[E-rundbrief] Info 1814 - Israeli Conscientious Objector Hillel Garmi released from military prison

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1814 - Dror Mizrahi, Mesarvot (Israel): Following 
107 days of incarceration, Hillel Garmi (18) of Yodfat has been 
released from military prison


Bad Ischl, 26.12.2018

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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From: Dror Mizrahi <dror [at] dror-mizrahi.org>

- Press Release, 25.12.2018 -

Following 107 days of incarceration, Hillel Garmi (18) of Yodfat has 
been released from military prison

Yesterday, the IDF’s Consience Committee decided to exempt 
conscientious objector Hillel Garmi, of Yodfat in northern Israel from 
military service. Garmi, one of the initiators of the High School 
Students’ Letter, was released following seven sentences since his 
first appearance at the Induction Center this July, when he first 
declared his refusal to serve.

Upon his release Garmi said, “The five months I have spent in prison 
have been dedicated to the struggle against occupation and siege, to 
the five million Palestinians who effectively live under the rule of 
the Israeli government but do not have the chance to elect it.”

* * *

Garmi added: “Throughout the nights and days I spent in prison, I 
tried to imagine the suffering of the Palestinians undergoing the 
ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip, including the lack of drinking water, 
food and medicine, or that of the Palestinians under occupation in the 
West Bank, who suffer the theft of their lands, road blockages, 
arbitrary search and arrest. Some people have told me that my refusal 
amounts to evading responsibility for the security of the citizens of 
Israel, but I believe rather that this act is one of taking 
responsibility for all those affected by my deeds, Israelis and 
Palestinians, by not joining in the cycle of violence and not hurting 
any of them, and by convincing others to act likewise.”

Upon entering prison Garmi said that his decision to refuse was 
inspired by the actions of Ahmed Abu-Ratima, the Gazan organizer of 
the Great Return March, and that Abu-Ratima had written him in support 
of his act.

Conscientious object Adam Rafaelov (18) of Kiryat Motzkin is currently 
in prison, having already served 97 days for refusing to join the army.

Garmi and Rafaelov are accompanied by Mesarvot – A political refusing 
network that writes letters and initiates refusing groups from the 
last few years to joint action. The network supports conscientious 
objectors that choose to not enlist in the occupation army, while 
knowingly acknowledging the gender aspects that the compulsory 
enlistment brings to Israeli society. The network works in cooperation 
and assistant from Yesh Gvul Movement.

Attached please find a photo of Garmi, credit: Yoav Eshel.


Dror Mizrahi
Media | Strategy | PR

Cell: +972-50-7248688
Email: dror [at] dror-mizrahi.org

TEL AVIV-JAFFA, ISRAEL

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     Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
     Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
     Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
     Wolfgangerstr. 26, 4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
     fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
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