Conscientious Objection - An Important Decision

JPF & Conscientious Objection

The Jewish Peace Fellowship believes that Jewish tradition is a continual calling toward peace and justice. Thus, we fully support those young people who cannot participate in any and all wars. Mindful of Judaism's principles, we strongly affirm the right of those who, motivated by conscience and who because of religious, ethical or moral belief are "conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form," choose to be classified as conscientious objectors. We pledge our support for those young people who wish to take this path, mindful that our faith fully supports them. We also support the right of taxpayers who are conscientious objectors to pay the military portion of their taxes to a Peace Tax Fund.

JUST PUBLISHED!!

Wrestling With Your Conscience: A Guide for Jewish Draft Registrants and Conscientious Objectors.

Features the most recent Selective Service regulations plus articles on Can a Jew Be a CO?; the Jewish Pursuit of Peace; Judaism and War; Registration at 18; What if the Draft is Reinstated? Israeli Refusers; What the JPF can do for you, and much more.

Published by the JPF.

$7 plus $2 for postage

5 or more books, $5 each plus $5 for postage.

Order directly from the JPF, Box 271, Nyack, N.Y. 10960; jpf@forusa.org

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Resource Organizations

American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-241-7000
Email:afscinfo@afsc.org
Web: http://www.afsc.org

Center on Conscience & War (NISBCO)
1830 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-483-1246
Email: nisbco@nisbco.org
Web: http://www.nisbco.org

Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCC0)
1515 Cherry St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-563-8787; 888-236-CCCO
Email: info@objector.org
Web: http://www.objector.org

CCCO West
630 Twentieth St., Suite 302
Oakland, CA 94612
510-465-1617; 888-231-CCCO
Email: chris@objector.org
Web: http://www.objector.org

Committee Opposed to Militarism & the Draft (COMD)
POB 15195
San Diego, CA 92175
760-753-7518; 619-265-1369
Email: COMDSD@aol.com
Web: http://www.comdsd.org/

War Resisters League
339 Lafayette Street
New York, N.Y. 10012
212-228-0450
Email: wrl@igc.apc.org
Web: http://www.warresisters.org

The Peace Registry
A Project of The Peace Alliance Foundation
http://www.peacealliancefound.org

They Won't Go

"Pacifism Amid the Ranks: Some Israeli Resist Service" was the headline in Newsday (November, 2000). After mentioning Noam Kuzar, the 19-year-old conscript who refused to serve in the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank and was given a 28-day prison sentence (see Shalom, Autumn-Winter, 2000) correspondent Edward A. Gargan notes that, "Israeli society and the army are grudgingly coming to recognize that the refusal to bear arms does not constitute treason," and then quotes Yaron Ezrahi, a Hebrew University political scientist as saying, " After the Holocaust, with the establishment of Israel, the idea of pacifism appeared as anti-Jewish and anti-patriotic. Who’s going to defend our children, went the argument [against recognizing conscientious objection in Israel]. It has taken some time for the State of Israel to realize that pacifism can be a profound human conviction, that it is a way of life for some individuals."

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JPF needs you to help us support Israeli C.O.'s

Subject: Groundbreaking legal case of Israeli CO - your assistance required. Email us your contributions to a JPF letter. If you are a rabbi, jewish scholar, jewish educator, a Jewish pacifist who has written a successful CO statement for your draft board, or anyone whose expertise gives you authority to write a letter on this young man's behalf, please write your own AND FORWARD A COPY TO JPF for us to put on our website to help other Israeli CO's.

Below, please read the appeal letter from the Israeli CO support organization:

Dear friends,

Yinnon Hiller, aged 18, is a pacifist conscientious objector to military service from Israel. His case is soon to be taken before the Israeli High Court of Justice for what may well become a groundbreaking legal precedent in favor of conscientious objectors in Israel.

The Israeli military authorities have so far stated they would only grant an exemption to a male CO if he fulfills a list of almost impossible conditions. For one thing, he must notify the military authorities of his conscientious objection already at age 16. He must also be a pacifist -- no other form of conscientious objection counts. He must of course be willing to conduct alternative service, and so on.

In Yinnon Hiller we have, for the first time ever, a CO who fulfills all these conditions, and yet the Israeli army has not agreed to exempt him from conscription. What this means is that for the first time ever we have a good chance of actually winning a CO court case in Israel. Given the nature of the Israeli legal system, this would be of great benefit to all COs in the future.

In order to prepare Yinnon's appeal we are collecting expert recommendations from organizations engaged in some way in pacifism and/or conscientious objection, as well as from academic specialists in relevant fields, stating that Yinnon is indeed a sincere pacifist CO. This is done in order to counter the way in which the army would probably try to present him based on the "expert" opinions of the career officers who staff the "conscience committee" in charge of granting exemptions.

We are thus asking you to assist us in this by sending such a recommendation letter and by giving this web address to peace groups and academic specialists in relevant fields, asking them to do the same.

