Over the last week, the refuser and educator Ofer Shorr was targeted and attacked by a right-wing city mayor and the Israeli Ministry of Education, who tried to fire him, because he published a video stating that he will refuse again as he did in the past. After a campaign that was supported by Refuser Solidarity Network, we won! Ofer Shorr can go back to his job, educate students and continue to express his political views and talk about refusing. This is an achievement not just for Ofer but for the entire anti-war movement, a push back against the deterioration of freedom of speech and expression. Write a letter of support and congratulate Ofer here, and encourage your communities to join you by forwarding this newsletter.
Ofer refused in 2003 during the second intifada. Over the last year, he took part in AniSiravti (“I refused” in Hebrew), a new initiative of older reserve refusers who are running social media campaigns with video statements of past and present soldiers declaring their refusal of the occupation, apartheid and war on Gaza.
In his video he said: "Every time I did reserve duty and experienced the occupation, I became more depressed. I saw that this had no connection to security. It was a matter of power and control.” When the Second Intifada broke out, "it was a breaking point for me. I decided I would no longer do reserve duty in the occupied territories."
His resonant message was met with harassment from students and teachers at his teaching job, followed by calls to be fired by the city’s mayor. Days later, he was summoned by the Education Ministry, and was barred from entering the classroom without any legal basis. This is obviously not the first time we’ve seen and reported on the political persecution of educators here in Israel. many others who are part of a much longer history of the state threatening people’s very livelihoods to squash their dissent. At least 35 cities, towns and universities have taken disciplinary actions against teachers and professors since October 7.
Now, Ofer is refusing to give in to the political witch hunts barring him from his livelihood. “I'm coming to do my job, and they're supposed to let me do it. I won't sit at home being afraid," he says. Israel tried to silence him but it backfired them. “Ani Siravti” backed by RSN, started a campaign to support Ofer with legal aid, press and media campaigns. After two weeks of intense campaigning, the Ministry of Education backed down from its demand. Ofer is back in the classroom.
Despite the campaign’s success, being a refuser and a dissident is hard and straining and it will not end there. Even after the actual act of refusal itself, many Israeli refusers experience persecution and social isolation. Let's show Ofer he is not alone by sending him a support letter.
Refuser Solidarity Network stands behind Ofer and his fight. Through legal aid, press and media campaigns, we are determined to support any refuser in their fight for freedom, equality and justice for all from the river to the sea.