The Israeli teenagers risking jail, friendships and family to refuse conscription to the IDF
Six months Israeli Military Prison And a traitor by friends; It was a difficult year for Itamar Greenberg.
19 -year -old Israel Jewish He made a rare decision to reject the necessities. IDF Last August, while walking Destructive war in Gaza. Instead, Itamar accepted half a year behind railings alongside military criminals.
“Unfortunately I lost your friends,” he says Independent. “I have many friends who were soldiers, some have decided to cut our connection. They think that I am a traitor. I understand what they feel, but I obviously disagree.”
Itamar Greenberg said that he had lost a few friends who joined the army (Itamar Greenberg)
Since its release four months ago, Itamar continued to support young rejections who want to risk the risk of excluding the Israeli society by challenging the mandatory order for the whole Jew. Druse Or Israel Circassian citizens who will serve with IDF for years.
Men should serve at least 32 months in the army, women should serve at least 24 months. IDF says Israeli Arabs, religious women, married individuals, and those who are not considered medical or mentally appropriate are exempt from compulsory military service.
On Tuesday, a group of young people burned the army draft letters during a rally in Tel Aviv. Another protest is that Ultra Orthodox Jews prevented a highway to protest the military request in Jerusalem, which took place in Jerusalem on Tuesday, focused on protecting their powerful religious identities in Gaza, contrary to conscientious objections.
The activists say the rejection of the rejecting movement has grown. However, Itamar says that they stayed on the eaves despised by some, and that they are not loved by many.
After being imprisoned and released, the fear of escaping to the Israeli community is directed by many young adults who do not participate in IDF’s participation in the army.
It I have friends who are afraid of going to prison and some are in the army, It Itamar explains. “Some do not want to be in the army. They think it is immoral.
An IDF draft letter burning on the ground (Andrey x/@the_andrey_x)
Itamar remembers one of his good friends approaching the rejection of the service. When his family said he would be thrown out of the house if he didn’t serve him, the friend surrendered – and now with IDF.
Family life is also complex for Itamar. The son of an army officer avoids discussing discussions around politics and activism when he was at home, and his father chooses to remain silent while discussing his work.
“He’s proud of this, the whole family is proud of it, It Itamar says, bringing activist views to the family house, just going to harm their relationships.
Last week, the rally, who saw dozens of streets to support a handful of young Israeli, came to the streets, arrived at a time when increasing the international pressure on Israel.
Palestinian health officials said that hunger killed dozens of children. In recent weeks, disaster levels of hunger levels of the first hunger deaths spirals-longing and UN officials say that the blockade of the blockade that helps Israel to enter Gaza. Israel says that the hunger crisis stems from “human -making scarcity ilen designed by Hamas”.
Palestinian health officials saw that IDF’s bombardment has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since the time of the attacks led by Hamas on October 7, 2023 around Hamas was killed around 1,200 Israelis, and that 250 was hostage according to Israeli figures.
Palestinians are gathered in the midst of the hunger crisis in Gaza (Reuters) to buy food from a charity kitchen
Israel, who rejected the service for ideological reasons, has added a unique complexity to its daily lives for the ongoing destruction in Gaza.
“Living in a society, walking on the street is very complex, and you know that most people around you are war criminals or are in genocide, It Itamar says. Most of the Israelites who want the war to end do not care about the lives of the Palestinians, on the contrary, “They want the soldiers back home; they are afraid of their lives”.
Yona Roseman, 19 -year -old, was among those who would burn the draft letter last week. It is waiting to be imprisoned when the compulsory date is passed within 24 days.
“Scary,” he says for a while in prison. When Yona’s parents came to understand their choice, they didn’t initially support their decision. “But I don’t have the second idea about it. It’s too much to do.”
Like Itamar, the decision said that the decision made it “excluded ında in Israel.
Yona Roseman says he can be sent to jail after 24 days (Andrey X/@the_andrey_x)
“A decision that makes you out of the mainstream society.
Yona and Itamar are unclear in the hope of significant changes in the public mood in Israel. Both states that interest in the rejected movement has increased, but Yona believes that almost everyone who can refuse will do so far. Orum I don’t know what can change to show and stop fighting, or he says.
Instead, young activists hopes that those who are already serving in the army will turn their backs.
Itamar talks about a friend who works in IDF and is not a “non -leftist” friend. “I don’t know how to say, but he started to look like we were doing genocide.”
Yona has friends in IDF who say they lack the courage rejected. “I feel for them, but really, they should just get rid of it. This is not an easy process, but that’s not a complex decision.”
However, although it is part of an excluded group in Israeli society, losing a few friends and spending a six -month clue in prison, ITamar wishes to do more.
He says: “Even if my life is to stop, I feel that I haven’t done enough [occupation]. I just don’t know how. “