To assist you in doing so, below are:

a. A letter from Yinnon Hiller himself, in which he introduces himself and his views.

b. Recommendation letters regarding Yinnon by: Rela Mazali and Debbie Birnbaum, two of the founding members of "New-Profile", Israel's largest anti-militarist group, who are both personally acquainted with Yinnon; Yevgeni Davydov, Chairperson of the Association of Conscientious Objectors in Israel (COI), who has been directly counseling Yinnon throughout the lengthy process of objection in Israel. Yinnon was also interviewed by academic specialists, who are to present affidavits to the High Court in support of our appeal. However, these affidavits are not ready yet, so we cannot show them at present.

c. We have also included a letter requesting assistance in covering legal fees for this case. Please give this web address to as many people as you can.

Here are some guidelines for composing the letter, to make it maximally useful for our purposes:

1. The letter should be addressed to "The 'New Profile' movement". If the letter is sent by a group or an organization, the person who signs it should have some sort of formal status within the group.

2. The letter should begin with an introduction in which the author presents her-or-himself and states what sort of expertise he or she has in the field of pacifism and/or conscientious objection. Also, please comment on the evidence you have for making your judgement on this particular case.

3. Next, please state whether, based on the evidence before you, you consider Yinnon Hiller to be a sincere conscientious objector to military service. Please ground and explain this judgement of yours.

4. Please do the same regarding the question of whether you consider Yinnon Hiller to be a pacifist.

5. Another question we would like you to consider in your letter is whether Yinnon Hiller would have received a CO status in your country had he applied for one (or, for the international groups among you, in what countries of the world do you judge a person like Yinnon would receive such a status).

6. Yinnon Hiller was offered to conduct military service (i.e. serve in a military unit) without wearing a uniform and bearing arms. He declined this offer, stating that he wishes to conduct alternative service, but only in a civilian framework. Please state whether, in your opinion, objection to enlistment as such is a legitimate and accepted expression of a pacifist's conscientious stand. You may support your claim by mentioning parallel cases in your own country or in other countries.

7. You may also add your judgement on the desirable arrangements regarding conscientious objection to military service according to international human rights standards, and a description of the actual situation in this field in countries with a well established democratic tradition.

8. Generally speaking, the letter should be rather lengthy and each major statement in it should be thoroughly explained and grounded in your theoretical and practical knowledge of the field. The letter, intended for judicial proceedings, should be factual in style and content and should not contain any emotional overtones.

The appeal to the High Court is due to be filed in early or mid June.

Please send your letters as soon as possible via e-mail, fax or ground mail, to:

E-mail: The Hiller family ghiller@haogen.org.il,

Adv. Ori Keidar thefirm@netvision.net.il

or mail it back to me to sergeiy@bgumail.bgu.ac.il

Fax: ++972-9-956-11-72

Ground mail: New Profile, P.O.B. 15125, Beer-Sheva 84003, Israel

If you need more information on the case, feel free to contact me at sergeiy@bgumail.bgu.ac.il or Yinnon Hiller's family at ghiller@haogen.org.il

Thank you in advance,

Sergeiy Sandler, New Profile / COI

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Letter from Yinnon Hiller himself

January 5, 2000

To Whom it May concern, Shalom,

My name is Yinnon Hiller. I am 18 years old. I am a Pacifist. I am a draft resister. I define myself as a socialist and believe that all humans are equal. This is my ideology and because of this I will not partake in any military action.

You may be aware that there is a mandatory military conscription here in Israel. All young men and women of the age 18 are required to enlist in the army. I have been able to postpone my induction date by volunteering for a year of community service. I am presently working with in a youth movement and am a counselor at a youth center that is based in a high school. I enjoy this job immensely and feel that I am able to contribute to the community. In the Israeli Defense Forces young men are required to serve for a minimum of 3 years and women for 2. During the entire senior year of high school, prior to induction, we are subjected to appear a number of times before the draft board and also partake in several sessions of motivation-oriented meetings and seminars that actually take place with the school on educational time. In fact our entire educational system, from kindergarten and up, is geared to increase motivation on a military level rather then promoting an awareness that is humanistic and respectful of life and the environment.

This kind of severe and demented education is quite the opposite that I received at home. My family encourages me and is supportive of my decision not to partake in or be associated with any military involvement. They respect and totally accept my decision to try to contribute and work on a social level to make Israel a more humane country to live in. I was raised in a family where we were taught not to use force as a means to solve conflicts. I never even had a toy gun to play with.

