“Since the war began, I understood that I have an obligation to make my voice heard, and to call for an end to the cycle of violence.” These were the words of Ben Arad, an 18-year-old Israeli conscientious objector, shortly before he reported to the Israeli army’s recruitment center near Tel Aviv on April 1 and declared his refusal to enlist in mandatory military service, in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the long-standing occupation.
Arad is the third Israeli teenager to publicly refuse the draft for political reasons since October 7, and was tried and sentenced to an initial 20 days in military prison. He follows Tal Mitnick, who has served 105 days in prison across three sentences, and Sofia Orr, who has served 40 days in prison across two sentences — neither of whom have yet been exempted from military service, meaning they may still be sentenced to further stints in prison…..more
