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Who we are, what we do, how to support us | ||
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Yesh Gvul (“There is a limit !”) is an Israeli peace group campaigning against the occupation by backing soldiers who refuse duties of a repressive or aggressive nature. The brutal role of the Israeli army in subjugating the Palestinian population places numerous servicemen in a grave moral and political dilemma, as they are required to enforce policies they deem illegal, immoral and ultimately harmful to Israeli interests. The army hierarchy demands compliance, but many soldiers, whether conscripts or reservists, find that they cannot in good conscience obey the orders of their superiors. Yesh Gvul arose in response to the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, as growing numbers of soldiers grasped that the campaign, with its bloodshed and havoc, was an act of naked and futile aggression in which they wanted no part. 168 servicemen were jailed, some repeatedly, for refusing to serve in the campaign: the actual number of refusals was far greater, but their rising numbers deterred the army from prosecuting most of the refuseniks. The first Palestinian intifada in 1987 likewise prompted further refusals, with close on 200 jailed, though the army again backed down from jailing many of the recalcitrant soldiers, indicating that refusals were significantly more numerous. A notably high ratio of refuseniks are combat officers (ranking from sergeant to major) i.e. soldiers who have served with distinction. |
 Designed by David Tartakover for Yesh Gvul |
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From the outset, Yesh Gvul has fostered the refusal movement. Defying official intimidation - including close surveillance by police and security services - we counsel soldiers wrestling with the painful choice between serving policies they find abhorrent, or defying military discipline. Those who elect to refuse get our full moral and material backing, ranging from financial support for families of jailed refuseniks, to vigils at the military prisons where they were held. Whenever a refusenik is jailed, we bring his protest to the public notice, as a model for the broader peace movement, and for other soldiers in a similar dilemma. Yesh Gvul is a small group with limited resources, human and financial. But the unique thrust of its campaign has galvanized the broader peace movement, inspiring it with the moral example set by individuals prepared to suffer for their convictions. Some peace movements confine themselves to verbal protest, balking at refusal and its direct challenge to authority. But Yesh Gvul rejects the “shoot-and-cry” syndrome; its own slogan advocates action: “We don’t shoot, we don’t cry, and we don’t serve in the occupied territories !” - setting the group in the vanguard of the Israeli peace movement. With members drawn from a range of political views, Yesh Gvul is not bound to any specific peace program. Its overall aim is to combat the misuse of the IDF (Israel Defense Force !) for unworthy ends, and terminate the occupation. The group is united on the “two-state” solution, as the key to peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the interests of both peoples. To read and sign the refusal petition for Israeli soldiers or future draftees, see: http://www.yeshgvul.org/refusal How Can One Support us? Yesh Gvul supports selective sanctions against the occupation. We have also declared that if the Israeli judicial system does not bring to justice senior Israeli officials who are suspected of grave war crimes, we may seek their indictment outside Israel. Note: Yesh Gvul also regards attacks on Israeli civilians as war crimes. We are willing to work together with groups abroad to promote our cause, which is in the best interest of Israeli society. Contributions can be sent to our address, or via the Refuser Solidarity Network or transferred directly to our bank account. *Address: Yesh Gvul, PO Box 6953, Jerusalem 91068, ISRAEL Telephone: + 972 2 6250271 *In the United States you can make a tax deductible donation by sending a check to: Refuser Solidarity Network 2421 West Pratt Boulevard, #131 Chicago IL 60645-4666 Please write “Yesh Gvul” on the memo line! Or you can do the same with a secure credit card donation, through Refuser Solidarity Network. Select "Yesh Gvul Projects" in the box titled ""Projects you would like to support *Address for bank transfers (This option is less useful for small sums) : Bank Account: Yesh Gvul, Acct no. 366614. Bank Hapoalim, King George St. Branch (690), Jerusalem, Israel , Transfer Code (important) : POALILITJLM For other ways to support the refusal campaign, See the Adoption Groups section and the "other things you can do" page on the bottom of the News section. Receive Updates about Our Actions To join our mailing list and receive regular updates, send a blank email to: yeshgvul-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To remove yourself from our list, send a blank email to: yeshgvul-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com |
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