Israel woman jailed for refusing to serve in army

Israeli authorities have imprisoned a young woman for refusing to do compulsory military service in protest against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Tair Kaminer, 19, who was imprisoned earlier this month for 20 days, was released on Wednesday, but could go to jail again on Sunday when she is expected to report to a training base, if she refuses conscription, media reports said on Friday.

She said recently that she felt she could not do military service after she saw how children were traumatized by the Israeli war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

“I saw children (in the city of Sderot) growing up in a warzone,” Kaminer told Israel Social TV, adding, “I saw the effect on them – the fear and sometimes, the hatred.”

“I realized I did not want to take part, not to contribute to further hatred and fear and not to take part in the occupation.”

Her father, Micha Kaminer, meanwhile, described the move by Israeli official to force people “to serve in contradiction to their beliefs” as a “stupid move.”

“A girl declares that she has a conscience opposing the occupation and she wants to do an alternative service is being put in jail – that’s just outrageous,” he added.

The 19-year-old could be put behind bars many more times if she keeps refusing to enlist.

Kaminer had previously denounced military service a “political decision,” noting that she wants peace, equality and security for Israelis and Palestinians, which compulsory military service cannot guarantee.

“When I look at all of these children, and the next generation on both sides and the reality in which they grow up, I see only more trauma and pain,” she said. “Military jail frightens me less than our society losing its humanity.”

All Israelis over the age of 18 are required to do military service with the exception of groups including Orthodox women and those unable to serve on medical grounds.

The Israeli regime launched its latest war on the Gaza Strip in early July 2014. Nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children, were killed in Israel’s 50-day onslaught. Over 11,100 others – including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people – were also injured.

In September 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in reaction to a letter by 43 Israeli reservists who refused orders in protest at military actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza that refusing orders “should be condemned and using it politically by voicing false accusations is not valid.”

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