The conscience of a warrior nation

Description

A small core of reservist in the Israeli army have refused to serve in Gaza and the West Bank, on moral grounds. They have subjected themselves to jail terms and harsh recriminations. The "refusers" are not pacifists, or cowards; they are willing to serve their country anywhere else but in the occupied territories. One of the organizers, Lieutenant Zonsheine, commended for bravery on the Lebanese front, speaks of his experiences in Ramallah, Hebron and Yenin which polarized him. He saw how searching for Palestinian terrorists in densely populated areas was creating havoc for young and old. With other reservists he published "The Fighters Letter" announcing that they would no longer serve in territories taken by Israel in the 67 war. The group is now five hundred strong, including one hundred fifty officers. Most of the "refusers" are well-educated and over thirty. Although their stand does not compromise the fighting force of the army, their refusal to participate brings to public view the moral aspects of the occupation. Eight refusers have submitted a petition to Israel s Supreme High Court to investigate the legality of the occupation. The documentary presents a sympathetic portrait of a voice not usually heard from Israel.

Runtime

29 min

Creator

Mokko, Kari

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

2003

Database

Alexander Street

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