A letter signed by 56 Israeli reservists stating why they refuse to serve their country in its current military operation is published this week in the Washington Post. Their fundamental objection, the two initiators tell Democracy Now, is the power the hierarchical IDF exercises over Palestinians and Israelis. We learn on the way that most Americans have never heard of the siege of Gaza but think Israel is under siege by Hamas.

“The Army serves the people in power and not the civilians, who are only a tool” says one of 60 Israeli teenagers who have signed a letter to PM Netanyahu stating their refusal to serve in the IDF. (Refusal of military conscription is punishable by imprisonment). Their letter states that in the oPt “human rights are violated, and acts defined under international law as war-crimes are perpetuated on a daily basis”. It is the biggest mass refusal for 6 years.

Adam Keller sketches the history of refusing military service, from the 1982 Lebanon war to today. During that 30 years many young conscripts have refused to use military power to enforce the Occupation. Now Naftali Bennett, leader of a revamped far-right party, has said he will refuse – to evict settlers. He may galvanise a pro-settler cohort inside the army and among settlers.

The integration of American and Israeli military and technological systems, the enforcement of the status quo in Israel, the rules and walls separating Jews and Arabs — these are not news. We post this take on these features of the US/Israel alliance because it comes from Netanyahu’s refusenik nephew who went to prison for his beliefs before going to study in the USA. He is now at Cambridge University, UK.

Three of the young Israelis who have most recently refused to do military service because they will not enforce the occupation. They all believe that military service bears no connection to the idealised image of the IDF as the people’s servant and protector. They all expect to be sent to prison.

Breaking the Silence has released a new publication, “Occupation of the Territories – Israeli Soldier Testimonies 2000-2010”, as part of the organization’s wider goal of increasing access to information on the daily reality in the Occupied Territories. The 431-page volume is made up of testimonies from 101 male and female soldiers who served in the Territories over the past decade. Joseph Dana of +972 provides a brief commentary on the publication and its significance.

As news comes in that Breaking the Silence, now in its sixth year, is planning a major new publication to mark ten years since the start of the second intifada, we reproduce a substantial Ha’aretz feature article on the organisation and its work.

Breaking the Silence (BTS) has been nominated for the annual prize by the Greens and European United Left groups. The winner will be announced later this month.

Refusenik and activist Matan Cohen, who almost lost an eye after being shot in the face by a tear gas canister had his case dismissed by an Israeli judge – who further imposed a £13,000 fine for bringing a “frivolous” lawsuit. Matan needs to raise a £5,000 deposit in order to lodge an appeal against the ruling.

Yehuda Shaul, 27, one of the founders of Breaking the Silence, which collects and publishes eyewitness accounts of soldiers from the territories, is celebrating a minor victory over the Israel Defense Forces, the IDF spokesman and the wall of silence that Shaul says surrounds the events of Operation Cast Lead in Gaza [...]

CO Diane Kogan, 18, of the Tel-Aviv suburb of Bat Yam, was sentenced on13 June to 25 days in a military gaol for her refusal to enlist. This is in fact the second time Diane is being sent to prison and the sixth time she is being sentenced for her conscientious objection. Please send her messages of support…

One of this year’s Shministim (courageous high school leavers who refuse to be drafted into the Israeli Army) will be speaking in London this weekend. Or Ben David has been jailed for her refusal to serve three times, not including a pre sentence detention of 7 days. She will talk about the reasons for their […]

“A year after this brutal war, a change of strategy is needed. Israel should commence immediate talks with Hamas, negotiating not only a ceasefire but also the “core issues” to be part of an end-of-conflict agreement. An open dialogue with Hamas is clearly in Israel’s interest…”

A new “crop” of Shministim (high schoolers who announce refusal to be conscripted into the IDF) made themselves known with the publication of their letter, followed by jail terms for several. In addition, increasing numbers of reservists are again refusing to go to the Palestinian territories, many of them citing Gaza as the latest in a long and very depressing series of “last straws.” … Combatants for Peace, New Profile, the Shministim, Yesh Gvul, and Courage to Refuse – all need financial help [...]

Our dear friend and sister Or Ben-David has been sentenced for 34 more days in military prison (after already serving 47 days) for refusing enlistment to the IDF (the Israeli army). Or, like other members of the “Shministim letter” refuses to enlist because of the IDF’s Brutal and illegal actions in the occupied Palestine…

A letter from the Refuser Solidarity Network calling for support the Shministim, Yesh Gvul, New Profile, Combatants for Peace and Courage to Refuse…

We are writing to you on behalf of Open Shuhada Street to tell you about the recent visit of the Shministim, why we chose to bring them out, what they did while they were here, what kind of impact they had on the various audiences that they spoke to and lastly, some aspects of their engagement with the Jewish community…

Prison Term for Conscientious Objector Or Ben-David – female Dear Friends Or Ben-David, 19, from Jerusalem, a signatory of the  2009-2010 high school seniors letter of refusal, was sentenced earlier today (29 Oct.) to 20 days in military prison. This sentence follows a sentence of seven days of confinement to base given her a week […]

New Profile reports First prison term for Efi Brenner, the first among the signatories of the 2009-2010 Shministim refusal letter to be sent to military prison. Full information and recommended action follow. A new collective declaration of refusal by Israeli youths, the 2009-2010 high school seniors letter, went public last week. Today (22 Oct.), two […]

Sydney Levy, Jewish Voice for Peace, writes about Ezra Nawi , Mohammad Othman and the new wave of Shmnistim refuseniks. [...]