Refusenik!
Israel's Soldiers of Conscience
Published on 1. February 2004
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-1-84277-450-2 (ISBN)
Description
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers, called up to take part in controversial campaigns like the 1982 invasion of Lebanon or policing duties in the Palestinian territories today, have refused orders. Many of these 'refuseniks' have faced prison sentences rather than take part in what they regard as an unjust occupation in defence of illegal Jewish settlements.
In this inspirational book, Peretz Kidron, himself a refusenik, gives us the stories, experiences, viewpoints, even poetry, of these courageous conscripts who believe in their country, but not in its actions beyond its borders.
We read about the cautious, even embarrassed, response of the authorities. And we see the wider implications of the philosophy of selective refusal - which is not the same thing as pacifism -- for conscientious citizens in every country where conscription still exists. Here is a real model for the peace movement in Israel and worldwide.
In this inspirational book, Peretz Kidron, himself a refusenik, gives us the stories, experiences, viewpoints, even poetry, of these courageous conscripts who believe in their country, but not in its actions beyond its borders.
We read about the cautious, even embarrassed, response of the authorities. And we see the wider implications of the philosophy of selective refusal - which is not the same thing as pacifism -- for conscientious citizens in every country where conscription still exists. Here is a real model for the peace movement in Israel and worldwide.
Reviews / Votes
'Our greatest admiration must go to those brave Israeli soldiers who refuse to serve beyond the 1967 borders?. These soldiers, who are Jews, take seriously the principle put forward at the Nuremberg trials in 1945-46: namely, that a soldier is not obliged to obey unjust orders - indeed, one has an obligation to disobey them.'Susan Sontag, novelist, essayist and playwright
'Resistance to crimes of state, and refusal to participate in them, has been and remains one of the most significant achievements of people of decency and courage throughout history. The Israelis who have undertaken this honorable course merit the greatest admiration and respect. Their testimonies are a memorable contribution to this noble cause.'
Noam Chomsky
'This collection of statements from soldiers who joined Yesh Gvul... should give pause for thought to all those diaspora Jews who preoccupy themselves with looking for 'balance' and 'even-handedness' in media reporting of events in the territories, rather than facing up to the devastating moral erosion that 37 years of occupation has wreaked on Israel's citizen army... It was once said of people who lived near concentration camps but claimed no knowledge of what went on inside, that those who didn't know, didn't want to know. Jews who still try to defend retention of the West Bank are in a similar category.'
David J. Goldberg, The Jewish Chronicle
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-84277-450-2 (9781842774502)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2008
1st Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€39.99
Available for download
Person
Peretz Kidron was born in Vienna in 1933. Months after the Nazi occupation of Austria, his family fled to Britain. On graduation from high school, he emigrated to Israel where he lived for 20 years in Zikim, a border kibbutz near the Gaza Strip, where he grew oranges, taught school, and engaged in voluntary work. A freelance journalist, broadcaster and writer, he has translated many books, including the memoirs of Yitzhak Rabin and Ezer Weizman, and a biography of David Ben Gurion. In 1976 he co-authored with the Palestinian activist, Raymonda Tawil, her memoirs My Home, My Prison.
In the late sixties, he became active in the radical left and peace movement. He is a founding member of the Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and serves on the steering committee of the human rights watchdog Betselem. Having refused to perform military duty in the occupied Palestinian territories, he now handles international contacts for Yesh Gvul ('There is a limit [to what an army can ask of its conscripts]'). Founded at the time of the invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the group became the voice and campaigning vehicle for the so-called refuseniks -- Israeli army reservists who report for duty when summoned but refuse morally objectionable assignments (notably serving on the West Bank and Gaza).
In the late sixties, he became active in the radical left and peace movement. He is a founding member of the Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and serves on the steering committee of the human rights watchdog Betselem. Having refused to perform military duty in the occupied Palestinian territories, he now handles international contacts for Yesh Gvul ('There is a limit [to what an army can ask of its conscripts]'). Founded at the time of the invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the group became the voice and campaigning vehicle for the so-called refuseniks -- Israeli army reservists who report for duty when summoned but refuse morally objectionable assignments (notably serving on the West Bank and Gaza).