Being a draft resister in Israel is very difficult and often lonely. I have had to present my self several times before the draft board and consequently before a psychologist in order to determine whether or not I am mentally capable to serve. I have been subjected to appear before a committee of military personnel whose sole purpose is to judge my morals and my belief in pacifism as a way of life. Needless to say their definition of pacifism is different then my own. At this same meeting of one, myself, opposite 5 adults, I not only was subject to a form of interrogation, but I was also subjected to ridicule and mockery. I was denied the right to legal representation or representation of a layperson or family. I was not allowed to write protocol and to date have not received any protocol written by the military personnel at this interview. I have no written record of this meeting aside from personal interpretations that I wrote immediately following. I was subjected to an additional interview with a commanding officer so that he may determine if my convictions will prevent me from being a "good" soldier or not. My request to be dismissed from military service on the ground of my personal beliefs as a Pacifist have been denied in spite of the fact that I have expressed my convictions both through correspondence and verbally to the military for over a year and a half. On a social level I have been subjected to numerous occasions of verbal abuse, likened to a traitor and told I was a threat to national security. Interestingly enough I find that youth today are more accepting of my thoughts and ideals as opposed to their parents. You may be interested to know that New Profile, an organization that supports the right of choice in the matters of conscription, estimates that about 25% of all Israeli youth (only 5% of which are religious and not required to serve), find different ways to avoid the draft. Most use health deferments. Another 24% are found medically and/or mentally incapable of completing their military service and are discharged within the first 6 months of their induction.

I firmly opposed the Israeli government's policy of oppression of an entire people, suppression of their basic rights such as the right to water and the right to housing, the occupation of their land and the procrastination of the recognition of the State of Palestine. I firmly oppose any position that regards the occupation of Southern Lebanon as a guarantee to safe borders for Israel. I support resuming the peace negotiations with Syria and all other countries that Israel is not at peace with. I oppose any body that uses force as way to gain control and consequently abuses basic human rights of any population.

Israel is a violent country. Many men own handguns and walk with them holstered to their belts. They claim that this is in order to defend themselves and the ones around them in the chance that there is a terrorist attack. These same guns are in cupboards that latchkey children go home to. Every year a very high percentage of women are shot or stabbed by their husbands or boyfriends. Poverty and unemployment are on the rise and subsequently so are the incidents of violence, rape, sexual abuse, and other crimes. Our movies and TV programs are unrated, so young children are exposed to uncensored violence on the big and little screens. Violence is evident on the roads too and we have a very high rate of traffic accidents and death due to reckless driving.

I find it impossible to serve any country in anyway that will endanger my life and the life of others. I find it impossible to serve a country that chooses those very goals that I may die for and will try to force me to do so. I believe sincerely in the right to life. I believe in the right to question. My life goal is to strive to honor life itself and make this world and particularly this country, a better place to live in. If I allow myself to be drafted into the army I will sacrifice my ideals for those that I don't believe in I don't want to be a dead statistic. I cannot serve in the military and compromise myself. I cannot serve a country where the national agenda is more militaristic then humanistic. At the same time I am willing and want to work in any area that will give me the chance to bridge gaps, create dialog and improve understanding amongst people.

Yours in Peace,
Yinnon Hiller
Kibbutz Haogen
Israel 42880
Telephone 972-98982396
Email: ghiller@haogen.org.il

Recommendation letter regarding Yinnon by Rela Mazali

January 3rd, 2000

To Whom It May Concern,

For the past 20 some years I have been a peace activist, a human rights worker and a feminist activist. My more recent activism includes working to stop the (alleged) use of Depleted Uranium ammunition by the Israeli army and working towards the general de-militarization of Israeli society.

I have known Yinnon Hiller for over two years, through the continuous political activism that I have shared with his mother, Ruth, over that period. Through Ruth, I have closely followed Yinnon's struggle to gain recognition for his beliefs and to exercise his right to live by them. When I first met him, at age 16, he was already determined not to be part of the military. He encountered and contended with some very harsh responses from peers and withstood difficult periods of social ostracism, during which he nevertheless continued to state his views, in his quiet, determined manner.

Yinnon truly believes that it is immoral to participate in the military in any way, and has adhered to this firm and clear belief since before I met him. He is also committed to social justice and personal involvement and sees a role for himself in working to better society through peaceful, non-violent means. In my opinion he is a deeply believing and true pacifist, and should be granted the basic right to practice his beliefs.

Sincerely,
Rela Mazali

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Recommendation letter regarding Yinnon by Debbi Birnbaum

13 March 2000

To whom it may concern,

I met Yinnon Hiller on the founding assembly of the New Profile Movement, titled: "Aspects of Enlistment and of Avoiding Enlistment in Israel", held in October 1998. I met Yinnon several times since, and was deeply impressed y his commitment to his way.

From several conversations we had, I received the impression that Yinnon holds a pacifist outlook. He does not believe violence to be legitimate or justified as a means for promoting any cause or solving any problem. As he puts it, peace cannot be made by waging war, therefore he would does not feel it would be justified for him to join the army, which is an institution engaged in violence. Yinnon is unwilling to wear a uniform or bear arms (he has refused to participate in a "youth battalions" course organized by his school, on account of his beliefs).

His views are well known in his school. This has earned him some harsh remarks on several occasions, but it did not deter him from carrying on. His refusal to serve in the army comes as no surprise to people acquainted with him. This action is a natural extension of his pacifist manner of thought and behavior. Yinnon read writings by Ghandi, Martin Luther-King, Krishnamurti and other thinkers and identified with their views. He participated in a workshop on the subject of non-violence and conflict resolution. . he has contacted various pacifist groups abroad.

