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Profiles of Contemporary Conscientious Objectors
Gabriel WolffA choice between going to prison or serving in the military could be a hard one to make. Many conscientious objectors have had to make that choice throughout history risking life, health, reputation and family relations.
A choice between going to prison or serving in the military could be a hard one to make. Many conscientious objectors have had to make that choice throughout history risking life, health, reputation and family relations. However this did not only happen in the past. 19-year-old CO Gabriel Wolff, who lives in Israel, was sentenced to a 28-day prison term in May of 2001. This was his third consecutive term since April of 2001. Gabriel refused to join the Israel Defense Forces which is required of all 18 year old males in Israel. Gabriel's beliefs are not consistent with his country's actions. He explained these beliefs in a letter written in April. "...the State of Israel is founded on values, some of which, like its lack of separation between state and religion, and its racism...are starkly incompatible with my own values. As a result...the State of Israel is now in the situation of occupying territories that do not belong to it and dominating the people living on these territories...After reading great amounts of material...I became ever more deeply convinced that the only possibility I have...is to refuse to be enlisted in the IDF...My position of principle, according to which any participation in the Israel Defense Forces constitutes an intolerable concession over my moral principles, remains unchanged. I am not willing to be enlisted and am prepared to bear the consequences of this refusal". During his first prison stay Gabriel was placed in the isolation ward where he could not leave his cell, write, receive or make phone calls, or take showers. After his second jail term, Gabriel was given an interview with a committee. They essentially sentenced him to a third term in prison. This same committee finally exempted him from service in June of 2001. Gabriel is only one of a growing number of conscientious objectors that have been jailed for their refusal to participate in the Israeli military. Gabriel was recently awarded the Leifr Eiriksson Peace Award. In the awards ceremony, Thor Magnusson said: "This young man is a bold representative of war resisters, a dedicated person of high morals that is ready to stand up for his beliefs that a military solution cannot work for Israel and Palestine... I present this award to Gabriel Wolff, a 19 year old talented Israeli musician...who is wholeheart-edly devoted to peace. May I please ask Gabriel to come here to accept this award for himself and...for the several other young conscientious objectors in Israel that with great courage have opposed the armed forces and refused to hold a gun against their fellow citizens." For more information, visit the following Web sites: |
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