\r\n\tOver fifty alumni, former educators and staff members of the Israel Arts and Science Academy, Jews and Palestinians, have published a letter calling the high-school community – students and alumni alike – to refuse service in the Israeli military.
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\r\n\t2014 was marked by outright violence and racism against Palestinians, both in Israeli politics and within Israeli society.
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\r\n\tAt the same time, some critical voices who call on refusing to serve the oppressive system were also heard – this letter is the fourth of its kind to be published this year.
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\r\n\tHowever, it is unique in that both Israeli Jews and Palestinians have formulated and signed it, and by insisting on making an explicit call for refusal – which risks severe punishment under Israeli law.
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\r\n\tThe letter and website emphasize the role of the Israeli educational system in indoctrinating and preparing youth for military service, as well as the role of societal expectations: “The refusal to serve means also resisting the militaristic indoctrination process we all went through since our childhood in schools, youth movements, national ceremonies, in high school – and which continues in our adult lives.”<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\tThe letter’s signatories call on their fellow alumni, present and future, to join the call and actively refuse Israeli occupation and apartheid.
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\r\n\tThe initial list of signatories constitutes an unusually high number, especially when coming from a small single institute.<\/p>","content_source":null,"content_url":null,"content_columns":"0","content_date_start":"2014-12-29 16:10:13","content_date_finish":"2014-12-29 16:10:13","content_date_register":"2014-12-29 16:10:13","content_date_last_edit":"0000-00-00 00:00:00","content_show_img":"1","content_show_details":"1","content_show_related_img":"1","content_show_slider":"1","content_show_title_slider":"1","content_comment":"0","content_score":"0","content_recorded":"0","content_confirmed":"1","content_status":"1","content_kind":"0","old_id":"124077","tag_id":null,"tag_word":null,"tag_service":null,"tag_total":null,"tag_soundex":null,"attach_token":"1522744024","attach_date_register":"2014-12-29 16:10:16","attach_id":"125098","attach_file_ext":"jpg","attach_file_header":"image\/jpeg","attach_img_type":"2","attach_img_width":"1280","attach_img_height":"960","attach_file_media":"1","attach_show_watermark":"0","score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"visit_count":"180","visit_date_last":"2025-05-10 17:30:17","attach_title":"Israeli alumni urges refusal to military service","node_title":"news","ot_node_left_right":"[{\"node_id\":122, \"left\":2, \"right\":53}]"}]]