While there are many who bash Chareidim for their refusal to serve in the IDF, one must wonder how these same people feel about a group of 63 high schoolers who penned an open letter to IDF authorities stating their refusal to be drafted, some telling various radio stations they would prefer to be jailed for their beliefs if need be.
The 63 are from areas around Israel, and the letter was published in Yediot Achronot, addressed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Education Minister Naftali Bennet and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott.
“We have decided not to take part in the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people,” they wrote. “The ‘temporary’ situation has dragged on for 50 years, and we will not go on lending a hand.”
In the letter they accuse the IDF of implementing policy of “a racist government that violates basic human rights,” referring to residents of the PA (Palestinian Authority). They believe the entire nation is “under institutionalized incitement directed against the Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line.” They also address the naval blockade on Gaza, blaming governments of Israel for the lack of peace over the decades.
“We refuse to be drafted and to serve in the army out of an obligation to values of peace, justice and equality, with the knowledge that there is another reality that we could create together,” they wrote. “We call on others to ask themselves, will army service work toward this reality?”
The letter called on others to reconsider being drafted, adding that they intend to go around the country to recruit for their initiative.
These students are sadly a product of the state education system, clearly led down a misguided path that reflects the policies of too many today, and now they are beginning to live their beliefs as they prepare for being inducted into the IDF.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
So why do they live in Israel? and if they agree it’s somehow justifiable, don’t borders need to be protected? – there’s gatta be an army job suited for them…
Please keep them out of the IDF. Israel doesn’t need people like these in the military.
It’s not just Chareidim refusing to serve in the army. However the hilonim who oppose the army haven’t thought things through, since without the army having dispossessed and occupied the Palestinians, there would be no zionist state, and without a zionist state it would be impossible for a secular Jew to live in Eretz Yisrael (consider all the things we can’t discuss openly on YWN that involve behaviors are a core part of secular life and are strictly banned in Islamic-influenced
states).
Opposition to military service spread widely in a society, is at the best an indicator that they should switch to a professional (volunteer) army.
we can all agree Zionism is on its death bad. The Torah wins, Zionism loses.
Now we clearly see the failure of Zionism. Without Torah and Yiddishkeit, just Zionism is meaningless. Even those that hold (only some gedolim) that a ben torah should not serve, at least there is a feeling for kedushas ha’aretz. The Zionists believe in nothing except, “me, myself and I”. Is it surprising that such a letter should be written? Those Chilonim that feel this way end up intermarrying and their children are lost forever R”L.
Every country except dictatorships leave place for conscientous objectors. These can come in many forms. Objecting to the occupation is just one. Perhaps if more people were able to experience at first hand what the average Palestinian goes through, they might also object. But the Israeli news – and that of their lackeys in the diaspora – is heavily censored.
However, what makes me cringe is the lack of understanding of diaspora Jewry, particularly the orthodox (or neo-orthodox). The Zionist propaganda machine presents itself differently in the diaspora than inside the state. Outside, Jews have one duty only: to support whatever party is in power and its decisions, whether they be made for personal aggrandizement of the leader, to hold together a coalition, or even simply for graft. Inside the state, where people support parties,at least half of the population at any given time does not agree with the policies of the state, and some feel sufficiently strongly about it to object in person – as these students have done.
However, conscientious objectors get veyr little publicity in Israel because there is not clear way to deal with them. They are actually usually released on medical grounds (insanity). These kids have found a work-around, and thrown down a significant challenge to the government and the status-quo. Let’s watch and see how it plays out.
But to the chattering classes sitting in luxury in the USA or anywhere else: perhaps find out the truth about the occupation before you crticize these kids. They may just be right.
@ipchamistabra- Ipcha mistabra