Today, finally, I will have my case reviewed by the Committee for Granting Exemptions for Reasons of Conscience in the Israeli army. It has been a long and hard journey that started soon after I began my military service. I never wanted to contribute to war, violence, or any kind of oppression. I was drafted to be in a combat support position and not long after I realized that this kind of work is against my conscience and my morals. I am and will always be a pacifist and will never take part in the oppression of any people.
Growing up in a Jewish settlement in the west bank, my community taught me that the Israeli army is the most moral army in the world and that it is different from any other army that practices war. I enlisted in the military thinking that there was a way that I wouldn't take part in the oppression and violence toward Palestinians. I thought my pacifist viewpoint wouldn't stand in contradiction with the army's actions. I was wrong. That's when my journey to being recognized as a conscientious objector started.
Not many people and soldiers are aware of the existence of a conscientious committee in the Israeli army, which is supposed to recognize and release people in cases where the army's actions contradict their moral point of view, such as pacifists. It is important to say that the army does not welcome requests to be recognized as a conscientious objector and it was really hard for me to even get to be able to submit a request to meet the committee and claim my case.
I have been arrested in my base time after time, after stating my refusal to continue serving orders. The officers in charge of me stalled my eventual meeting with the committee and wouldn't give me information as to when or if I would be able to meet the committee. I've spoken to so many people from different bodies and areas in the army that didn't even understand what I was requesting, or what the conscientious committee even was. The process I had to go through was mediated by a frustratingly difficult bureaucracy, all while being arrested, away from friends and family, and detained in jail. It seemed to me like the army was trying to break me into giving up on the process, or perhaps even testing me to see how strong my moral stand is.
After being arrested for a while, I was released home for a few days. Before my next arrest, I decided not to go back until they provided a date for my meeting with the conscientious committee. While I was at home they started to threaten me with a harsher sentence and said that if I don't come back they wouldn't help me meet the committee. I didn't cave in to their threats and not long after, I finally received a date for speaking with the committee.
Today, I am finally meeting with the committee who will decide whether they recognize me as a conscientious objector or if they will send me back to jail. I am standing strong with my moral and pacifist views and am not afraid to face the committee. Even if the committee will not grant me an exemption from military service I will continue to sit in prison and refuse.
I want to thank everyone who supported me and wrote me a support letter. Military jail certainly isn't a fun place to be, but your support letters really helped me during these harsh times and frequently even put a smile on my face. As Nietzsche famously said, "He who has a why can bear almost any how." This conflict won't be solved through war and death; we will only have peace through understanding and empathy. I hope we can reach that peace as soon as possible.
In solidarity,
Shlomo