A-Infos (en) UK, AnarCom: Israel and Anti-Militarism (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Murderous conflicts occurring through the system of capital and state 
continue, intensify and now threaten to engulf entire regions.  Both the 
wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East drag on into another year and 
become increasingly barbarous.  Starvation, mass killings, ethnic 
cleansing, kidnappings, humiliation and torture are clearly encouraged 
by the powers that be.  The war in the Middle East, as well as in 
Eastern Europe, increasingly involves power and imperial blocs taking up 
their battle positions. This, despite the war focused on Gaza supposedly 
being "over by Christmas" (how many times have we heard that before?)!

As such, effective resistance often demands great bravery on the part of 
members of our class, their companions, supporters and friends.  In this 
context, a number of us now know the names, Tal Mitnick and Yuval Dag.

Tal Mitnick is an 18-year-old vocal member of 'Mesarvot' ('We Refuse'), 
which numbers a few hundred.  Tal became the first open objector to 
serving in the IDF since the start of the current conflict and cited his 
opposition to the attacks upon the collective population of Gaza as a 
reason.  For Tal considers the attacks, a "murderous revenge", that does 
nothing to address the root cause of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Yuval Dag is a 21-year-old who served 64 days in Neve Tzedek 
military prison in Tel Aviv last Spring.  He was supported as a prisoner 
of conscience by Amnesty International and has if anything, become 
increasing vocal in his criticism of the situation throughout the Middle 
East and in Gaza and the West Bank, in particular, since then.

In Israel, military conscription is mandatory and is seen as, "defining 
you as a somebody in Israeli society".   There is also a saying that, "a 
nation building an army is a nation building itself".  This lays bare 
the shared roots of nationalism and militarism, as part of the cancerous 
ethos of state and capital.

Dissent in Israel does have quite a lengthy tradition.  However, outside 
of the ruling class, nationalist religious zealots, and their supporters 
(who often get a pass on risking their necks), people there trying to 
avoid military service lately face massive obstacles and are at the 
least pressurised to keep quiet - or else! For in the wake of the 
attacks of 7th October last year, the state in Israel and unfortunately 
among a substantial part of the wider society, has been engaging in a 
bitter offensive against any who dare to even think about resisting the 
cry to take up the fight for nation, religion, and the exploitative and 
oppressive current system.  This reflects a call by the master class 
that increasingly imperils our class and humanity itself.

It is likely then that for such reasons, reports of actual open 
opposition to the draft in Israel during the Gaza war have not been 
noted or publicised until very recently.  However, in the last month, 
pieces on Mitnick, Dag, their friends and supporters have appeared.  Of 
note too, these reports describe their increasingly determined stance, 
where they have made comments strongly alluding to the importance of 
internationalism among our class.  Mitnick has appeared in embracing 
both radical anti-authoritarian and anti-militarist perspectives.

The bravery of these people in doing this is laid bare by the fact that 
Mitnick faces at least 30 days (and likely substantially longer) in jail 
after being sentenced in late December 2023, and will no doubt be 
bitterly ostracised when is freed.  Meanwhile, Dag, though being 
imprisoned last year and from a nationalist family, has not kept quiet, 
and vocally supports Mitnick and fellow conscious workers for their 
anti-militarism.  There are others starting to do the same.

The names of those openly resisting is now increasing.  Sofia Orr (18 
yrs old) and Iddo Elam (17 and also from the 'Mesarvot' group) have gone 
public in stating their opposition to being drafted (the former in the 
face of being 'called up' next month). All have described the importance 
of having a network of friends and supporters around them, now more than 
ever.

Iddo has stated that "one massacre doesn't justify another" and then 
gone on to say that they are now steadfast in their "rejection of the 
entire current system".  Iddo and Sofia fear both for their friend Tal 
in prison and of the same fate whilst receiving death threats awaiting 
themselves.  However, being members of a group showing solidarity with 
each other has galvanised their collective determination.

Their numbers may appear still relatively few as yet, but they could 
increase notably further as the murderous battles continue, the reality 
of the current system perhaps becomes transparent to many more and if 
the internationalist word spreads.  Importantly, as noted above, some 
appear to be starting to embrace a class struggle, emancipatory 
position, as opposed to a liberal pacifist one.  It is greatly 
encouraging to see that revolutionary No War But the Class War graffiti 
has now been spotted in the local urban streets around Tel Aviv.

All is vital to stop the nightmare of war, famine, poverty, nationalism, 
ethnic cleansing, barbarity, torture, the growing threat of theocrats, 
as well as the daily dose of oppression, alienation and exploitation. 
The anti-militarist class war is the only war which will unite us as an 
international working class to prevent a death spiral, to liberate 
ourselves and to finally live in harmony with this planet.  Total 
respect to those resisting and to those who share the struggle in 
solidarity!

https://anarcomuk.uk/2024/01/07/israel-and-anti-militarism/
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