Yinnon’s motives are of a moral character. He feels that if he enlists to the army, he will be committing a moral wrong, hence he ought to refuse doing so. This clarifies Yinnon’s objection to various "compromise offers" involving enlistment – a pacifist outlook is incompatible with being a member of a violent organization. Yinnon is also unwilling to lie to the authorities, claiming to be "unsuitable" etc., as he has been advised by some to do. His sincerity and honesty are evident in every action he takes on this issue.

Yinnon Hiller is a quiet and introverted youth. He states his views modestly and confidently, with full belief in his way, but without trying to force his views on others. Yinnon is an active member of a youth movement, where he voluntarily works as instructor. He wishes to be actively involved in social action. Yinnon asked to conduct alternative civilian service, but to the best of my knowledge, this request was declined.

Respectfully,
Adv. Deborah Birrenbaum

Recommendation letter regarding Yinnon by Yevgeni Davydov

29 March 2000

To whom it may concern,

I, Yevgeni Davydov, Chairperson of the Association of Conscientious Objectors in Israel and an active member of the New Profile Movement, have been acquainted with Yinnon Hiller for approximately a year and a half, from our joint activities in these two organizations. As part of my activity in the New Profile Movement, I am also counseling him on receiving an exemption from military service.

In my view, Yinnon holds a clearly pacifist outlook. His refusal to serve in the army stems from an absolute objection to any form of violence. He is not an egoist, concerned exclusively with his own comfort. Rather, he is a person seeking contribution to the Israeli society, but not in the form of military service. This claim is demonstrated by his voluntary work as an instructor in a youth movement.

Sincerely,
Yevgeni Davydov

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Letter requesting assistance in covering legal fees

New Profile
Movement for the Civil-ization of Israeli Society
POB 48005, Tel Aviv 61480, Israel

Yinnon Hiller, eighteen, could soon be facing indefinite imprisonment for his beliefs. Yinnon’s crime is believing in pacifism.

He firmly advocates non-violence and believes in creating alternative means for resolving conflicts. He objects to the organized violence used by states, and therefore to both the use and existence of military organizations. Long committed to these views, Yinnon had not even undergone a preliminary physical check-up when he applied to Israel’s Minister of Defense to exempt him from mandatory service in the Israel Defense Force.

Israeli law does not recognize the right of conscientious objection for men. But the Minister of Defense is legally authorized to grant exemptions at his discretion. For some years now, successive Ministers of Defense have been accused of discrimination for refusing exemptions for secular Israeli men on grounds of beliefs, while annually exempting thousands of orthodox Jews and some orthodox Druze from the military on grounds of their beliefs. In answer, officials have claimed to practice exemptions for Conscientious Objectors or at least for strict pacifists (for instance: during various hearings before the High Court of Justice in 1996 through 1998; in a letter from Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Knesset Member Naomi Chazan, from October 22, 1999). One of the recurring IDF criteria for proving that a young man’s beliefs rule out military service, seems to be his adherence to these beliefs from a very young age, and his application for an exemption as early as age sixteen, when he is first summoned to preliminary pre-conscription examinations.

The institution ostensibly facilitating exemptions for Conscientious Objectors is the military "Conscience Committee." In fact, this committee staffed exclusively by military officers, grants almost no exemptions and seems to function as a cover-up against charges of discrimination. In a September 1999 report, Amnesty International severely criticized the work of the "Conscience Committee" and the IDF practice of imprisoning conscientious objectors.

In the event that Yinnon Hiller is forced to appeal to the High Court of Justice, his case could achieve significantly increased transparency in the work of the IDF "Conscience Committee," and decrease the unjust discrimination against Conscientious Objectors in Israel. Also, his case stands the best chance ever of becoming a judicial precedent that would fundamentally change the status of male CO’s in Israel, as he is the first CO to announce his objection as early as age 16, as the system seems to require.

Yinnon was summoned to appear before the "Conscience Committee" on April 18 1999. In an unprecedented step, he was later summoned to appear before the committee a second time. Despite two interviews, Yinnon received no answer from the IDF for many months. The answer he did eventually receive totally ignored his fundamental objection to the concept of armies, and proposed that he enlist but serve in a non-violent role. Then, last month (February 2000), he received a phone call from the Chief Legal Consultant at the Conscription Administration. The officer tried to frighten Yinnon into accepting the IDF’s unreasonable proposal, and his statements amounted to attempted intimidation and harassment. This high-ranking military lawyer ended his conversation with 18 year-old Yinnon with the threat, "Then I’ll see you at the High Court." Last week Yinnon received a summons for conscription on April 18 2000. At the designated date he will still be teaching at a kibbutz school, under a standard and fully legal agreement with the kibbutz movement for postponing conscription. Therefore, the summons too is apparently an attempt to intimidate and harass Yinnon.

Throughout this process, the Hiller family and New Profile have sought a lawyer to represent Yinnon at the High Court, should that prove necessary. The movement works on a totally voluntary basis to date, with no funding whatsoever. Yinnon’s family, members of Kibbutz Haogen, have no way of covering legal fees. We sought a human rights lawyer who would agree to take the case pro bono.

