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UID:Indybay-18874346
SEQUENCE:19046362
CREATED:20250313T004300Z
DESCRIPTION:On Sun, Mar 16, 2025 at 9:00am - 11:00am PT, please join World Beyond War 
 and partners for a Zoom webinar to hear from Israeli conscientious 
 objectors who will share their stories of refusing to join the Israeli 
 military.\n\nJoin us to learn from and support the Refuser Solidarity 
 Network (RSN). The Network works to end the Israeli occupation of the 
 Palestinian Territories and the militarization of Israeli society, one 
 soldier at a time. \n\nRSN has valiantly stood by refusers serving jail 
 sentences, elevated stories of refusers through social media, press and 
 email campaigns, and educate the global public on the importance of 
 conscientious objection as a tactic. More importantly, they help organize 
 spontaneous refusers into coherent movements with strategies and 
 demands.\n\nOur featured speakers are:\n\n--Atalya Ben-Abba is the Social 
 Media Manager for the Refuser Solidarity Network, managing the page 
 @VoicesAgainstWar. Atalya refused in 2017 and spent 110 days in the 
 military prison because she wanted to publicly condemn the Israeli 
 occupation, and not take part in its practices. Atalya has been an activist 
 for the past ten years, working mainly in Jerusalem and the West 
 Bank.\n\n--Mattan Helman is the Executive Director of the Refuser 
 Solidarity Network. Mattan spent 110 days in prison because he refused to 
 join the Israeli army and oppress Palestinians.\n\nWe'll also hear from 
 Israeli conscientious objectors Einat Gerlitz and Tal Mitnick, who will be 
 traveling across Canada for the Anti-Zionist Refusenik Speaking Tour 
 throughout the month of March, hosted by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) in 
 partnership with the Mesarvot Network.\n\n\nBIOS:\n\nEinat Gerlitz, 21, is 
 a queer Israeli activist and conscientious objector. Going from a queer 
 youth movement to climate activism, Einat gained political conscious and 
 became a human rights activist. At 19, in 2022, she refused to serve in the 
 Israeli military and was sentenced to 87 days in military prison. After her 
 release she presented her story to conscientious objection at a UPR review 
 in the UN. Since then she has been involved in various avenues of the 
 struggle against the occupation, both in 48' borders and the West 
 Bank.\n\nTal Mitnick, 19, is a Israeli activist and conscientious objector. 
 In December 2023, Tal was the first conscientious objector to refuse after 
 October 7th and his story resonated in media outlets worldwide. He served a 
 prolonged sentence of 185 days in military prison. Tal started his activism 
 in the protests against the judicial overhaul, initiating a mass youth 
 refusal letter, signed by over 250 teenagers, naming the occupation as the 
 source of the rising fascism. Currently he is organizing and supporting 
 future conscientious objectors.\n\nRon VanNorstrand, Vietnam-era veteran 
 and coordinator of Veterans For Peace Chapter 51, will moderate the 
 program. Ron initiated contact with the Refuser Solidarity Network in 
 solidarity and support, and to inform and guide the advancement of a 
 refuser/conscientious objector movement in the U.S.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/03/12/18874346.php
SUMMARY:Israeli Conscientious Objectors Share Their Stories of Refusal to Join Israeli Military
LOCATION:Online: https://actionnetwork.org/events/refuse-the-war
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/03/12/18874346.php
DTSTART:20250316T160000Z
DTEND:20250316T180000Z
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