Protester with photo of Nathan Blanc at recent demonstration in Tel Aviv
Photo: T. Applebaum
Nathan Blanc, the young imprisoned Israeli conscientious objector, was informed this morning (Thursday) that he will be freed and that the IDF will declare him “unsuitable for military service.” This according to the Israeli daily, Ha’aretz (Hebrew). It should be noted that Annie Robbins reported on Blanc a couple of months ago
Blanc will be released next Thursday at the end of his current sentence. Thus will end an ordeal in which Blanc will have served 177 days in prison on 10 separate occasions.
The 20-year-old refuser declined a psychiatric exemption, which was available to him, rather he insisted that he be allowed to do alternative non-military service.
Protests in support of Blanc have increased recently. Last Tuesday dozens of activists demonstrated in front of the government offices in Tel Aviv demanding his release. A few days prior to the protest, a group of academics wrote a letter to the head attorney of the army, Danny Ephroni, requesting Blanc be freed because his punishment had been excessive. Also, Eitan Klinsky in an editorial posted on News 1 called for Blanc’s release. He wrote that the repeated prison sentence that were given Blanc violate the legal principle that you do not try someone more than once for the same crime.
Imagine what Barb Boxer thinks of this fine young man…. She wants to give the Baruch Goldsteins a free pass to roam America while Israel boots out American visitors to Israel if they are Arabs or merely peacefully critical of Israeli government policy or conduct.
Blanc kept going but a lot of Israeli COs won’t. They don’t mind losing one or two if they can brainwash the rest.
Nathan Blanc won. This is inspiring. The Israeli war machine works through intimidation, manipulation and the threat of incarceration. Mr. Blanc refused to be bullied and the Israeli military blinked first.
The IDF’s legitimacy depends on a spirit of volunteerism. They cant afford to imprison large numbers of conscientious objectors. the point is to harass just enough boys to intimidate everybody else.
Nathan Blanc’s resolve and ultimate triumph will embolden like minded Israeli teenagers. How the IDF will handle them remains to be seen.
Thanks, Ira, for the good news!
Very inspiring and he’s only 20 years old! Hope his parents are proud of him.
Blessings to you Natan. You’ve honored your family, your faith, your conscience and yourself.
Always be strong and as you are & thank you.