stir among Israelis and Jewish people in other countries. I found the videos of them speaking to groups very interesting, and that people responded by yelling out things like "Why are you here?" It's upsetting that people cannot handle hearing anything critical of Israel because it is supposed to be their safe haven.
As long as the refuseniks continue to spread their message internationally, there is more hope that the inhumane treatment of Palestinians by the Israelis will finally be addressed by countries, namely the United States.
While comprising the minority, the refuseniks are generating a very loud uproar. Many are labeling these refuseniks as traitors, and i agree with what Dustin said, "Refuseniks are not traitors; they do not lack pride in Israel. Rather, it is the opposite: they hold Israel to a higher standard than what it is achieving." Holding Israel to a higher standard is exactly what i believe they are taking the initiative to do. However, it may be insubordination on their part. As a soldier, protesting is not a liberty but a risk in many cases.
Correlating palestinians as the enemy, thus refuseniks are helping the enemy, the nationalistic outcry of Israeli citizens wants the harshest punishment available. How come this Israeli population chooses not to view these soldiers as human rights activists? It would than incriminate Israel as a legitimate oppressor.
As the Refusenik population continues to slowly grow, roughly 450, more rights are being attributed to their cause. An organization, funded by the west, provides these refuseniks with legal council. But most valuable, they provide the refuseniks with a pedestal to preach their message from, and a worldwide audience to hear and see their plea.
There are few in this world with tolerance for subtlety; this is a sad fact that one learns with time. The problem with Refuseniks – the reason that those two men were berated, accosted, and derided in England – is that they fall into a subtle gray area that few people are willing to deal with. All of the angry audience members were desperately trying to simplify the Israeli-Palestinian crisis into black and white: the Israelis are good, and can do no wrong; the Palestinians are bad, and can do no right. Rather than listen to these men when they say that they are still Israeli; that they still serve in the army; that they still love and support their homeland; all they hear is refusal, and all they think is betrayal.
I have the utmost sympathy for these men. It is no small thing to stand up against blind nationalism, ignorance, and intolerance. It is not easy to be called anti-Semitic when you are yourself a Jew. And although they can find strength in the knowledge that they are morally right, this too must be an endless source of frustration: If it is so clear to these men that the Israeli army is committing wrongs, why can no one else see it?
In spite of the obstacles they face, I do not think their refusal is in vain. Outside criticisms of Israel are known to be ineffective. Even the UN is no match for the rogue state. And any sole protester willing to make their opinion heard is easily silenced with the anti-Semitism card. But if the world realizes that people within Israel – Israeli Jews themselves – are questioning the government, they have little choice but to listen to them. These men may be scorned and disparaged, but I do not doubt their message will lodge itself somewhere in the heads of their audience members. Even the most devout Zionists will go home with a seed planted in the back of their minds. They may try to ignore the message; they may continue rationalizing the injustices carried out in the name of Israel; but someday, enough people will hear the message, and this subtle gray area will finally be an issue of black and white.
After reading about Yonatan Shapira I was left with a feeling of happiness and hope. The western media has presented the Arab-Israeli conflict as a conflict within a completely polarized region, Israel vs. Palestine. They have created a false sense of mutual hatred between the people of Israel and the people of Palestine. Shapira’s case provides an example of Israeli’s who recognize the wrongful occupation of Palestinian land. Its great to know that there are Israelis who are like this; however, currently there are not enough of these people to overcome the influence which the media along with the corrupt Israeli politicians have on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
I think that it is crucial that the Israeli populace should be able to recognize these “refuseniks” as patriotic Israelis, not traitors. They are so patriotic that they are willing to be incarcerated in an effort to raise the issue of an illegal and immortal occupation of Palestinian land. The very notion of refuseniks being viewed as traitors, I believe, is the message which the Israeli government is trying to spread as they push their wrongful agenda. Shapira’s referred to what a Nazi commander said at the Nuremberg trials, that “ it’s not hard to get people to go to war, just tell them they are being attacked.” I believe this is the tactic which is being employed by the Israeli government in order for them to have the complete, unquestioned backing of their citizens. Recently there have been very few suicide attacks on Israel; however, the Israeli government is using prior attacks as scare tactics in order to foster hate in the minds of their citizens for the enemy, the Palestinian. With this implanted in the Israeli conscious, it is possible for the government to do command an army to do whatever they want, even if that includes the wrongful occupation of land and attacking innocent people.
