Israeli youth refuses mobilization to Gaza
Eighteen-year-old Tal Mitnick from Tel Aviv has become the first Israeli to refuse mandatory military service since Israel launched its assault on the besieged Gaza Strip. Mitnick was summoned to Tel Hashomer recruitment center, where on Dec. 26 he declared himself to be a conscientious objector, and was sentenced to 30 days in military prison.
Mitnick is one of 230 Israeli youth who signed an open letter in early September, prior to the war, announcing their intention to refuse their draft orders as part of a protest against efforts by Israel's far-right government to restrict the power of the judiciary. Connecting the judicial coup to Israel's long-standing military rule over Palestinians, the signatories—under the banner of "Youth Against Dictatorship"— declared that they would not serve in the army "until democracy is secured for all who live within the jurisdiction of the Israeli government."
In early December, Mitnick appeared before the army's Conscience Committee—consisting of several military representatives and one academic representative—which rejected his request for an exemption from military service. Upon declaring his refusal, Mitnick was immediately taken to Neve Tzedek military prison near Netanya to begin his sentence, after which he will be ordered to report again to the recruitment center. In recent years, conscientious objectors have receved varying periods of imprisonment, some reaching up to 100 days or more.
At a time when anyone in Israel who expresses even mild opposition to the war faces persecution and repression, Mitnick told +972 Magazine: "My refusal is an attempt to influence Israeli society and to avoid taking part in the occupation and the massacre happening in Gaza. I'm trying to say that it's not in my name. I express solidarity with the innocent in Gaza. I know they want to live; they don't deserve to be made refugees for the second time in their lives."
From +972 Magazine, Dec. 28
Israel's Supreme Court strikes down judicial reforms
The Supreme Court of Israel on Jan. 1 struck down a key component of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial reform law, which sought to prevent judges from striking down legislation. A 15-justice panel voted by a slim majority of 8 to 7 to strike down the law, stating that it would damage Israel's standing as a democratic state. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the main architect of the law, accused the court of "taking into their hands, with the ruling, all the authorities that in a democracy are divided between the three branches of government." Cabinet ministers have threatened to ignore a negative ruling by the high court, portending a potential constitutional crisis. (Jurist, NYT)
Freed Israeli hostage: 'Stop the war and bring them home'
Aviva Siegel, taken from kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7, was released Nov. 26, but her husband is still being held. In her first interview, Siegel spoke with PBS NewsHour about surviving in captivity and what she wants to happen next. She said: "I have a feeling that Netanyahu wants to keep the war going because he wants to win the war. But he can't keep the war going and get the hostages out. He needs to...go to a cease-fire and then get them out. And he needs to get them out now, as quick as possible, because 88 days are enough."
Global index: Israel falls out of liberal democracy category
In an annual report published by V-Dem, a leading global democracy index, Israel falls out of the liberal democracy category for the first time in over 50 years. The index attributes the decline, with Israel now classed as an electoral democracy, to the government’s efforts to pass the contentious judicial overhaul last year. (ToI)