In August 1999 we applied to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. ACRI has been stalling on the issue ever since. While professing support in principle, the Association claimed that given its current priorities, it couldn’t fit the case into its workload. After promising to locate a volunteer lawyer, repeated reminders from us were left unanswered. Yinnon and his family have met with no less than six human rights lawyers. Last week, with the assistance of Knesset Member Zehava Galon, Yinnon and his family finally located a lawyer who is both well qualified and interested in taking this important case. The lawyer offered his services for a greatly reduced price, but he could not offer his services pro bono.

We wish to ask your help with financing Yinnon’s legal defense in face of a huge, well-oiled and powerful system. The legal fee will be $5,000. One of our members has already pledged $2,000 of a grant awarded her, in an exceptional and wonderful gesture. Each of us will be making contributions of whatever sums we can afford. Please contribute as much as you can afford to this effort. Events are evolving swiftly and we need your help urgently.

Please mail checks, made out to New Profile, to our treasurer:
Annelien Kisch
Shivtei Yisrael 25/a
Ramat Hasharon 47252
Israel.

With our sincere thanks,
Rela Mazali
New Profile

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Letter From Yinnon's Mother, Ruth Hiller

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I would like to thank you for all the interest that you have taken in following Yinnon's pending case. At the present time Yinnon is still working as a youth counselor with teenagers in a summer camp. He will finish working at this job in September and then plans to start looking for work that will allow him to continue working with children.

As you know, Yinnon has had two interviews in the past with the military inquiry board, the "Conscience Committee". After the second interview he received a letter that stated that he was to enlist into the army, do basic training, not carry arms and then go work without a uniform in a hospital designated by the military. As you know Yinnon rejected this option, which promptly led to heated telephone call to our home by the Chief Legal Consultant at the Conscription Administration. Upon Yinnon's refusal to bend to the terms that the army demanded of him, he received a call up notice for almost immediate conscription. His original conscription date was set for April 18, 2000.

Luckily, due to the fact that he is working within a certified youth movement, which is recognized by the army, Yinnon was able to get his induction date moved to December 3, 2000. As with all youth groups of this nature there is a legal agreement between the youth movements and the army that allows youth counselors such as Yinnon postpone their army service for a year.

Our attorney Ori Keidar has written a letter claiming our intentions to pursue Yinnon's human right to be exempt from army service on the grounds of his pacifism to Prime Minister and Secretary of Defense Ehud Barak. We also asked that this right be immediately recognized. To date we have yet to receive an answer to this letter.

Two weeks ago Yinnon received a call-up notice from the army that he will have to appear before the Conscience Committee for a third time on July 18. This is an unprecedented step as far as we are aware on the part of the Israeli Defense Forces. Upon receiving this notice, Yinnon promptly called the Conscription office and asked to be allowed to appear at a later date (after summer camp), and to be allowed to appear with representation. With regards to his first request, it took approximately 6 phone calls and a faxed letter to receive a postponement. With regards to his second request, he was immediatly denied the right to representation.

Once again Ori Keidar wrote a letter, this time to both Mr. Barak and officer Ronen Argov, calling to their attention that we intend to go to the High Courts while at the same time claiming that the military is continuing to abuse Yinnon by using tactics that were not only not irrelevant but were also very hostile and threatening. It is our fear that without representation or documentation, the army will continue using these scare tactics. The very fact that he is not allowed representation while being "interviewed" by military committee, nor is he allowed to record the proceedings or to write protocol, or to receive a protocol written by the military is proof of the military's intention to continue to abuse Yinnon and not to allow him basic human rights. Finally on July 23rd, we received a written answer from Officer Argov stating that the committee will take into consideration Yinnon's request for representation and will respond at a later date. This is also a precedent.

We feel that the army is deliberately refusing to release Yinnon from military service on the grounds of his beliefs and plan to use him as an example to other pacifists. Our research shows that in spite of claims that everyone must or does serve in the army in actuality only about 54% of the population does so. For a variety of reasons the other 46% of the population does not serve at all or drops out after the first 6 months of service. These facts support New Profile's claim that there is a general induction of all is a myth. We also know that since the Conscience Committee was established in 1988, there have only been 4 young men that after appearing before the committee were honorably discharged on the grounds of pacifism. At the same time we would like to draw your attention to the fact that at least 8% of young practicing religious young men are released from duty because of their beliefs. With the Knesset voting to accept the Tal Committee's (an official committee who researched the possibilities of the conscription of Orthodox Jews who have the option to study Bible instead to going to the army) recommendations earlier this month, the percentage of religious young men exempt from the army will grow steadily in the near future.

We have tried to speculate the outcome of Yinnon's next meeting with the Conscience Committee. We realize that if the army had any intention of releasing him, they would have done so already. If the outcome is such that they do release him after the interview, then we will have succeded in setting a precedent. If the army does not release him from service then we will have no other choice but to go to court.

