Refusing to Enlist
Blueprints of Disruption · Rabble Rousers' Cooperative
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Show Notes
Two Refuseniks from Tel Aviv talk candidly about Israeli society's reaction to their movement and the supports they've created to make it easier for more youth to refuse enlistment in the IDF.
Tal Mitnik and Einat Gerlitz share their story, while also acknowledging despite all they've been through during their stints in military prison, it can't compare to the situation of Palestinian youth their age.
Comparisons are made to Canadian settlers; both our states' being predicated on ethnic cleansing and colonial violence, and the struggle to decolonize spaces from within while understanding our role in maintaining that same colonial state.
Their assessment of Israeli society at the moment, and the possibilities for peace are instructive, but difficult to hear.
Hosted by: Jessa McLean
Call to Action:
- Call for an #ArmsEmbargoNow
- Follow the Refusenik Speaking Tour with Independent Jewish Voices
- Keep talking about Palestine.
Related Episodes:
- Support Systems Amid State Suppression a discussion with members of a legal support group in Toronto on the ways we can help each other navigate police state tactics.
- Disrupting Canada's Arms Trade is an interview with activist and organizer Rachel Small of World Beyond War.
- This episode has been added to our playlist, In Our Lifetime.
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More Resources:
- IJV Activist Anna Lippman's Substack
- Mesarvot (Organization Website)
- The Israeli teens imprisoned for their refusal to join the army (Galway Pulse)
- Refusenik speaking tour March 2025 – Independent Jewish Voices Canada