My name is Yuval Pelleg and today I refuse to enlist.
Like all of us, I remember the atrocities of October 7th and the beginning of the war of destruction well. I also remember the words of Tal Mitnick, who refused to enlist a short time afterwards, and said that the war will bring no progress, only death and destruction. 22 months have passed and his claims have been proven true.
The official goals of the war – dismantling Hamas rule and returning the hostages – have not been achieved. Beneath the claims of “we will bring security” and a “total victory”, however, lurks a sinister truth: the real goal that is driving the war, that which can’t be found in official memos, was, and remains, vengeance. Vengeance that has caused the murder of many tens of thousands of Gazans, including children that on October 7th weren’t yet even born, total destruction of the Gaza strip, and the burning of all hope.
As I witness the crimes committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, an unfortunate fact is revealed regarding enlisting in an army that claims to protect me as a Jew: it is an action incompatible with basic principles of life and equality for all human beings, but rather joining a system whose essence is oppression, occupation and destruction.
In the past, I had hoped to contribute to society in a meaningful and important way through my military service. I studied computer science and hoped to serve in intelligence, to learn and develop in the army and afterwards get a good job in high-tech. Sadly, every red line that I could have imagined (and many more that never even crossed my mind) has been crossed. There is no excusing or justifying the crimes that the State of Israel has committed in the last two years, and generally throughout its entire history. The conclusion is clear: refusing is not only a right but an obligation, and the first step towards improving the lives of all the land’s occupants.
We must understand that the Gaza genocide is not happening randomly or because of “bad luck” in electing leaders. It is a result of long processes of fascization in the area and a logical conclusion derived from Zionism’s basic principles. The State of Israel has been gaining experience in crimes and terror since the early stages of its founding, and today their extent and acceptance by society are larger than ever. On one hand the ignorance of morality and international law have always been familiar to the state, and on the other hand we are clearly in the midst of a decline – it is safe to assume that if Nathan Alterman wrote “Al Zot” (a 1948 poem criticizing Israeli war crimes) today he would be met mainly with calls of “traitor” and “go to Gaza”.
Rightfully, the IDF is not regarded throughout the world as a moral army, and certainly not “the most moral army in the world”. Its actions and aspirations – mass killing of children, induced starvation, and even plans to establish a concentration camp – that is to say genocide, inspire hatred and disgust, and if we put aside the nationalism and tribalism it is easy to see that rage, hatred and opposition are not radical reactions and certainly not antisemitic, but rather moral, minimal and warranted in response to the crimes aforementioned.
Despite all the crimes, the nations of the world continue to supply the Israeli destruction machine with weapons and funding. I will soon be imprisoned for my refusal to take part in the slaughter, and I call upon you, the people of the world: intensify the struggle! Join me and resist the destruction and genocide with all your might.
Finally we must remember: this is not about me. This is about the destruction, the people that are murdered, the dialogue that has been driven to extinction, and the justice that has been buried under Gaza’s rubble.
I strive to take part in a struggle for life, equality, and freedom. In this struggle, I find one thing clear: the army and I are in opposition.
That is why I refuse.