The Shministim - A Dubious Cause !
By Ian Sternberg
I have no desire to denigrate Tamar or qustion Her right to Her sincerely held opinions . In a free society people can engage in non-violent civil disobedience & refuse to obey laws They think are unjust - but They must be prepared to accept the legal consequences of Their actions . Israel has democratically decided that all it's 18 year old citizens will do National Service in The IDF . In general Socialists should approve of universal conscription because it is completely unfair that the children of wealthy , priviliged Classes should avoid the draft while Working-Class kids have to go to The Army . Universal Conscription also makes the politicians think carefully about using military force if There children might be in the firing line .
It would have been unlikely for Tamar ( as a Woman ) to have been actively involved in policing Palestinians in the field ( although a lot of Israeli Women volunteer to do service that sees them involved in similar Combat roles to the men ) . Tamar has just been exempted from Army Service - but She could have requested to do a programme called Sherut leumi which is National Service working in Hospitals .
Unfortunately many of The Shministim are just using Their refusal to serve to make political points - They can hardly expect Their Political activity to go unanswered by Israel's legal system . How can We expect Soldiers from a National-religious background to obey Their orders to Disengage The Settlements if We turn a blind eye to Shministim draft-dodging ?
Yes , It might take Moral Courage to stand up for Your beliefs & go to jail ( for short periods in a IDF stockade ), but I'm sorry - for Me the real Heroes are the thousands of young Israelis Who are putting Their lives on the line on a daily basis by serving in The IDF . They suffer hardships & danger without complaining and They do this to protect Israel & the Israeli People from the Terrorists Who are trying to kill innocent civilians .
I have been very priviliged to meet many of the young Israelis Who are seving in The IDF
( on a personal level it makes Me feel guilty that I have not seen military service & it makes Me even more determined that I will do everything that I can to help Our Israeli Soldiers ) .
From the young Dutch , British , and American volunteers Who have made Aliyah & joined Elite Paratroop Sayeret units ,to the disabled youngsters Who fought to do service in The IDF , to the Druze friend Who's ambition it is to become an Officer in The IDF Press & Spokesperson's Unit - They are the ' real Israel ' & I am extremely proud of all Our wonderful young sevicemen & Servicewomen .
A reply to Ian
..."they must be prepared to accept the legal consequences of their actions" - from whose point of view? Surely, if we agree that someone is protesting against an injustice, ie in a just cause, then we should champion them against the mechanisms of legal repression! You might as well say: "When workers strike in defiance of the anti-union laws, that is their right, but they must accept the legal consequences".
Of course, you don't agree it's a just cause. But have the honesty to argue that straightforwardly, without evasion.
"Israel has democratically decided that all it's 18 year old citizens will do National Service in The IDF."
Oh, well that's okay then. Just as Britain 'democratically' decide on the anti-union laws and the poll tax!
"In general Socialists should approve of universal conscription because it is completely unfair that the children of wealthy , priviliged Classes should avoid the draft while Working-Class kids have to go to The Army . Universal Conscription also makes the politicians think carefully about using military force if There children might be in the firing line."
Not that carefully, obviously - not in terms of Israeli lives and certainly not in terms of Palestinian, Lebanese etc lives. In any case, whatever the merits or otherwise of universal conscription, the point is that these comrades are protesting against the oppression of the Palestinians. That's why they deserve our support!
"Unfortunately many of The Shministim are just using Their refusal to serve to make political points" - erm, yes, exactly. Who denies that? To make a political point about Israel's oppression of the Palestinians. That's the whole point!
"How can We expect Soldiers from a
National-religious background to obey Their orders to Disengage The Settlements if We turn a blind eye to Shministim draft-dodging?"
'How can we demand that the government enforces heavy taxes on the rich and cracks down on tax evasion if we turn a blind eye to workers breaking the anti-union laws?' By doing it!
"Yes , It might take Moral Courage to stand up for Your beliefs & go to jail ( for short periods in a IDF stockade ), but I'm sorry - for Me the real Heroes are the thousands of young Israelis Who are putting Their lives on the line on a daily basis by serving in The IDF."
Brave no doubt, but at least in part for a grossly unjust cause - the continued oppression of the Palestinians. And that, Ian, is where we simply do not agree.
Sacha Ismail
A Reply To AWL from Ian
Yes , We simply don't agree :
First of all there's a clue in the title - " Israel Defence Forces " - The IDF wasn't formed to oppress the Palestinians
it was created to defend the existence of The State Of Israel from the genocidal Arab policy of destroying Israel in 1948 . the IDF also plays a crucial part of unifying Israeli Society by intergrating new Olim with Israeli born Sabras . The IDF helped build Israel during it's formative years . For all these reasons , The IDF is a " Peoples Army " and is seen as a crucial part of Israel's Democratic system .
I would challenge The AWL to go to the Jews rescued from Anti-Semitic PFLP & Bader-Meinhoff Terrorists at Entebbe , or the Ethiopian Jews saved from starvation & airlifted to Israel , or the Rwandans , kosovars & Turkish eathquake victims helped by IDF Medical & Rescue units , and tell Them that Israeli Servicemen & Servicewomen are part of a
" grossly unjust cause " !
You characteristically sidestep My question about expecting National-Religious Israelis to obey the lawful orders of The IDF in carrying out the Democratic decision of the Government to evacuate the Settlers of Gaza ( Who also had every right to peacefully protest according to Their conscience ) - surely The Army's Disengagement of Their fellow Israelis proves that Israel wants to give The Palestinians self-determination & does not desire to continue to oppress Palestinians .
You address My points about the need for all of Israel's Citizens to shoulder the responsibility of defending Israel by raising points about Workers Struggles in Great Britain . The Anti-Union laws & the Poll Tax were undertaken by Tory reactionaries with a minority of votes & public support . Israel's decision to conscript has the almost universal support of The Jewish , Druze & Circassian communities ( Arab Israelis are not drafted as We do not expect Them to serve against Their fellow Arabs ) - Your points are not really comparable .
If I served in The IDF there are certain orders that I would refuse to obey , I would not be prepared to serve against Striking Workers in Industrial Actions - but in this hypothetical senario I also would have to be prepared to accept the consequences of My actions .
How have I evaded this question or not argued honestly ? I have tried to indicate that I have some grudging respect for these activists even if I don't agree with Them . Young people like Tamar are My Jewish brothers & sisters and I have a responsibility to Them that trancends political differences . My love for Israel & The Jewish people is for ever - I am not using them to score short-term political points and then drop them when They no longer prove usefull .
Another point is that refusal to serve in The IDF has lomg term consequences to the people Who do it . Because Army Service is such an important part of being Israeli & because it is so supported it is like commiting social-suicide to dodge the draft . I feel that it is completely irresponsible for people Who don't live in Israel to encourage action that can wreck young Israelis future careers & social standing - it's wrong & The AWL should stop doing it .
Defence?
Ian, no time to reply properly now (soon), but one quick comment:
"First of all there's a clue in the title - " Israel Defence Forces " - The IDF wasn't formed to oppress the Palestinian"
So because we have a Ministry of Defence in Britain, that means our army is non-imperialist, peaceful, purely defensive? This is right up there with your comment that numerous IDF officers have assured you that they are eager to minimise civilian casualties, and you believe them!
Sacha
Civilian Casualties
Of course I believe The IDF when They assure Me that They are eager to minimise civilian casualties . In this media age The IDF is pefectly aware that Israel is fighting a war for international public opinion as much as it is conducting military campaigns - it is in Israel's own best interest to avoid civilian casualties as much as it possibly can !
Ian