What follows is an article written by Refusenick, Jonathan Ben-Artzi.
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion” (UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18).
In modern society, the freedom of following ones conscience is as highly regarded as the freedom of practicing ones religion. Since the early days of modern history, people were guided by their conscience, sometimes tragically, to their death. Today, modern society accepts that not only is it crucial to allow each individual the uttermost freedom, but that it is in the interest of the society itself. As long as people express themselves in a non-violent manner, we do not curb them. It wasnt always like this. Socrates was put to death for his unlawful actions corrupting the youth. Dante, in his On World-Government said: The human race is at its best when most free. Only today have we reached general acceptance of this.
From an early age, I have come to the understanding that violence is wrong, and that war is neither justifiable nor necessary. At the age of seventeen, standing upon the torn hills of Verdun, the pointless violent death of hundreds of thousands was a shock. With the perspective of time, it is universally accepted, that the First World War was unnecessary. Furthermore, had enough people refused to serve in WWI, as did Bertrand Russell, World War II may have been avoided. Blind obedience left millions dead in 1914 and in 1939.
Generally speaking, when nations go to war, their citizens support it. The pacifist, the prosecutor in my trial said, is distinguished by his objection to the seemingly justified wars. The war being waged today against Palestinians, which has brought misery to Jews and Arabs alike, is widely accepted in Israel as a necessary war. It is precisely wars like this that vindicate pacifism: despite the notion, accepted by an overwhelming majority of Israelis, that this is a war for the very survival of the Jewish People, I view this as a war to maintain an Apartheid-like regime. Indeed, it seems to me that this un-democratic regime is the main danger to the welfare of Jews, in Israel and abroad.
On the other side of this conflict, there are people who, just like us, wish to lead a dignified life, and dream of a better future. The Israeli Occupation has, for nearly two generations, denied them the most basic human rights. Israels Arab citizens, with only partial respect for their rights, have generally abided by Israeli law. If their Palestinian brethren in the Occupied Territories had been given these same rights, much of the bloodshed would have been avoided. And if all Palestinians were given the same rights enjoyed by Jews, I am convinced that the Mideast conflict would be solved altogether.
I believe that this is possible. We can live side by side, as neighbors, today. I cannot accept that we are destined to war, and that coexistence can come only after bloodshed and grief. Verdun is not a necessary stop on the way to peace. For this reason I have refused to join the Israeli army, and have spent 18 months in military prison and detention.
No refusenik chooses to go to prison. For me, a secular Jewish 18-year-old male, there was no option other than convincing the army that I am mentally unfit for service, as do 25% of 18 year olds. There is no alternative civilian service.
The lack of a civilian alternative to military service for men in Israel contributes to the discrimination against its Arab citizens. Many state benefits, such as grants, mortgages, loans, and tax breaks, are given only to veterans, and to Jewish women (who are given the option of a civilian service). Many think that a civilian service is not offered to men as an alternative to the army, precisely in order to maintain this discrimination. One of the main objectives of my struggle is to confront the Israeli legal system with this issue. A successful outcome would be a blow to both militarism and racism in this country.
