The Lebanon 2006 war has produced its first conscientious objector - Staff Sergeant Itzik Shabbat, a 28-year-old TV producer. He refused to comply with an emergency order (Tsav 8) to report today for reserve duty in the territories in order to free forces in the standing army for the war in Lebanon.This was prior to Amir Paster's refusal and imprisonment.
Democracy Now!
Click above to read and listen to an interview with
Yonatan Shapira, a former Captain in the Israeli Air Force Reserves. In 2003 Yonatan initiated the group of Israeli Air Force pilots who refused to fly attack missions on Palestinian territories. He is also one of the founders of the organization Combatants for Peace.
Meretz
Analysts looking for the answer to how we got here ought to recall the initial demand from the Palestinian militias for the release of female prisoners and children in exchange for Gilad Shalit's safe return. In our rush to declare that we won't negotiate with terrorists (never mind that we have done so in the past and will inevitably end up doing so again this time) no one bothered to consider how it is that hundreds of Palestinian women and children are languishing in Israeli jails.
Those who can't understand why the Palestinians haven't given up the struggle in the wake of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza might be surprised to learn that they don't share the distinction Israel draws between Gaza and the West Bank and suffer daily reminders that the demolition of Gush Katif did not leave them a free people in their own land. On Monday, the commander of the IDF Judea and Samaria Division said that terrorist organizations in the West Bank are attempting to open another front. Wrong! As far as the Palestinians are concerned, it is all one front.
Meretz however defends Israel's right to defend itsself against Hizbollah using force, and does not strongly condemn the bombing of Lebanese civilians.
Brit Tzedek
Now is the time for the US government, in concert with the international community, to achieve a real and immediate multi-lateral ceasefire – followed by intense diplomacy to return the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, stop the rocket attacks on Israel, end the Israeli air strikes and ground incursions in Lebanon and Gaza, and install an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
Continuing the conflict until Hezbollah is entirely disabled is strategically naïve and not in Israel’s interests. All reports are showing that Israel’s military campaign to root out Hezbollah is facing far greater challenges than expected. The real way to reduce the threat from Hezbollah is through an immediate ceasefire, intelligent diplomacy, the installation of an international peacekeeping force, and renewed support for the democratic Lebanese government.
More importantly, the Lebanese people, who largely rejected Hezbollah at the outset of this crisis, are now almost unanimously standing behind Hezbollah in their attacks on Israel, with anti-Israel sentiment quickly increasing throughout the Middle East. This is the true threat to Israel’s long-term peace and security.
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