Lastly our family would like to once again thank all of you who have stood besides us during these past three years. Without your support and encouragement we would not have found the strength and motivation to carry on. It is greatly appreciated. We realize that the next few months will be very critical. Thank you once again.

                                     Respectfully,

                                     Ruth Hiller

                                     Mother

                                     New Profile

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New Profile Declaration

Dear friends, I have been asked by Henrik Farkas to submit a letter that I wrote to him and other supporters regarding my son, Yinnon Hiller and his pending court case. In addition I am sending the New Profile Declaration. I will be more than willing to answer any question that may arise in regards to the case and New Profile. Shalom, Ruth Hiller

The New Profile Movement is an existing, active movement, as yet without formal institutions. Though not yet publicly visible, it is emerging across the country. It includes anyone sharing the following beliefs.

We, a group of feminist women and men, are convinced that we need not live in a soldiers' state. Today, Israel is capable of a determined peace politics. It need not be a militarized society. We are convinced that we ourselves, our children, our partners, need not go on being endlessly mobilized, need not go on living as warriors.

We understand that the state of war in Israel is maintained by decisions made by our politicians - not by external forces to which we are passively subject. While taught to believe that the country is faced by threats beyond its control, we now realize that the words "national security" have often masked calculated decisions to choose military action for the achievement of political goals.

We are no longer willing to take part in such choices. We will not go on enabling them by obediently, uncritically supplying soldiers to the military which implements them. We will not go on being mobilized, raising children for mobilization, supporting mobilized partners, brothers, fathers, while those in charge of the country go on deploying the army easily, rather than building other solutions.

It is hard to express this type of opinion in Israel today. In a soldiers' state there are equal and less equal citizens: the social ladder is topped by those who fight. And those are unfailingly men. In addition, in Israel, they are Jewish men. As warriors, they are held to have privileged knowledge, giving them precedence in decision making. Attitudes casting doubts on "security" related decisions, questioning the state's enormous military budgets, or its ongoing policies of military confrontation, are branded "naive," "hysterical," "ignorant." An attitude that dares question the fundamental principle of willing enlistment, is almost incomprehensible in a soldiers' state. It is rejected as illegitimate.

Our position - the "ignorant" one - is free of the mindsets responsible for perpetuating war in Israel for decades. It is a position prioritizing life and the protection of life. It condones painful compromises in the interests of preserving life.

The hegemonic culture in Israel nurtures admiration for might and physical prowess, an aggrandizement of Jewish nationals, and a devaluation of the lives of Arab nationals. The militarized consciousness imbued with this message sees opting for war as reasonable. Young people enlist putting their trust in the wisdom and honesty of those who bid them to serve. Each of us is accountable to them and to ourselves. Every parent takes an active part in educating sons or daughters to become soldiers.

And yet, there are many women and men, parents and youngsters, who object profoundly, morally to Israel's continued wars-of-choice. We oppose the use of military means to enforce Israeli sovereignty beyond the Green Line. We oppose the use of the army, police, security forces in the ongoing oppression and discrimination of the Palestinian citizens of Israel, while demolishing their homes, denying them building and development rights, using violence to disperse their demonstrations.

Given the widespread opposition to the kind of roles assigned the Israeli army for many years, thousands of young women and men are currently avoiding conscription or avoiding combat duty. Some 25% of the annual candidate recruits are presently exempted for health-related reasons or found "unfit" for service. It is common knowledge that a large proportion of these in fact choose not to serve. They feel unable to identify with the implications and meaning of military service in Israel today. Faced with no legal option for conscientious objection, a discharge on grounds of unfitness or poor health is virtually their only way out.

Opting out is even more widespread among reservists. Army spokesmen have stated that only a third of the reserve forces in fact do active service. We all know how pervasive the intentional avoidance of duty ("twilight refusal") is among reservists.

To date, Israeli law does not acknowledge men's basic human right to conscientious objection. We regard Israeli conscription law as discriminatory and non-democratic, and call for the recognition of the basic right of every person, men included, to act in accordance with their conscience. Young women too undergo difficult, degrading interrogations by the military Exemption Committee. We urge the examination and revision of exemption procedures on grounds of conscience for women too. Acting on one's conscience is the fundamental right of every man and woman.

We call for the recognition of men and women's right to express their social commitment by means of alternative civic service, conducted through a broad array of community services including work with non-governmental, voluntary organizations.

For our part, we refuse to go on raising our children to see enlistment as a supreme and overriding value. We want a fundamentally changed education system, for a truly democratic civic education, teaching the practice of peace and conflict resolution, rather than training children to enlist and accept warfare.

A study day, organized by the "New Profile Movement" on October 30, 1998, offered a first ever public forum for openly discussing these matters, to about 150 men and women, adults and youngsters. The many letters and phonecalls we have been receiving since, clearly indicate the real need for further action and discussion.

If you share these opinions, help give our vital movement a public voice. Write us, call us, add your name to the growing list, along with address & phone numbers (+ fax and e-mail address, if available).

Our address is: New Profile, P O Box 48005 Tel Aviv 61480.

Any contributions for our further activities will be gratefully received!

