Israeli Military Refusers Bring Their Message to America

Talks by Israeli military refusers Netta Mishly and Maya Wind,
recorded and produced by Melinda Tuhus

For the past few years, about 200 graduating high school seniors -- both male and female -- have been refusing induction into the Israel Defense Force because they object to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and its treatment of Palestinians both there and inside Israel. They make up just one percent of Israeli citizens who turn 18 each year; the other 99 percent follow the law and join the military.

These refusers founded a group called in Hebrew, "Shminitzim" -- meaning 12th-graders, in reference to the age when Israelis are drafted. Many of them have gone to jail multiple times. Two young women refuseniks just completed a month-long U.S. tour to talk about their experiences and to urge Americans to stop supporting the Israeli occupation through their tax dollars and through the purchase of goods made by Israel in the occupied West Bank.

Netta Mishly and Maya Wind, both 19 years old, spoke about their decision to refuse Israeli military service at an Oct. 6 public forum at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. Mishly got involved in youth organizing at age 15, and after turning 18, she refused to join the IDF, for which she served 20 days in jail. Wind refused induction in December 2008 and spent several weeks in jail and then 40 days in a military prison. Both women have since been declared exempt from military service, avoiding further imprisonment, but assigned to do alternative civilian service. Wind explains that 40 percent of Israeli young people don't serve in the military, but are granted exemptions based on being orthodox Jews, being mentally or physically unfit, or to women who are married.

Maya Wind and Netta Mishly's U.S. tour was sponsored by Code PINK. This segment was recorded and produced by Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus. For more information on companies that invest inside the Israeli occupied West Bank, visit Coalition of Women for Peace's website at www.whoprofits.org

Related links:

* Code Pink For Peace at www.codepink4peace.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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