**Israeli Soldiers Speak Out Against Gaza War**
A group of Israeli soldiers who fought in the recent Gaza war are speaking out against what they saw and experienced during their time on the front lines. They claim that many of their comrades were indifferent to the harm caused to Palestinians, and that some even bragged about beating and mistreating them.
**Refusal to Serve Becomes a Moral Issue**
Some Israeli soldiers have begun refusing to serve in the military, citing moral objections to the way the war was fought. These refusers face severe penalties, including prison time. However, the government has so far avoided taking tough action against them, fearing it would draw more attention to their actions.
**A Deepening Conflict Over Israel’s Future**
The conflict over Israel’s future is deepening, with secularists like Michael Ofer Ziv and Yuval Green at odds with the religious right, represented by the settlements. The refusers are determined to stick by their principles, even if it means living outside of Israel.
**A Call for Peace and Reconciliation**
Yuval Green hopes that a settlement can be reached between Israelis and Palestinians, saying “there is a side that supports violence, and a side that supports finding better solutions.” This analysis may not be shared by many Israelis, but it won’t stop him from pushing for peace and reconciliation.
**Background: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict**
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades. Israel was founded in 1949, and since then there have been numerous conflicts over land and identity. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement, is seen as a major obstacle to peace by many Israelis. However, others argue that the conflict cannot be resolved until both sides engage in meaningful dialogue.
**Key Players:**
* **Prime Minister Netanyahu**: He has defended the IDF’s actions during the Gaza war, calling it “the moral army in the entire world.”
* **Refusers**: A group of Israeli soldiers who have refused to serve in the military due to moral objections.
* **Michael Ofer Ziv**: A secularist who hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and is unsure if he can live in Israel with his values intact.
**Sources:**
* “Israeli Centre for Public Affairs” study on the rise of religious officers in the IDF
* Professor Mordechai Kramnitzer’s warning about the ‘religification’ of the army