We are privileged, say 2 Israeli refusers

Noam Gur and Alon Gurman are keeping a diary of the week leading up to their refusal to serve in the Israeli military and their likely imprisonment. For past installments click here and here.

4/13/12

On Privileges and Non-Violent Struggle
One can say many things about Alon’s and my struggle against the occupation – which is currently characterized mainly by our public refusal to serve in the Israeli military. There is no doubt that our refusal is mainly based on privileges – we are Jewish Israeli citizens and for that we are “awarded” our rights. It is also an act of non-violent resistance against Israeli policy. Today, as on every Friday, popular demonstrations against the occupation and the apartheid wall took place throughout the West Bank. Alon and I joined the demonstration in the village of Nabi Saleh, as we do quite regularly. The demonstrations in Nabi Saleh have, for various reasons, been subject to extremely violent oppression by the Israeli military. Many of the locals have spent months or even years in Israeli military prison, some “merely” arrested for a long time, and some sentenced by the Israeli military “justice” system to be imprisoned for the “crime” of resisting occupation. Needless to say, the Israeli military courts deprive the Palestinians of their basic right to fair trial.

As opposed to Palestinians, whose resistance to oppression brings upon them harsh consequences, we can choose how much we give to the struggle. Our sacrifice is symbolic. That has to do with our privilege, and we must acknowledge that. The thought of the people who must suffer the consequences of the occupation – or suffer the consequences of struggling against it, encourages and strengthens us, and reminds us as to why we choose to refuse, and that at the end of the day, the consequences of our refusal on our lives will be minimal. – Noam 

4/14/12

Not much time left. Everything feels surreal. Now, more than ever, it is important for me to remind myself how privileged I am to have the opportunity to refuse. Everything is planned ahead, and it is all a choice. Palestinians don’t have a choice, and hopefully my time in military prison will be made easier by that thought – because I have chosen to do it, and because I am doing it for comrades who are discriminated against by an oppressive regime. I am still expecting a major stress wave to come my way, but witnessing the bravery of the people of Nabi Saleh yesterday in the face of Israeli occupation reminded me that my part in the struggle is the easy one. Another interview here, and another one there, I’ve stopped keeping track. Looking forward to getting out of this whole mess. – Alon