Gil Sima
Yediot Ahronot Rishon
16.11.09
Efi Brenner, one of the key signatories on the Conscientious Objectors letter that shook the country, knows the price and is willing to pay it.
Next Thursday, Efi Brenner from Rishon Le zion, is supposed to go to the draft office, don a uniform, and embark on a new journey of military service. For most of Brenner’s peers, this symbolizes the transition from childhood to adulthood.
For Brenner, who is at the forefront of the conscientious objectors group that published this years “Shministim Letter” (Seniors’ Letter), this Thursday marks an entirely different kind of transition. Instead of commencing a term of military service, he will be serving time in a military prison.
“I know that I am in for a rough experience, but I am resolute in my decision.” says Brenner, who together with five other high school students from the area decided to familiarize themselves with the army through the walls of military prison.
The “Seniors Letter” protest started 30 years ago exactly - and this week it is sending shock waves across the country again. Going against the unquestioned social consensus, this group of high school students decided to refuse the IDF draft.
“Our refusal to be occupation soldiers stems form our commitment to our values and from our commitment to the society we live in” explain the main objectors. They point to the increasing wave of signatories on the letter, saying that it indicates a growing social phenomenon.
This week we met Brenner for a discussion on the topic. It was made clear from the start that for Brenner the term ‘Israeli Defence Force’ is exchanged with the term ‘combative militarism’.
Struggling against one of the strongest institutions in the country is just one of Brenner’s goals. He is aware that he will have to pay a high price and that he can expect a split from some of his closest surrounding society, including his family.
Vegan and Anti Militaristic
Efi was born to a family that honours social values. Like his peers, Efi was raised in a society that has the ongoing Israeli – Palestinian conflict ever present at its centre. He started his career as an ideological activist at an early age in the organisation “Rishon Loves Animals” at the same time going vegan. “I became aware of the implications my animal eating had, and as I object to the occupation, I also object to the murder of animals or to the exploitation of any other beings” says Brenner.
As a youth Brenner participated in turbulent left wing demonstrations, and very quickly placed himself on the political map, although his ideological allegiance was only really affirmed when he started Mekif Chet High School. “I started going to high school and suddenly I notice there are many lectures by IDF soldiers, whose only purpose is to promote the draft, and tell you about the amount of people who died for the country. I came to school to learn, but suddenly a political agenda is being mixed in the syllabus.”
Did you object?
“I just didn’t come to many lectures; the teachers knew my opinions, so they didn’t bother to invite me. At that time I also composed my personal conscientious objection letter, which I wrote to the “commity that ” of the IDF”.
“Occupation is not Defence”
Brenner understood his surroundings. According to him the matriculation examinations are also politically biased, and militaristic, like the rest of the school curriculum. “On the composition matriculation exam, we were asked several times to write on the topic “The growing phenomenon of draft avoidance”. When I wrote my opinions on this subject, and all the reasons to refuse the draft, every one else chose to write against”.
Did you feel like the odd one out?
“No, but the teacher came up to me and said that my essay was very good but that she cannot read it to the class. I also didn’t go to the class trip “on the path of the combatants”. When my friends came back and showed me pictures, I couldn’t believe it. Suddenly you see a 17 year old kid driving a tank or holding a weapon. The topic of conscientious objection arose in class. I had many arguments with friends, but it never came to the breaking off of friendships because I am a conscientious objector. It arose in class during lectures and at the annual school trip”.
And what did you feel?
“That it’s not ok”.
Defence of the country is not a value for you?
“Occupation is not self defence. These trips are organized, in order to say that in order for the country to exist more people have to die. But I think that as long as there is a military there is no solution. So for me it became absolutely clear that I will not enlist in this thing called ‘the army’.
Was it a resolute decision?
At the beginning it was taken for granted that I will enlist, because you are taught to expect it from birth. But at the age of 15 and a half, I became interested in the conflict. I found a lot of information on the internet, and then I decided I have to go to the territories to see for myself what is going on. Until you go there you don’t know what occupation is”.
Highly motivated, Brenner went with a group of left wing activists to Bili`n Village on the other side of the green line. There, according to him, he understood the mistaken mind set of fresh recruits. “I was exposed to things- I participated in a non violent demonstration and found myself being fired at by soldiers with weapons for dispersal of demonstrations”, he says. “My opinion crystallized; I knew I was not willing to partake in this. At this time I was considering refusing the draft. My aim was also to show the people sitting in cafes, ignorant of what is happening right under their noses a mere 30 minutes drive away, that there are people who cannot get to their schools, who’s freedom of movement is limited, and all this because of the military rule”.
Did you manage to convince friends to join your struggle?
I succeeded in exposing people to the struggle - people who apart from being aware of the fact that they will be drafted to “defend the country”- don’t know anything about the conflict. If I managed to show them something else, it’s already an achievement in my opinion. People need to know the reality they are living in”.
Not many Combatants from Rishon Le Zion
A couple of months ago, the press published that out of all the 50 high schools in Rishon Le zion none enter the category of ‘combatant draftee producers’. Further data gathered this week indicates that this city’s percentage of male high school draftees reaches 86%, and of that number 32.7% enter combat units. The data on female draftees is even less encouraging, reaching 1.7% combatants (out of the 77.1% draft rate).