Workgroup contacts:
1. Formulating amendments to conscription law --- Edna Zaretsky - 04-872 5465
2. Information - collection and distribution --- Rela Mazali - 09-950 1225
3. Non-militarized education --- Vered Shomron - 09-882 5932
4. Meetings with parents and youngsters --- Ruth Hiller - 09-898 2396
5. Study groups on women in militarized society --- Debbie Birenbaum -
03-699 3411

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Conscientious Objection in Israel

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Dec.24,2000) reports that, "There are not many COs in Israel but their numbers are rising amid the latest wave of violence." A few days later, the Los Angeles Times (Jan. 1, 2001) reported that, "the resistance of a handful of regular soldiers and a larger number of reservists reflects changes in the way Israelis see their once assailable army, and in the role the army plays today." One Israeli resister, a paratrooper and veteran of the war in Lebanon, stands at Jerusalem’s central bus station, distributing leaflets suggesting that recruits think seriously about serving in what he describes as an occupation force. The leaflet notes that fighting to defend Jewish settlements "is not our war!" The Times account goes on to say,"The willingness of resisters to speak out reflects a shift in thinking about the army, once a sacred cow that could not be criticized. That taboo has lifted gradually, starting with the war in Lebanon."

The Death of Conscription?

Writing in The Washington Times (Jan. 1, 2001), David R. Sands’ comprehensive article concludes that "The Cold War’s final casualty may be the humble draftee" and that conscription is vanishing, as virtually all of Western Europe has or will soon abolish the draft. With no Soviet Russia to contend with, Sands believes that in all probability conscription in the U.S. will not soon be reinstated. Among the reasons are that "today’s military leaders don’t want conscript forces," high tech warfare demands special skills, there is a question of fairness: who get drafted when you need only a few men, etc. Still, despite the logical and reasonable conclusions drawn by many of the people Sands interviewed and quoted, there are the unknown factors, especially if one day new foreign "enemies" in, say, East Asia are created by our foreign policy hawks. It’s still best to be prepared. And perhaps read or buy JPF’s latest publication, ‘Wrestling With Your Conscience: A Guide for Jewish Draft Registrants and Conscientious Objection."

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The New Profile Movement: What More You Can Do

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Two and a half years ago New Profile held it's first study day that questioned conscription in Israel. This was the first time that anyone had ever questioned the role of the military in an open forum. Since then New Profile has continued to investigate and research this role and how it affects Israeli society.

We started out as a small group of about 24 women who had come together to study about militarism, feminism and our role in society. Most of us were new activists. But we all felt it was time to get involved and try to make Israel a more peaceful country to live in. The process was long and deep. Many of us had to learn how to question the mind-sets and conditions that were so deeply engraved. We had to learn how to dare and touch what was considered taboo and sacred.

But since that day in October 1998, when New Profile was born and became the Movement to Civil-ize Israeli Society, we have not only grown in numbers in Israel, but we have an increasing network of supporters all over the world. New Profile has members and supporters in Israel, the USA, Canada, England, Australia, Ireland, the Palestinian Authority and Germany just to name a few. We have grown from a small group to a movement of hundreds and perhaps thousands.

When we first registered as a non-profit organization, we decided that we would adhere to certain feminist ideals. First we decided that we would not have a governing board so as to allow for equality amongst all at all times. We decided to hold monthly meetings that would in fact also serve as a forum for any policy-making decisions. There are no hierarchic divisions within New Profile. Our treasurer holds the only formal position. This also applies to the facilitation of our meetings is rotated from member to member. These meetings are open to the public. Our committees are set up in a similar fashion. Every person that would like to sit on a committee or take part in organizing activity is welcome to do so.

We also decided that we would not ask for membership fees from anyone who wanted to become a member or supporter. At first we did ask that everyone donation according to his/her ability. Consequently some of us gave lump sums. Others were able to contribute on a monthly basis. We were able to find bigger donations for large direct actions such as legal fees for CO/Pacifist Yinnon Hiller, who has appealed to the High Court recently to be granted the right not to serve in the army on the grounds of his beliefs.

As some of you may know, New Profile does not have an office. All of us work out of our homes. There is no paid staff. All of us volunteer our work. We do so by providing phone lines, email services, photocopying and postal services out of our personal budgets. Some of us provide others with transportation to meetings and functions. Others speak before small groups and forums.

As we grow we have come to realize how important our role is in Israeli society and in the Middle East. We have generated a dialog about conscription. We have initiated an international conference along with the Hebrew University School of Education and the HaKibbutzim Teacher’s Seminar on the subject of Militarism and Education. We have conducted individual interventions within schools where military oriented programs are held. We have held demonstrations protesting military actions. We have opened a support line to conscientious objectors and their families. We have been forerunners in providing support to individuals who have been abused by the military system, such as in the case of young women who are sexually harassed and molested during army service. We have opposed and discrimination and abuse, rooted in militarization, while cooperating with several other organizations. These are just and example of some of the things we do.

