On December 18th and beyond, Young Conscientious Objectors In Israel Need Your help

A day of action will be held in Israel on December 18th where calls to free the Shministin, a group of young conscientious objectors with be heard loudly. The participants intend to show Israeli's and and the world at large that there is wide support for stopping the culture of war that currently exist in Israel. They need everyone help.

The Shministin is a group of young men and woman between the ages of 17 and 19 that are being jailed for refusing to serve in the Israeli army. They ask that the international community join them in demanding their release. They do not want to be part of an army that is involved in occupation.

Omer Goldman is a member of the Shministin and tells her story. She started her prison sentence on September 23 and was imprisoned for 35 days. After her second imprisonment she received a medical discharge and was not forced to go back to prison Her friends did not receive the medical discharge and are being imprisoned again. She believes they will have to spend 3 weeks in prison and then they will be let out for a week. Once the week is over they will be back in prison for three weeks following a week out prison. The scenario will keep on repeating itself till they are 21 or enlist in the Israeli Army.

She describes herself as growing up with the Army. Her father was the Deputy head of the Mossad, the Israeli CIA equivalent. Her sister who is eight years older than her joined the military. She even remembers wanting to be a soldier growing up. The military was so ingrained in her environment she never questioned it.

That changed when she went to a peace demonstration in the occupied territories. Up to that point she had a positive view of Israeli soldiers believing they were around to protect her. That changed when the Israeli soldiers at the peace demonstration shot at her and her friends. They also through a tear gas grenades in her area. She remembers feeling shocked and scared. She saw the Israeli army in a different light and did not want to be a part of it.

When she came back from the occupied territory she decided to join a group of young people who were also planning on refusing to serve in the Israeli army.

Video made by the Shministin:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/16/155054/75/500/673773