My name is Yasmin Ricci-Yahav, I am 18 years old teenager from Israel. In August 2019 I publicly refused to join the Israeli army, refused to serve the Israeli occupation.
I took this picture outside the Israeli military induction base, just before I was imprisoned.
Being a conscientious objector was hard - I was locked up in jail for 74 days, labelled as a traitor by mainstream media, and had friends and relatives shun me away. But it was also empowering: I had the opportunity to fight for justice and peace. I received an enormous wave of international solidarity that lifted my spirit in prison, and eventually helped lead to my release from prison.
If you want to help future solidarity campaigns for jailed refusers click here.
My imprisonment may have ended but our struggle continues. I decided to spend the next year volunteering in Hadasa hospital in Jerusalem. I have also joined “Mesarvot”, an activist group that supports young Israeli teens who refuse to serve the occupation and help them prepare for possible imprisonment. These days Mesarvot activist are taking an leading role in the struggle against Trump's and Netanyahu's annexation plan, about which you will hear in the next update.
Israel has not stopped drafting teenagers during the COVID 19 lockdown and Mesarvot has continued to educate high school students on the horrors of occupation, as we launched a series of video meetings during the lockdown. At the same time, we helped to raise more than $30,000 to support the health system in Gaza in an online donation campaign we participated in.
I am happy to announce the launch of a new monthly English newsletter - written by us, Israeli refusers and activists fighting against the occupation. It’s a new joint project by Mesarvot and Refuser Solidarity Network, supported by a new international solidarity team. The newsletter you are reading is the first, and we will be sending regular updates about the Israeli refusal movement from now on. To recieve these updates regulary just fill your email in this link.
If you wish to support our movement, and our future campaigns for Gaza and against the annexation, you can pitch in a few dollars a month here. Such recurring donations, even $3, $10 or $15 a month, really help us to develop our movement against the occupation.
Your solidarity, wherever you are at the world, is vital and with it we will one day end the occupation and create the safe and peaceful society for both Palestinians and Israelis.
In solidarity,
Yasmin Ricci-YahavYasmin Ricci-Yahav
Conscientious objector Yasmin Ricci-Yahav arrived last Monday at Israeli Army’s Tel Hashomer induction center and announced for the third time her refusal to enlist. Upon her imprisonment, she said:
"I am 18 years old, and today I will declare my refusal to enlist in the Israeli army for the third time. To date I have spent 30 days in military prison, and I expect to be sentenced for a third prison term. I continue to refuse to enlist in protest of the Israeli army role in the occupation and with the hope that my choice will contribute to a more open and honest conversation surrounding alternatives regarding Israel’s future."
Hilel Garmi
My name is Hilel Garmi. I am 19 years old and since August I am in and out of the Israeli army prison, as a refuser to military draft.
Read moreNoam Yaron
I, Noam Yaron, an Israeli social worker, 31, served as a combat soldier and commander in the field intelligence corps in the occupied territories (Gaza and West Bank). I decided my true way of serving this place would be to refuse in accordance with my conscience. Thus, when I received an army call-up, I reported to my unit but refused to serve in the occupied Palestinian territories. I was threatened with a court-martial and imprisonment but was eventually discharged.
Read moreTair Kaminer
RSN is proud to support Tair Kaminer, age 19, who is now serving her fourth term in military prison for refusing service in the Israeli army. This is the statement Tair wrote before entering prison in January of 2016. Please send letters of support for her to rachel@refusersolidarity.net.
Read moreAiden Katri
My name is Aiden Katri. I am a 19 year old trans woman, orignally from the city of Holon. I come from a conservative home and my education was a right wing one. So, I grew up on the ethos of "the chosen people." As the years went by, I realized that we, the Jews, took ownership of the state out of a perception that we deserve it due to our separatism. I am no longer part of this brain washing. Today, I believe that people are equal regardless of religion, race, sex, and gender.
Read more