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“I hope my decision to refuse military service and go to prison will contribute, in however small a way`

A conscientious objector was released from prison and another was imprisoned
for the first time on Wednesday, August 21

After twenty five days of imprisonment the IDF’s Conscience Committee
granted conscientious objector Maya Brand-Feigenbaum a release from military
service

`I believe that refusing to serve in the military is the best and most
effective way for me to promote anti-war principles and contribute to ending
the occupation`, she said

Concurrently, Yasmin Ricci-Yahav, age 18 from Mevasseret Zion, declared for
the first time her refusal to enlist, at the IDF recruitment office, and was
sent to an initial ten days` detention in Military Prison 6, likely to be
extended again and again if she persists in her refusal.

“I hope my decision will contribute, in however small a way, to a gradual
change of consciousness. And that this change will lead in turn to a search
for a solution based on justice and equality for Israelis and Palestinians,”
she wrote in her refusal declaration

Maya Brand-Feigenbaum, age 18 from Kiryat Tivon, first declared her refusal
to enlist on July 14 and was sent to prison, where she spent 25 days - after
which she appeared before the Conscience Committee which decided to
discharge her from the army.

Upon leaving prison she said:
“The decision to refuse military service is one I will never regret because
I was true to myself, and yet all along I continued to ask myself questions
and examine my stand. I experienced moments of great fear because the hatred
people spread is poisonous. This is something I was exposed to in prison and
which saddened me: hatred toward entire groups and disrespect that is borne
out of fear. I faced comments like ‘all Arabs should die, and if you are on
their side you should die too.’ I wish the girls who spoke in this way
understood that in fact we are all on the same side.”

In her refusal declaration, published before she refused to enlist, Brand-
Feigenbaum wrote:

“Decades of dominating another people is compromising the security of the
State of Israel. As a woman who loves this country, whose landscape and
people are a part of me, I cannot take part in the preservation of this
situation. I am aware that our reality requires having a military that will
act to protect us against real threats. However, at the same time, we also
need people who will act to promote a war-free reality. Anti-war activity
serves the best interests of the state of Israel and the world, and will
result in long-term security. Taking action to resolve the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and ending the Occupation is in the best interest of
all residents of this land – Jews, Muslims and Christians alike`.

Concurrently, Yasmin Ricci-Yahav, age 18 from Mevasseret Zion, arrived at
the army’s recruitment office, declared her refusal to enlist and was sent
to the standard initial ten days of detention. In her refusal declaration
she wrote:

“I do not question Israel’s right to have and use an army in order to defend
itself. I do not wish to detract from the respect and admiration owed to
those who came before me and did everything in their power to protect a
state that offered a home to millions who needed a safe haven. But the
Israeli army nowadays does not function only as a defence force, but as a
main tool in the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people.”

“We have all experienced,” Ricci-Yahav continued, “a childhood marred by war
and hatred, and we have all grown up in a world where we have been taught to
fear and to distance ourselves from the other side. But I believe there is
another way to face the complex reality in which we live. This requires a
conversation about alternatives, mutual respect and a desire for change. In
addition, I believe that it is the young generation in Israel that is
responsible for advancing change. I hope that my refusal will contribute to
the struggle to bring about not only a more secure future for Israel, but
also a future that inspires pride and is characterised by tolerance and
compassion.”

Maya & Yasmin is accompanied by Mesarvot – A political refusing network that
writes letters and initiates refusing groups from the last few years to
joint action. The network supports conscientious objectors that choose to
not enlist in the occupation army, while knowingly acknowledging the gender
aspects that the compulsory enlistment brings to Israeli society. The
network works in cooperation and assistant from Yesh Gvul Movement.

More details >>

Dror Mizrahi
Media | Strategy | PR

Cell: +972-50-7248688
Email: dror@dror-mizrahi.org

TEL AVIV-JAFFA, ISRAEL
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