The moral support you have shown us so far has been essential and allowed us to develop these activities. This time we would like to request monetary support in addition to the moral support you have been giving us up until now. Up until now New Profile has functioned on very meager funds. Any amount of money that you can donate is welcome. You can donate a lump sum or give monthly amounts. If you live in Israel you can give monthly donations by giving a permanent order to your bank (hora’at keva). If you live overseas and would like to declare your contribution for tax purposes, you may contribute through the Donor Advised channeling provided by the New Israel Fund. This can be done by with a lump sum or by designated monthly payments as you request.

Donations can be sent to:

Bank HaPoalim
Account Number 421121
Branch 769 Trumpeldor Street
Ramat HaSharon, Israel

Or to:

New Profile – Donor Advised
c/o The New Israel Fund
P.O. Box 91588 801
Washington DC 20090-1588
USA

Or to:

New Profile – Donor Advised
c/o The New Israel Fund of Canada
Eglinton Avenue West #401
Toronto, Ontario M5N 1E3
Canada

Or to:

New Profile – Donor Advised
New Israel Fund of Great Britain
26 Enford Street
London W1H 2DD
Great Britain

If you would like to see how we will put your contribution to use, please feel free to visit our website www.newprofile.org under the title of General Description or write to us.

Respectfully Yours,

Ruth Hiller
graylady@haogen.org.il

Sharon Galant
sharongalant@hotmail.com

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Updates on Ishai Rozen-Zvi

Dear friends,

Serg. (res.) Ishai Rozen-Zvi has been jailed for refusal to serve in the occupied territories. Rozen-Zvi: "I cannot take part in imposing a siege on hundreds of thousands of men, women and children; in starving entire villages, preventing them from going to their daily work, to medical treatment or selling their wares, laying them hostage to political decisions. The siege of towns, like bombardment from helicopters, do not put an end to terrorism. They are a sop to Israeli public opinion and the demand to 'Let the IDF triumph !''

Fuller details at the Ha'aretz website for Friday June 15.

Rozen-Zvi's act of refusal is remarkable because of his background - he is the son of an eminent law professor who was a member of the commission of inquiry into the Rabin assassination. Notably, Rozen-Zvi is an observant Jew, his family background is "national-religious", generally associated with the hardline settlers. Rozen-Zvi himself attended a settlers' religious school, and is the first graduate of that network to refuse to take part in the current campaign of repression against the Palestinians.

Rozen-Zvi has been in touch with Yesh Gvul and we have taken up his case. We now appeal to all those who responded to our "Adopt a refusenik" call, to join us in backing him. We recommend the following:

1. Please call his wife Michal (972.3.5324672) to convey your support.
2. Approach your local media with details of the case, and your decision to "adopt an IDF reservist who refuses to take part in inhumane actions".
3. Collect money to help us a) support his family (three children) b) support our campaign on his behalf.
4. Any other initiative to the same end ...
5. Keep us informed of all actions you take.

Shalom - Salam - Peace

Peretz Kidron

Dear friends,

We are heartened and delighted by the enthusiastic response to our appeal for support for IDF reservist Ishai Rozen-Zvi, currently in military jail over his refusal to take part in the campaign of repression against the Palestinian population. Thank you all!

Our work here is carried out against great odds and enormous difficulties; if we manage to keep our heads above water, one reason is the confidence that we can count on faithful supporters from many lands. We are grateful to the well-wishers who called in with expressions of sympathy and offers of help. Please keep it up - Yesh Gvul needs you!

Our call on behalf of Rozen-Zvi was sent out in great haste, with the result that the wording was in part misleading. The appeal for financial contributions referred to the Yesh Gvul "treasury", which has the dual task of funding our political campaign on behalf of the refuseniks, and helping out when their families need it. Fortunately, Rozen-Zvi's family is coping unaided, making direct offers of help to them unnecessary ! Also, it wasn't stressed that they are religiously observant, and phone calls during the Jewish Sabbath are therefore unwelcome.

But those misunderstandings apart, we appreciate your response, just want to get the technical details right. We are still short of cash, both for our political work and for the families of refuseniks who may need aid in future. Any funds you can offer should be sent directly to the Yesh Gvul address (PO Box 6953, Jerusalem 91068, Israel) or our bank account (Yesh Gvul, Acct. no. 366614, Bank Hapoalim, King George St. Branch [690], Jerusalem, Israel. Sorry, we don't yet have facilities for contributions via the Internet.

Finally: for your information, we're gradually expanding our Netsite (www.yesh-gvul.org) with additional material in Hebrew and English.

Yesh Gvul

Good News For Gabby Wolff

Good news at last for CO Gabby Wolff. Yesterday he appeared before an unsuitability committee (the same committee that interviewed him last time), and the committee decided to exempt him from military service. This means that this struggle has ended with success. However, other struggles of other COs still lie ahead.

Thank you all very much for all your support, your attention and the actions you took on Gabby's behalf. Without you this success would not have been possible. Please also convey our thanks to all the other people you have involved in this effort by forwarding them your messages, posting them on websites, etc.

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© 2002 Jewish Peace Fellowship