Unfortunately do not have time to post much more on this at this time, but wanted to make sure everyone was aware, since it has not been widely reported, that 5 Israeli reservists are now serving in Israeli military prison for refusing to go to Lebanon (as reservists, they serve between 14-28 days, whatever the length of their intended call-up was). Details on the 5 can be found here at the Yesh Gvul website. Yesh Gvul, of course, is the veteran Israeli refuser group that was founded in 1982, during the first Lebanon War.
It is important to note that one of the 5 is Itamar Shapira, younger brother of Yonatan and Zohar Shapira, both heroes of the refuser movement. I have written previously about Yonatan, leader of the Israeli Air Force pilot refusers in 2003, on this site, and you can find a number of other fascinating interviews with him on-line: 2 recent ones on Democracy Now here and here and his appearance on the WBUR/NPR show “The Connection” that he did during a 2004 tour. Zohar led the 13 members of the elite Sayeret Matkal brigade when they announced their refusal to serve in the Territories in late 2003. Both Yonatan and Zohar have been instrumental in the creation of Combatants for Peace, a joint group of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters who have come together to call for non-violence — in both societies. And now their younger brother is in jail, refusing “for the security of the citizens of Israel.”
I will say 3 quick things. First, in light of the Cabinet decision today to expand the ground war, we can expect more to follow these 5, and I will do my best to keep an update going. Probably not very many, though, as most who do not want to go can find a silent way to do it that no one will see but the soldier and the commander. Or soldiers will find a way to refuse during the war, as Yonatan reported today on Democracy Now (confirming earlier news reports), recounting that 2 pilots have deliberately missed targets to avoid civilian casualties. Second, if you are outside Israel and want to know how you can support these 5, and all of the refusers, visit the Refuser Solidarity Network.
Finally, my son will have a brother or sister come January, and I am freaked out about it. Hard enough raising one, how on earth to raise 2 children to become good people in this world? I have already been trying to focus on the refusers as overall models, but the news now of Itamar Shapira choosing to go to jail rather than Lebanon, that 3 refuser leaders have come from one family, is all I need to know.
And I hope more and more people in the world — especially in Palestine and Lebanon — will look to the Shapira brothers as the future through which we can build our dreams of peace.
Brad
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