Content
Foreword - Susan Sontag
Introduction: Israel's Refusnik Movement - Peretz Kidron
1. The Early Refuseniks
2. Balance - Yitzhak Laor
3. Saying 'no' loudly and clearly - Ishai Menuchin
4. An artist at Ansar - Zvi Goldstein
5. Discovering the Palestinians - Mike Levine
6. In solidarity with the almond trees - Peretz Kidron
7. The First Intifada
8. I'm no martyr - Hanoch Livneh
9. Whatever the price - Rami Hasson
10. The problem is in Jewish society - Menahem Hefetz
11. Refusal to Collaborate - Dudu Palma
12. I am an Arab Jew - Meir Amor
13. Father and son: refuseniks - Carlos and Amit Levinhoff
14. Spiral of evil - Stephen Langfur
15. The limit is human life - David Ovadia
16. The privilege of saying 'No!' - Adi Ofir
17. Silences that cry out - Doron Vilner
18. Benighted fanticism - Nitzan Levy
19. A typical 'NO' poem - Nathan Zach
20. A policy that demeans my country - Shaul Schwartz
21. The refusenik answers the writer - Mario Weinstein in correspondence with Yizhar Smilansky
22. On the festival of freedom I waive my freedom - Dubi Hayun
23. No to 'Always at Command' - Danny Zamir
24. 'You don't have to do anything wicked' - Daniel Padnes
25. Decent people don't shoot children - Itamar Pitovsky
26. I owe my children at least one refusal - Dan Sagir
27. The Philosophy of Selective Refusal - Peretz Kidron
28. The Story of Yuval and Imad
29. The Second Intifada
30. Letter to the editor of Koteret Rashit from Dov Barak
31. Statements by Jailed Conscripts
32. Those who enlist and those who don't - Uri Yaakovi
33. Militarism and racism have reached a fascist level - Haggai Matar
34. I am a prisoner, yet free - David Haham- Herson
35. A violent and racist society - Itamar Shahar
36. Statements by Jailed Reservists
37. Vile injustice - David Enoch
38. The red line - Michael Sfard
39. Collaboration makes me a criminal - Ro'i Kozlovsky
40. A cause which is not mine - Alex Lyakas
41. An enormous 'black flag' - Avner Kochavi
41. A letter to the commander of Battalion 719 - Ehud Shem Tuv
42. I killed three innocent civilians - Idan Kaspari
43. The shattered dream - Omry Yeshurun
44. The IDF teaches that it's okay to molest an Arab - Ishai Sgi
45. Black Flag - Itai Haviv
46. Three exercises in refusal - Ishai Rosen-Zvi
47. Is Marwan Barghouti yur uncle - Itai Ryb
48. Why am I mad at the IDF? - Ron Gerlitz
49. Closing Statements
50. My reply to the General - Yigal Bronner
51. Israel today is like a prison - Martin Kaminar
List of Addresses
Introduction: Israel's Refusnik Movement - Peretz Kidron
1. The Early Refuseniks
2. Balance - Yitzhak Laor
3. Saying 'no' loudly and clearly - Ishai Menuchin
4. An artist at Ansar - Zvi Goldstein
5. Discovering the Palestinians - Mike Levine
6. In solidarity with the almond trees - Peretz Kidron
7. The First Intifada
8. I'm no martyr - Hanoch Livneh
9. Whatever the price - Rami Hasson
10. The problem is in Jewish society - Menahem Hefetz
11. Refusal to Collaborate - Dudu Palma
12. I am an Arab Jew - Meir Amor
13. Father and son: refuseniks - Carlos and Amit Levinhoff
14. Spiral of evil - Stephen Langfur
15. The limit is human life - David Ovadia
16. The privilege of saying 'No!' - Adi Ofir
17. Silences that cry out - Doron Vilner
18. Benighted fanticism - Nitzan Levy
19. A typical 'NO' poem - Nathan Zach
20. A policy that demeans my country - Shaul Schwartz
21. The refusenik answers the writer - Mario Weinstein in correspondence with Yizhar Smilansky
22. On the festival of freedom I waive my freedom - Dubi Hayun
23. No to 'Always at Command' - Danny Zamir
24. 'You don't have to do anything wicked' - Daniel Padnes
25. Decent people don't shoot children - Itamar Pitovsky
26. I owe my children at least one refusal - Dan Sagir
27. The Philosophy of Selective Refusal - Peretz Kidron
28. The Story of Yuval and Imad
29. The Second Intifada
30. Letter to the editor of Koteret Rashit from Dov Barak
31. Statements by Jailed Conscripts
32. Those who enlist and those who don't - Uri Yaakovi
33. Militarism and racism have reached a fascist level - Haggai Matar
34. I am a prisoner, yet free - David Haham- Herson
35. A violent and racist society - Itamar Shahar
36. Statements by Jailed Reservists
37. Vile injustice - David Enoch
38. The red line - Michael Sfard
39. Collaboration makes me a criminal - Ro'i Kozlovsky
40. A cause which is not mine - Alex Lyakas
41. An enormous 'black flag' - Avner Kochavi
41. A letter to the commander of Battalion 719 - Ehud Shem Tuv
42. I killed three innocent civilians - Idan Kaspari
43. The shattered dream - Omry Yeshurun
44. The IDF teaches that it's okay to molest an Arab - Ishai Sgi
45. Black Flag - Itai Haviv
46. Three exercises in refusal - Ishai Rosen-Zvi
47. Is Marwan Barghouti yur uncle - Itai Ryb
48. Why am I mad at the IDF? - Ron Gerlitz
49. Closing Statements
50. My reply to the General - Yigal Bronner
51. Israel today is like a prison - Martin Kaminar
List of Addresses