Just got a notice from War Resistor’s International about a third prison term for a young war resistor in Israel. It included the young man’s reason for refusing his conscription into the Israeli military. It’s worth sharing….

ISRAEL: Third prison term for conscientious objector Shir Regev

War Resisters’ International has been informed today by its Israeli affiliate New Profile about the
repeated imprisonment of conscientious objector Shir Regev. Shir Regev, 20, from the village of Tuval in the North of Israel, an anarchist and anti-Occupation activist, has began serving his third prison term (34 days) on 14 July 2010.

He had been arrested for the first time on 2 March 2010, and had been sentenced to 20 days in prison. This was followed by a sentence of 10 days on 24 March 2010 (see co-alert, 26 March
2010).

In his statement of refusal, Shir Regev wrote:

I believe it is my personal duty to refuse and defect from an army whose main purpose is to serve as an occupation police for maintaining “Israeli order” and imposing it on defenseless Palestinians who are
denied citizenship.

And what is this “Israeli order” ? It is an ongoing process, in effect over 42 years, comprising a military regime over the Palestinians, denying them access to the Palestinian community resources of land, water, agricultural crops and ores. It also entails pollution of their land and their streams, along with support for disenfranchisement by settlers who live in the same areas, under a separate system of seemingly democratic laws. And I have not even mentioned the violation of more basic Palestinian human rights, like denying their freedom of movement, and causing bodily harm, including mass killing, without due investigation of alleged criminal offenses of the gravest kind recognized in Israeli law. Carried out in a territory under military occupation, these acts also constitute war crimes and other violations under international law.

Since I have the medical profile of a “combat soldier”, had I joined the army, there is no doubt I would have been sent to serve this ‘Mafiosi’ system, which has almost nothing to do with the IDF’s designated role as “Defense Forces”… This is an army that serves interests in which I do not believe. Therefore, in the dilemma between doing
such service and obeying my conscience, I have no doubt about my decision.
The day will come when my decision is appreciated by people who presently deny the horrible reality which we as a society are creating for another
people and the damage we are inflicting on the souls of many young Israelis who may not be aware of the moral degradation in which they take
part.

Shir Regev is due to be released on 13 August 2010.

War Resisters’ International calls for letters of support to Shir Regev:

Shir Regev

Military ID 5966205

Military Prison No. 6

Military Postal Code 01860, IDF

Israel

Fax: +972-4-9540580