refuseniks

Israeli conscientious objector Atalya Ben-Abba. (Yona Benstein)

My sister is refusing to join the IDF — and I couldn’t be prouder

In our childhood we would fight imaginary monsters. Today the monster of the occupation is far stronger — yet Atalya continues to bravely fight on, and is willing to pay the price for her beliefs. By Amitai Ben-Abba Tomorrow, Tuesday February 6, my sister Atalya Ben-Abba will refuse to join the Israeli army and will…

By +972 Magazine February 5, 2017

Tamar Alon and Tamar Ze’evi stand outside the IDF’s Tel Hashomer induction base where they were expected to declare their refusal to serve in the army, and be sentenced to prison, Tel Aviv, November 16, 2016. (Haggai Matar)

Israeli conscientious objectors sent to military prison for second time

The two young women already spent seven days in prison for refusing to take part in the occupation. An IDF tribunal sentenced two Israeli conscientious objectors, Tamar Alon and Tamar Ze’evi, to 10 days in military prison on Monday for refusing to serve in the Israeli occupation. Two weeks ago, the young women declared their…

By Haggai Matar November 28, 2016

Tamar Alon and Tamar Ze’evi stand outside the IDF’s Tel Hashomer induction base where they were expected to declare their refusal to serve in the army, and be sentenced to prison, Tel Aviv, November 16, 2016. (Haggai Matar)

Israeli army jails two new conscientious objectors

Dozens accompany the two young women as they declare their refusal to serve in the occupation. Two Israeli conscientious objectors declared their refusal to serve in the occupation Wednesday morning at the IDF’s Tel Hashomer induction base outside Tel Aviv. The two young women, Tamar Alon of Tel Aviv and Tamar Ze’evi of Jerusalem, are…

By Haggai Matar November 16, 2016

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Yoav Galant (L), commander of the Israel Defense Forces Southern Command, Gadi Shamni (C), general of the IDF Center Command and Moni Katz (R), the new commander of the Givati brigade attend of a ceremony of the changing of the Givati brigade. (IDF Spokesperson/Flash90)

Born again peaceniks: How ex-IDF generals clean their conscience

For years they have served in high-ranking positions in the Israeli army, taking part in the most violent aspects of the occupation. Only once they leave do they suddenly discover that, perhaps, military rule isn’t such a great idea. By now it has become a tired ritual: every once in a while a former high-ranking member…

By Orly Noy September 4, 2016

Conscientious objector Tair Kaminer is seen with family and supporters as she is released from Prison 6 after nearly 160 days. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Israeli conscientious objector released from military prison after 160 days

Tair Kaminer is released from Prison 6, where she served multiple sentences for refusing to serve in the Israeli army. Photos by Oren Ziv / Activestills.org Israel’s longest-serving conscientious objector Tair Kaminer was officially released from prison Monday night, after serving approximately 160 days for her refusal to join the Israeli army. She is the…

By Edo Konrad July 18, 2016

Conscientious objector Tair Kaminer is greeted by supporters outside the Tel Hashomer induction base, Ramat Gan, Israel, January 10, 2016. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

The female conscientious objector who just made Israeli history

Following her sixth trial, Tair Kaminer has become the longest-serving female conscientious objector in Israel’s history. This is her story. IDF military “Prison 6” lies in one of the most picturesque spots in Israel, at the bottom of the Carmel Mountain, between green fields and banana plantations. The prisoners can see the mountains from the…

By Noam Sheizaf July 12, 2016

Solidarity protesters and family members protest for Israeli conscientious objector Tair Kaminer, Prison 400, central Israel, January 23, 2016. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: Protest for conscientious objector outside IDF prison

Conscientious objector Tair Kaminer is being held in an Israel army women’s prison for refusing to take part in the occupation. Text by Haggai Matar Photos by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org Roughly 80 left-wing activists protested in support of jailed conscientious objector Tair Kaminer outside the IDF’s Prison 400 on Saturday. Two weeks ago Kaminer informed the…

By Haggai Matar January 25, 2016

Demonstrators organize a performance in support of Tair Kaminer, a 19-year-old Israeli conscientious objector, at the Tel Hashomer induction base, Ramat Gan, Israel, January 10, 2016. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Dozens protest in support of Israeli conscientious objector

Tair Kaminer is expected to be sentenced to a month in military jail for refusing to enlist in the IDF. Kaminer: ‘Military jail frightens me less than our society losing its humanity.’ Approximately 40 demonstrators accompanied Israeli conscientious objector Tair Kaminer to the Tel Hashomer induction base on Sunday, where she is expected to be…

By Haggai Matar January 10, 2016

A pro-Israel rally, Washington D.C, July 18, 2014 (photo: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Overcoming Jewish America’s Israel fantasy

The idea of Israel has long been an integral part of Jewish-American identity. But with a generational change among American Jews and increasingly stark political differences with Israel’s leadership, could this be the dawn of a new era? Last summer Michael Oren, who served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009-13, blithely offended virtually…

By Lisa Goldman December 31, 2015

Playing music and calling to free conscientious obkectors at Military Prison 6 (Haggai Matar)

WATCH: Supporting jailed conscientious objectors in Israel

For decades, since the First Lebanon War, Israeli military objector group Yesh Gvul has been leading demonstrations in support of imprisoned conscientious objectors. Last month, the organization went to ‘Prison 4’ in Zrifin to support conscientious objector Ido Ramon, who has served some 100 days for refusing to take part in the occupation. Social TV…

By Social TV September 12, 2015

IDF soldiers walk through Hebron. (photo: Activestills)

IDF commander dismisses Unit 8200 refuseniks

‘These operations, and not our letter, are what make military service political.’ The 43 reservist soldiers who refused to serve in the IDF respond to their dismissal. The commander of the IDF’s highly prestigious 8200 intelligence unit dismissed all 43 reservist soldiers who previously declared their refusal to serve in a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu last…

By Mairav Zonszein January 26, 2015

Druze conscientious objector Urawa Jaleb Saif, June 15, 2014, Haifa. (Photo by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

[WATCH] Druze refusal in the Israeli army (part 1): A history lesson

According to the mainstream Israeli narrative the Druze population in Israel is loyal to and maintains an alliance with the state, the most famous element of which includes mandatory military service. But is that really the whole story? The first episode in a four-part series looking at Druze in Israel, their relationship with the security…

By Social TV November 16, 2014

Illustrative photo of digital surveillance. (Shutterstock.com)

Against spy revelations, Israel doth protest too much

The nation’s establishment has called the whistle-blowers of Unit 8200 every bad name, but it has no answer to their charge that information deliberately gathered on innocent Palestinians is used to blackmail them into collaborating. The 43 refuseniks in Unit 8200, Israel’s legendary high-tech snoops, are this week’s Gideon Levys, this week’s Haneen Zoabis –…

By Larry Derfner September 16, 2014