Tal Metnik, the first Israeli prison for refusing to refuse mandatory recruitment after Hamas attacks on October 7, returns to his seat in the Saint -Paul University Hall in Ottawa.
On December 26, 2023, Mitnick arrived at Recruitment A center in central Tel Aviv announced publicly that it will refuse to serve with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
“I had a choice:” to be part of this force is currently gathering my neighbors, killing people’s loved ones, or I had the option to refuse, “he told CBC News.
He was detained for five consecutive sentences for 30 days, and the maximum sentence occurred, according to Israeli law.
The 19 -year -old girl, who was released from the Israeli prison in July for medical reasons, is being released on a tour of Canada with his colleague in the refugee, Ein Giralitz, who rejected military service in 2022. The couple talks about their experiences as conscience employees, a attraction in Israel and North America’s interests. The tour, which is organized by the local chapters of independent Jewish voices, a group of advocacy, works in cities from Quebec to British Columbia throughout March.
The Hamas -led attacks on October 7, 2023 have killed about 1,200 Israelis, while many consider it the worst massacre of Jews in one day since the Holocaust. The attack was fueled by Israel’s invasion of Gaza, which killed more than 4,800 Palestinians in the region, according to local health authorities.
Some young Israelis feel that a more peaceful approach was better to bring a permanent peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.
A small but increasing number of Israelis rejects mandatory recruitment or returning to their military duty after rounds in Gaza. But a few of them do so publicly. Military service is mandatory for most Israeli men and women and faces time in addition to a social and professional blow.
“Being the first general traveler (since October 7) we did not know what the army would do with me,” Mitnick said. “I went back again and again, every time I got the maximum sentence until I reached 185 days.”
The Israel Defense Army “condemns rejection”
In a statement of CBC news, the Israeli Defense Army said that compulsory employment is specified in the country’s security services law and that the army is “committed to implementing the law and employment according to it.” The statement goes on to say that he “condemns rejection.”
Regarding Mitnick, the IDF said that the professional committee decided that “there are no reasons for its allegations” to refuse to recruit. After he refused “heavily”, he was sentenced to prison.
Mattan Helman is the CEO of Serfser Solidarity Network, an organization that supports Refuseniks during their sentences and provides information about their online stories. He said that rejection publicly comes with consequences. But it encourages practice to help spreading the word as an option for Israeli soldiers, including those who condemn the volume of violence in Gaza and feel that the only way to restore Israeli hostages is through a deal with Hamas.
“We must look at it like an iceberg, and there are those who publicly refuse at the top of the ice mountain over the water, and the majority that rejects differently under the water.”
Although RSN does not have accurate numbers on Respuseniks, Mattan said that there are “thousands” and that the numbers have been increasing since October 7, “especially with reserve soldiers.”
Survival prison
On the day he rejected, videos, and mitnick photos, social media overwhelmed. There was a protest outside the office of recruiting people chanting and swearing by it.
He says: “It was strange that the protest had focused around me, and I did not really get used to being stationed around me.” The teenager said that he is away from the spotlight and admits that he makes him “a little comfortable.”
But he said that this moment represents a turning point for his life as active. This is where he met many of his current friends, supporters and people who would help him in his prison journey and beyond.
“I am very blessed because I found this active circle of people who have the same opinions like me and support me,” he said.
Weekend morning (Manitoba)23:05Why did two Israelis refuse their compulsory military service.
The 21 -year -old Ein Geretitz refused to take 19 -year -old, and as a result, they were sent to the military prison. They are in Winnipeg as part of a “refusal tour” through the Canadians hosted by an independent Jewish company Canada.
Mitnik said that his time in prison revolves around his ability to stay. His fellow prisoners did not know the reason for Mitnik prison and was keen to share his political views.
He said that some of his fellow prisoners eventually began to identify him in prison, adding that he denied that “this man was a social media clips.”
Mitnick is a leftist who declares himself inspired by his father, and he is a journalist who said he spent a lot of time in the West Bank occupied by Israel telling stories from the Palestinian side.
“Politics has always been something we talked about at home,” he said. “He was very present in the fact that something should change.”
As for the next, Mitnick takes a moment to formulate his ideas as if he was feeling the question of his conscience.
“hopefully , ” He says, using the Arabic term for God’s desire. “The walls will fall and everyone will live in peace and freedom.”
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