Yesh G'vul: First Israeli Conscientious Objector

There is a limit: Fighting in Lebanon produces its first conscientious objector - Haaretz - Israel News.

"I know people will attack me and ask how could I not take part in this war when Qassams are falling on my hometown and Katyushas on the towns in the north," he told Haaretz. "In my opinion, only this type of opposition that I've chosen will put an end to the madness that is going on now and will shatter the false feeling that the entire home front supports this unnecessary war that is based on deceptive considerations."

He added: "Someone has to be the first to break the silence and it will be me. It is a shame that my order was signed by another Sderot resident, Defense Minister Amir Peretz."

Shabbat says he has already informed his commander and other officers in the unit of his intentions and he is prepared to pay the price.

In the past Shabbat, considered an outstanding commander, also refused to serve in the territories and sat in prison for 28 days. He was one of the signatories to the petition of the refusal movement, Courage to Refuse. However he says that his present decision is not connected with the need to relieve a unit in the territories but rather with his opposition to the war in Lebanon. The larger Yesh Gvul movement started by opposing the 1982 Lebanon war and only later the territories, too.

Yesh Gvul means "There is a limit." The website gives information on Israelis who refuse to obey orders to commit what they believe are war crimes. This is why I still have some hope in humanity. I know that there are Jews of conscience still keeping their heads and thinking through the issues.

Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel's actions of the last week are not defense, they are sadism. I am grateful to those Israelis who can see clearly enough to distinguish between self-defense and indiscriminate butchery.

Link thanks to The Arabist.

Comments

[yyy12]

someone who is justifing people who fire rockets at him for no reason, is not humane, just stupid.

the israelis are supporting the offensive against lebanon not because they want to see death and destruction over there, but because they believe thats the way to destroy hizbulla.

[Peter H]

Leila,

I made the suggestion in another post that the Lebanese blogosphere should work with Israeli anti-war groups like Gush Shalom and Yesh G'vul. Find out when the next opposition rally is in Israel, and have Lebanese people address the rally by telephone. Lebanese need to do everything they can to strengthen their allies in Israel.