Fighting For Your Beliefs
- added September 17, 2008
- 15 responses
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- Sarah_M
- added this
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Omri is part of a new Israeli movement called Refuseniks. These are people who refuse to military service on political grounds. There is currently no exemption from military service on political grounds. You can be exempt if you are a pacifist, but you have to object to all warfare and not just Israel's own conflicts. Omri paid a high price for his beliefs and aged eighteen was imprisoned. After five days solitary confinement he was released and then re-draughted. Again he refused and was imprisoned. This process was repeated until eventually Omri was released on medical grounds.
Uri was initially refused entry into the army because of a medical condition with his eyes. For Uri military service in Israel is a rite of passage. Not only are you doing your duty for your country but you are also securing a better future for yourself. Job opportunities are more restrictive to those who have not done their military service. As well as complusory draughting, the Israeli Defence Force run a volunteering scheme. These recruits will not see combat. Uri having been accepted as a volunteer, had just finished his basic training.
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As a child, all I heard about was the people who had been proud of their military service or who were looking forward to it. I didn't hear the other side until I searched for it. Hopefully, the change will be bloodless (or as bloodless as possible).
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- mypsychoticself
- 2 months ago
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this kind of thing is horrible, making these kids' futures bank on whether they do military service.
i think the last kid is great, and american kids have said the same thing... i think the militaries of the world should be disbanded. -
american support for israel scares me.
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- globewatcher
- 2 months ago
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how can our government blindly support this type of government?
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- globewatcher
- 2 months ago
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just wait until America does it... they are bringing back the draft and school won't save you!
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Thank you for sharing this video. I was not aware of most of the material.
Refuseniks are heroes in my opinion.
Omri showed more courage by standing up to the army rather than just being a follower and joining it.
I really respect that that type of action.-
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- rachelmaechel
- 2 months ago
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I give Honour to the young troops in the Israeli Defence Forces and to Uri. As for Omri, if he grew up in the previous generation I very much doubt that he would refuse to serve for Israel. History is easily forgotton by some.
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It works for the Greeks as well... We need this program here...
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Omri is brave..so so brave
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- keeshii768
- 2 months ago
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They are both brave. They both are honorable. I think saying one answer and sticking with it no matter the treatment is a good thing. They tried to break one with prison and he didn't. The other could go blind but that didn't keep him from trying.
Good pod. Thanks.
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^ completely agree.
I just realized the kid with the vision issues was not the kid with the glasses. They both took risks for the sake of their belief. That's honour.
I wish people would report more stories like these. I know very little about Israel and to see a part through the eyes of a citizen is the best type of input.
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- rachelmaechel
- 2 months ago
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Share it
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this is why Israel's army is bad ass
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It's very interesting to see how these two boys differ so greatly when they have grown up in the same country.
I have a certain respect for both of them, as they are both standing for what they believe in in the face of adversity, something that can require a lot of courage.