I definitely agree with Shapira when he says that change in the region will only come when there is a new generation of leaders. Hopefully the message behind Israeli refusenik-ism is greeted with graciousness by this new generation. Shapira mentions that the new generation is more and more likely to become refuseniks; however, as much as I want this to happen I have my doubts. I think that this will slowly happen but the influence that the current generation has on their offspring is rather strong. I believe that this anti-Palestinian sentiment will wear off generation by generation as there are more refusniks.
It is certainly promising that creative pacifists such as these "refuseniks" exist amid the conflict today. Their existence helps to humanize the image of Israelis to the outside world, especially Arabs and Palestinians. Perhaps if more of these types of people would act in similar fashion, it would increase the opportunity for achieving a workable peace.
The video about the reception of the "refuseniks" in Jewish circles in the United Kingom was quite startling however. It is interesting to see that so many Jewish people were against people who only refused to bomb civilian targets in Palestine. Their mentality for coming to this decision could be explained in several ways. First, as mentioned in the video, a lot of the dissenting public were older Jews, who lived through the holocaust, or had direct relatives who did. With this experience, they understand Israel to be a safe-haven, or an ideological stronghold. To these people, the defense of their safe-haven is the most important thing, and any sort of second guessing of the military action could result in national security risks.
It is also clear that they consider the actions of a few Palestinian terrorists to be their greatest threat, and also believe that their bombing of civilian areas to kill a few suspected terrorists will not inspire others to join that cause. In my opinion, this understanding of the conflict displays a profound misunderstanding of the world perspective on this issue. From my analysis of the conflict, it is evident that further repressive or destructive acts towards civilians in Palestine will not serve to increase Israel's security. The entire Arab world is observing the harsh action of an occupying force, and continually wondering how they can be expected to support peace when attacks against civilian centers are still being considered in Israeli military strategy.
The existence of these refuseniks and their subsequent public effect has been to demonstrate the great divide between moderates and radicals in Israeli affairs. The fact that people are willing to question the Israeli military decisions based on moral standards is a good sign, but more action is required. The argument that their actions were creating anti-semitism bothered me greatly. Thinking critically of one's government is a necessary reign on a possibly destructive force. When Americans questioned the actions of the Bush administration in Iraq, I believe that the low approval rating served to temper harsh feelings internationally against America, or its public at the very least. In addition, it led to a decisive administration change in the recent election, and possibly greater American acceptance on the world stage.
I don't believe the actions of the refuseniks were wrong in any way. I believe the statements of elite soldiers about the horrific realities of this war should be taken more seriously by Jews and Israeli's everywhere. It was surprising to see the reactions of the UK Jews, who were infuriated at the men's decisions. It is a testament to the refuseniks that they desire to still serve in the military. These men are not traders, they want to serve their country through means of defense. They do not want to participate in the continual violence against innocent people.
The Israeli's are sitting in a position of absolute power. If one Israeli is killed, 100 Palestinians will be killed. Israel has one of the most powerful military in the world, and is not going anywhere. So why are Israeli's and Jews so afraid of a people they can continue to dominate and suppress. I'm not sure if they believe Palestinians will one day retaliate when they are stronger? Regardless, there does not appear to be a morally justified reason for the continual flattening of Palestine.
Not being an Israel, I can't really imagine what it would be like to grow up in the war zone and go into the military. I do believe that the only way I could support the relentless suffering of an entire group of people, was if I recognized that I put Israeli's and Jews above all others. The reaction from Israeli's and Jews in the UK to the refuseniks was unbelievable. This small group of men can't be the only people who know how bad the situation is. People know but Israel represents something so important to them, they are not willing to even risk losing it.
I can't say I think they will make it a difference. I think they could be the smallest minority group in Israel. The backlash the refuseniks received gave a good indication as to the passion behind the existence and supremacy of Israel. The question really lies in the hands of the younger generation. If Israeli kids grow up questioning why this is happening, I believe the refuseniks will become a powerful group.
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