Brenner’s struggle started a year ago, when he received his first summons to the “Tel HaShomer Recruitment Bureau”. “I sent a “ conscience(refusal)” letter that describes my objection to the occupation and to the draft. I spoke of the affects of militarism in schools: that instead of studying we are fed political content” says Brenner.
What was their reply?
“Half a year later, I was told that in order to meet the requests of my conscience, I have to finish proceedings at draft court”.
Brenner is not alone. Efi’s friend Y, not yet 18, is following his foot steps. Y, who asks to remain anonymous, says he joined the struggle after realising in class that the values the school is trying to instil in him conflict with his world view.
“We were raised on many mistaken values and on a distorted perception of reality created mostly by the Ministry of Education. For example there is a law forbidding teaching of the ‘Nakba’. That means students in this country don’t know about the killing of Palestinians that lived here in 1948. The system has a good reason for doing so. All they want is a high percentage of draftees that won’t ask questions or have doubts”, says Y.
A, 21 from Nes Tsiyona, saw action in Gaza and in Judea and Samaria. After those experiences he decided to refuse further participation in such military actions.
Why did you decide to refuse?
“I saw the nature of the actions. When I was drafted I didn’t understand what it would be like. The checkpoints protect the settlements, and not the country itself. Soldiers sometimes have a tendency to hurt innocents. I didn’t enlist for that”.
Where you punished?
I served 17 days in prison. I was released and returned to the unit, I explained the situation to my Battalion commander and now iv`e been order to perform minimal jobs on the base.
Where you heckled?
There was some heckling by unit mates, but my family supported me. People don’t really know what the army does. If I would have known, I wouldn’t have enlisted”.
A small but significant phenomenon
Brenner goes even further and claims that: “Many people enlist in the army and experience using violence against people. It becomes internalized. You see it when you walk the streets and hear that the rate of violence in society has risen”.
Aren’t you worried about prison?
“I spoke with several conscientious objectors who sat in jail. I know that it’s not a pleasant experience, but I am resolute in my decision”.
Do you think you might feel you made a mistake during your prison term?
No, because my decision to refuse is not just personal. It’s also to show the Palestinian side that there are people who do not want to take part in wars”.
Don’t you think there is something populist in your activity, in a country that is struggling for its daily existence?
“One mustn’t just look at the violence itself, but what causes the violence, what is the basis of what exists. Oppression of people has been going on for years. For everything there is a reason. I don’t condone terror, but it won’t end because we try and solve it militaristically.
“I am not willing to don the uniform of the organisation that daily oppresses people and imposes upon them military rule. Here we can move from place to place, but there, there are checkpoints and people get stuck at home and can’t support their families.”
Have you succeeded in recruiting people?
“I have succeeded in exposing people to information. I am still not sure if they will agree with me, but I am sure it is a phenomenon. I am not alone, the number of signatories grows.”
Aren’t you ashamed of draft dodging?
“The easiest thing would be to enlist, complete my service, and focus on a career and work. But I believe that volunteering is a way of life. Here there is no cliché of ‘I gave two or three years of my life, I did my part, now don’t bother me’.
How did your parents react?
My parents are against my decision.
Is the topic discussed at home?
“Yes, of course. My father wanted me to enlist, because that is how he was indoctrinated. At the beginning they clearly told me, there is no way I will refuse the draft. My mom has her mother’s sensitivity. I don’t think they will visit me in jail, only my lawyer will. I suppose my father won’t even want to hear from me”.
Y also had a complicated confrontation with his parents. “My parents object, but at the end of the day, they accept reality. At the beginning it was a shock. My father was in the army, and my brother was injured in the army, so there is this army supporting atmosphere in the family. I am the odd one out”, he says.
Do you feel supported?
“My friends hold similar opinions; most of my friends don’t enlist. This is definitely a phenomenon. It may be small, but it has an impact. I think it is very positive that there are young people who ask questions and don’t take for granted everything that is told to them”.
Did you ever consider enlisting for a position in the military that doesn’t conflict with your political opinions?
“How would that help? I would still be assisting an oppressive organisation, instead of helping society”.
Do you have thoughts on prison?
I am concerned about the solitary confinement that I will probably get. I hope that I won’t suffer too much. It’s certainly not pleasant to be alone with yourself for a month. It even frightens me. Another thing that has me concerned is that the army will alter its policy regarding our sentences, and take us to military court and put us in jail for two years”.
How do you see patriotism, in terms of what you and your friends express?
“If there wasn’t this sacrifice, people would not die. The army cannot protect any side. It’s a never ending story. If the military continues to exist in its current format, people will continue dying on both sides”.
The principle of Mekif Chet High School, Orit Lebon, says that the phenomenon of draft refusees at her school is minor, and does not indicate a trend. “The school has a tradition of alumni that enlist and contribute. I don’t want to idolize combat units, because everyone contributes according to their ability. We have a day called ‘Alumni Day’, on which alumni come to the school and talk about their military position and what they had to do to achieve it”. says Lebon.
Is there talk of draft dodging?
Certainly not. Students talk a lot about their fears and dilemmas, which is very normal. Our counselling services take care of it and talk about it. The fact that students talk about it, shows the openness of our school”.
How do you explain the fact that not one of the 50 high schools in Rishon Le Zion is included in the list of high schools that produce the highest percentage of combat draftees?
“I don’t really know about that, but we spoke about it with the pupils. I don’t think that it indicates a trend”.
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